Breaking News: Sydney Sixers Top Star Takes Honours At Australian Cricket Awards
Last night in Melbourne, Ashleigh Gardner, the versatile player for Sydney Sixers, claimed a prestigious accolade at the Australian Cricket Awards by winning the Belinda Clark Award. Meanwhile, Ellyse Perry, the captain of Sixers, was honored as the Women’s ODI and T20I Player of the Year.
In a ceremony highlighting Australian cricket’s remarkable achievements over the year, Gardner secured her second Belinda Clark Award, having previously won it in 2022. She showcased exceptional performance across all formats, contributing significantly to the Australian Women’s team’s dominance on the global stage. This included triumphs in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, retaining the Women’s Ashes, and victorious ODI and T20I series in India.
Gardner’s outstanding performance extended to Test matches, where she played a pivotal role in Australia’s success, notably with her remarkable 12-wicket haul against England at Trent Bridge. Throughout the season, she scored 499 runs and claimed 56 wickets across all formats, with a notable highlight being her match-winning figures of 8-66 in the second innings against England.
Gardner emerged as the winner of the Belinda Clark Award with 147 votes, followed by Ellyse Perry with 134 votes and Annabel Sutherland with 106 votes.
Ellyse Perry’s remarkable contributions were duly recognized, earning her the titles of Women’s ODI Player of the Year and T20I Player of the Year. Perry exhibited remarkable form, scoring 466 runs in ODIs and 390 runs in T20Is, along with significant contributions with the ball.
Additionally, Gardner’s off-field impact was acknowledged with the Community Impact Award for her establishment of the Ashleigh Gardner Foundation (AGF) in 2021, aimed at supporting Indigenous children with breakfast programs to improve educational outcomes.
In the Allan Border Medal, Steve Smith, the star player for Sydney Sixers, secured the third position with 141 votes, with Mitch Marsh claiming the top spot with 223 votes, and Pat Cummins finishing second with 144 votes.