Martyn, Clarke joust for honours

[Amjid Javed]

Damien Martyn and Michael Clarke are expected to fight it out for top honours when Australia announce their cricketer of the year on Monday.

The Allan Border medal has been won in previous years by Steve Waugh, Glenn McGrath, Matthew Hayden, Adam Gilchrist and Ricky Ponting.

An unofficial pre-count held by an Australian newspaper has Martyn and Clarke separated by just two votes.

Points are awarded on a 3-2-1 basis for all Test and one-day matches played.

Players, umpires and media vote on all matches since Australia landed in Sri Lanka last March.

Martyn is expected to be named Test player of the year ahead of Shane Warne and Justin Langer.

The middle-order batsman scored six centuries in 14 Tests and was a key contributor in Australia's first Test series win in India for 35 years.

He played five more matches than Test freshman Clarke, who is an expected forerunner in voting for one-day player of the year.

Martyn could come out on top for the overall award with voting weighted more heavily to Test cricket.

Other awards will be given for the Bradman young cricketer of the year, the State player of the year and the women's international player of the year.

Former players Rod Marsh and Clement Hill will also be inducted into the Cricket Hall of Fame.

Langer should be in contention for the Test Award, he had a very good 2004 aswell.

I think Martyn will win the main award.

[Fessal]

Clarke deserves an award for his performances..definitley. Top class stuff rom him.

[Daoud]

I think Martyn probably should have gotten the award, but it probably went to Clarke cause of better ODI performances and being the media's golden boy. Still dont really have any problems with Clarke either

Clarke deserved it

[Geordie Ahmed]

Michael Clarke has been named Australia's Player of the Year at the annual Allan Border Medal count in Melbourne. Damien Martyn won the Test Player of the Year honour, and Andrew Symonds is ODI Player of the Year.

Clarke, 23, polled 54 of the votes, ahead of fellow batsmen Damien Martyn (51) and wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Gilchrist (41) in third. The votes were cast by teammates, media and umpires in Australia's Test and one-day matches over the past year. Among his outstanding performances were Test centuries in his first matches both away and at home, 6 for 9 in India and two one-day centuries as an opener.

Votes were cast from Australia's tours of Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Europe and India last year, last year's home winter series against Sri Lanka and the home summer against New Zealand, Pakistan and West Indies. Damien Martyn was rewarded with the Test Player of the Year award for striking two centuries and a 97 against India, and two unbeaten centuries against Pakistan.

Symonds pipped Clarke and the fast bowler Michael Kasprowicz to the honour of being named ODI Player of the Year. All three players got 15 votes, but Symonds took the honours as he was ajudged his side's best player across four matches, while Clarke was best in three and Kasprowicz's votes came from just two games.

Strong performances from Symonds, 29, in Australia's 3-2 victory against Sri Lanka in March helped him to win the title. He took 2 for 34 and struck 40 runs in the fifth match at Colombo.

Clarke, however, may consider himself unlucky not to have taken the award. He struck two centuries and a 97, as well as taking 5 for 35 against Sri Lanka, while the eventual winner Symonds rounded off his season with a disappointing run of five ducks in six innings in the VB series against Pakistan and West Indies.

Winners
Australian one-day Player of the Year - Andrew Symonds
Australian State Player of the Year - Andy Bichel
Australian Young Player of the Year - Mark Cosgrove
Australian Woman Player of the Year - Karen Rolton
Australian Test Player of the Year - Damien Martyn
Australian Cricketer of the Year - Michael Clarke

[Geordie Ahmed]

i would have thought Clarke would win the ODI award as well!