Steve Smith
Steve Smith (Credits: CA)

Australia skipper Steven Smith, on Monday (February 12), won the prestigious Allan Border medal following a sensational year in Test cricket.

Smith beat his competitions David Warner and Nathan Lyon comfortably to bag his second Allan Border medal.

In a year where Australia faced several highs and lows in Tests, Smith played his part with the bat brilliantly. The right-handed batsman scored a staggering 1305 Test runs over the voting period at a stunning average of 81.56.

Smith had previously won the medal in 2015. Winning the medal for the second time helped Smith to join the likes of Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke, Shane Watson and Warner among multiple winners.

Steven Smith Wins Allan Border Medal; David Warner Claims Top ODI Prize
The Australia captain with the Test player of the year award (Credits: Getty)

Smith bagged 246 votes in comparison to Warner’s 162 and Lyon’s 156 votes to emerge as the winner. Smith proved himself in all conditions in the past twelve months. The 28-year old finished the tour of India and the Ashes as the leading run-scorer. He is also the reigning ICC Test Cricketer of the Year after earning that accolade last month.

Smith’s win also ended Warner’s stronghold on the award. The opening batsman had won the award in each of the past two years. Meanwhile, fast-bowler Pat Cummins polled an impressive, notable 111 votes in his first year as a consistent member of the Australian bowling attack in all forms of the game.

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The injury-prone pacer played his second Test last year after making his debut way back in 2011.

David Warner becomes ODI player of the year:

Warner bagged the top prize in the 50-over format. The hard-hitting batsman won the prize for averaging 57 with the bat in the 12-month voting period. The voting period ran from January 8 last year and did not include the recent ODI Series against England during which he scored just 73 runs in five innings.

Steven Smith Wins Allan Border Medal; David Warner Claims Top ODI Prize
Warner with the ODI player of the year award (Credits: Getty)

The left-handed batsman polled 24 votes to beat Smith by six votes and claim the top prize.

Here’s the full list of winners of Allan Border Medal 2018:

Test Player of the Year:  Steven Smith

ODI Player of the Year: David Warner

Women’s Domestic Player of the Year: Beth Mooney

Men’s Domestic Player of the Year: George Bailey

T20 Player of the Year: Aaron Finch

Bradman Young Cricketer: Jhye Richardson

Belinda Clark Award:  Ellyse Perry

Allan Border Medal: Steven Smith

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