Mitchell Johnson wins Allan border medal; Michael Clarke named Australian Test Cricketer of the year

Mitchell Johnson

Mitchell Johnson capped off a remarkable turnaround in his career by claiming the Allan Border medal on Monday after having come from behind to edge out captain Michael Clarke for the honour.

Johnson (168 votes) denied the Australian skipper, who had won for the past two years, a record fifth Allan Border medal.

Johnson, who was one of the Aussie players to be punished during the infamous ‘Homework-gate’ saga during the India tour, had not played a single Test match in the Ashes in England. With impressive performances during the England ODIs and the ODI series in India, the left-arm seamer was recalled to the Australian Test squad just before the return Ashes series began in Australia.

That marked the beginning of a spectacular comeback for Mitchell Johnson who bagged 37 wickets at 13.97, won 3 man of the match awards in 5 Tests and was voted Man of the Series too as Australia blanked England 5-0 to regain the Ashes.

Johnson’s pivotal role in winning the Ashes for Australia saw him garner the most votes across the 3 formats and helped him win the Border medal for the first time in his career. Johnson also became only the third fast bowler to win the coveted award after Glenn McGrath(2000) and Brett Lee(2008).

“It has been an amazing journey coming back from injury, having a lot of doubters out there,” Johnson said.

“But I just knew in my own heart that if I had that opportunity that I could make the most of it.”

Clarke though would not go home empty handed as he won the Australian Test player of the year award for a record fourth time and a third successive year.

“I don’t think I’ve performed anywhere near as well, especially throughout the last series, as I would have liked,” Clarke said.

George Bailey bagged the Australian one-day international player of the year award on the back of a splendid run in the ODIs in 2013 during which he averaged 75 over 17 innings, scoring two centuries and seven fifties.

Aaron Finch was named Australia’s best Twenty20 International player of the last year after scoring 262 runs, 156 of which came in a blitzkreig against England at the Rose Bowl, at an average of 43.66.