Head and Sutherland honored with Australian cricket’s highest individual awards

by Datrim Ray
head & sutherland

Travis Head and Annabel Sutherland win major awards from Cricket Australia. Sutherland was the proud recipient of the Belinda Clark Award whereas Head claimed the Allan Border Medal. It was also the first instance the two were awarded with Australian cricket’s highest individual awards.

Head was a strong contender for the top men’s award, having also secured the one-day international player award. In contrast, Sutherland ranked third in the one-day voting and placed a distant sixth for the women’s T20I international award. But she received the most number of votes during the 12-month period when Australia played two Tests.

Reflecting on Sutherland’s glorious run

Sutherland emerged as the first women cricketer to score a Test ton at the MCG. She achieved this feet in February last year when Australia hosted Proteas Women for a one-off Test. The 24-year-old shined with the bat in that game by smashing an unbelievable 210. By doing so, she also became the first Australian Women cricketer to score a Test double ton.

The extra weightage of the Test votes proved to be a major difference. It was the first time Sutherland had won any of the top women’s categories – the Belinda Clark Award, the ODI, or the T20I player.

"For me, I love batting, probably my Test record shows that, and I try and make the most of that when I get out in the middle."

Head and Sutherland honored with Australian cricket’s highest individual awards

A look at Head’s sensational recent form

Head emerged as the obvious winner of the Allan Border Medal. He has etched his name in the record books by becoming the first South Australian to claim this award. He received his award from head coach Andrew McDonald at the team hotel in Galle. In addition, he also emerged victorious in the ODI category for the first time.

Head had amassed 208 votes for the Border Medal leaving behind Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins who received 158 & 147 votes respectively. The 31-year-old has endured a roller coaster ride over the past 12 months. Head has plundered over 1400 runs across formats and played some famous knocks in the Border Gavaskar Test series which put Australia on top.

While Head and Sutherland were the recipients of the major Australian awards, players like Josh Hazlewood, Adam Zampa, Beth Mooney, and Ash Gardner also hogged the limelight. Mooney and Zampa were recognized as the leading players in T20I, whereas Gardner secured the title in the women’s ODI category, and Hazlewood was awarded the men’s Test honor.

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