Shane Watson wins Australia’s T20I Player of the Year award

Watson was the second highest run-getter behind Maxwell during the voting period from January 8, 2016 to January 7, 2017 but bagged the award on the back of his equally potent bowling.

Sydney: Retired all-rounder Shane Watson has pipped his former team-mate Glenn Maxwell to be adjudged Cricket Australia‘s (CA) T20 International Player of the Year at the Allan Border medal ceremony. The 35-year-old Watson, who retired from international cricket just after the World T20 in India in 2016, was the second highest run-getter behind Maxwell during the voting period from January 8, 2016 to January 7, 2017 but bagged the award on the back of his equally potent bowling. Watson’s nine wickets from as many appearances at a tidy economy rate of just above seven runs an over, helped him bag the award, according to a CA statement.

“That seems like a long time ago now actually,” Watson said, referring to his time on the international scene. “I’m certainly enjoying a different life now playing T20 cricket around the world. “There’s a lot less pressure than playing for Australia, so I’m enjoying that. I’ve got a lot more time to spend with my family and more downtime between tournaments,” he added after receiving the award. Shane Watson has backed the Australian team to do better than their last trip to India in 2013, wherein they were blanked 0-4. Watson was a key member of the Australian squad in the 2013 series, even captaining them in the fourth and final Test at New Delhi, when Michael Clarke suffered a back injury.

Australia will be touring India for a four-Test Border Gavaskar Trophy 2016-17, which begins on February 23. It will be the biggest test for Steven Smith and co, since they have lost all of their previous 9 matches in the Indian subcontinent — a wretched run which began with their tour in 2013.

List of Winners

Allan Border Medal: David Warner
Belinda Clark Award: Meg Lanning
Test Player of the Year: Mitchell Starc
ODI Player of the Year: David Warner
T20I Player of the Year: Shane Watson
Domestic Player of the Year (Men): Cameron White
Domestic Player of the Year (Women): Meg Lanning
Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year: Hilton Cartwright
Betty Wilson Young Cricketer of the Year: Sophie Molineux David Warner

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