Sutherland and Australia batsman Steve Smith has entered further into elite cricket territory after being named the 2015 Allan Border Medallist at Cricket Australia’s annual awards in Sydney last night at Carriageworks Sydney.
He also won the ODI and Test Player of The Year awards.
Considered Australian cricket’s highest individual honour, the medal is named after former Australian captain Allan Border and recognises the most outstanding Australian cricketer of the past season as voted by his peers, the media and umpires.
"I thought I would be up there but I certainly didn't think I'd be collecting the one day, the Test and the AB Medal," Smith told Fairfax Media.
"I've joined a pretty illustrious group of players that have come before me. I used to sit back as a kid and watch the Allan Border Medal and see some of my childhood stars appearing on the TV receiving these awards. To have received one now, it's a pretty amazing feeling to be honest," Smith said.
Smith, polled 243 votes for the medal, beating opening batsman David Warner with 175 and pace bowler Mitchell Johnson, who tallied 126.
He won the Test player award, marginally ahead of the fast scoring Warner, and the ODI ahead of Aaron Finch.
Smith’s awards mark a tremendous record for the Sutherland District Cricket club which has had three players win the Allan Border medal since its inauguration in 2000, including Shane Watson and Glenn McGrath.
In calculating the Allan Border Medal tally, Test votes are given a weighting of six, ODI votes a weighting of three and T20 votes a weighting of two.
See more in the Leader.
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