After a tremendously successful summer, Mitchell Starc was honored with the Allan Border Medal and was also named as the ODI player of the year. Starc took 43 wickets across all the formats in the year with an average of 24.4. Nineteen of the total wickets came in Australia’s dominant Ashes victory.
Mitchell Starc set ashes on fire with his first ball dismissal of England opener Rory Burns. Starc was the only fast bowler to play all five matches in the ashes and played a crucial role in Australia’s Ashes victory of 4-0.
He also joined a list of the greatest cricketers of all time, including Ricky Pointing, Adam Gilchrist, and Steve Waugh.
The Australian speedster pipped Mitchell Marsh by just one vote to receive the honor. The voting period of the awards was from January 26, 2021 to January 18, 2022.
Starc was also named the Australia men’s ODI cricketer of the year, although Australia only played three ODI games in the 12-month period.
After receiving the award, Starc took a subtle dig at Shane Warne. The former Australian spinner was one the most vocal critic of Starc and commented regarding Starc’s first ball wicket of Rory Burns, To which Starc mocked Warne by saying as per nine.com.au, “You’re running in just trying to hit the stumps, I guess. It was a straight half-volley on leg stump, I think someone said.”
Allan Border award is named after Former captain of Australia, Allan Border; it is considered one of the most prestigious awards in Australian men’s cricket. It recognizes the most outstanding male Australian cricketer of the year. The voting process decides the winner; players, umpires, and the media are voters and vote on a 3-2-1 basis after each match.
