Steve Smith has been named as a finalist at the annual AIS Sport Performance Awards.
The winners will be announced at the AIS Sport Performance Awards at The Star, Sydney on Tuesday, December 10.
Sutherland batsman Smith has been nominated for the sport personality of the year award and is up against a stellar list of nominees including world No.1 tennis player Ash Barty, fellow cricket superstar Ellyse Perry, golfer Hannah Green and surfer Sally Fitzgibbons.
Smith enjoyed an incredible comeback year in 2019. After he completed his 12 month ban for his role in Australia's infamous ball-tampering scandal in South Africa, Smith returned to lead Australia to a successful Ashes campaign.
The 30-year-old enjoyed an incredible series, scoring 774 runs at an average of 110.57. That included three centuries and a highest score of 211 in the fourth Test in Manchester.
England all-rounder Ben Stokes scored the next most runs with 441. But Smith played one Test and three innings fewer than Stokes, yet scored 333 more runs.
It was the first time Australia had returned from England with the Ashes since 2001.
The AIS Sport Performance Awards, now in their sixth year, recognise Australia's leading athletes, teams and coaches and celebrate their achievements in high performance sport.
The Australian Institute of Sport, in partnership with ABC Grandstand, is calling on the public to determine the ABC sport personality of the year and the best sporting moment of the last 12 months.
AIS CEO Peter Conde said the public choice award categories gave Australian sports fans the opportunity to become involved in the prestigious event.
"Each year I am astonished by the quality of the short-list for these awards and thankfully the Australian public has the task of picking the winners and not me," said Conde.
"2019 has once again delivered outstanding individual and team performances, whether it be Ash Barty inspiring the nation on the road to becoming the world number one, Michael Roeger smashing the world record in just his second marathon or Ariarne Titmus completing an extraordinary upset in the 400m freestyle final at the World Championships.
"We urge everyone to consider what matters most to you, be it inclusiveness, diversity, leadership or performance and jump online to make your vote count."
Members of the public can vote at aisawards.abc.net.au until 5pm on December 5.
Finalists for the remainder of the awards will be revealed in coming weeks, including male and female athlete and para-athlete of the year and the Sport Australia Spirit of Sport award.
