Australian Cricket Awards 2026: Travis Head, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Marsh and Tim David Lead Men's Winners

Travis Head has solidified his status as one of Australia's premier cricketers, claiming the prestigious Allan Border Medal for the second time. The 32-year-old left-hander's remarkable consistency across all three formats during the 2025-26 season saw him triumph in a thrilling vote count, announced at a low-key team function in Brisbane today. BGT 2027: Australia Coach Andrew McDonald Confirms No Warm-Up Games in India.

Travis Head Wins Allan Border Medal

Back-to-back 👑

Travis Head wins his second straight Allan Border Medal, with Mitchell Starc, Mitch Marsh and Tim David winning the Test, ODI and T20I Men's Players of the Year. pic.twitter.com/G9OC0daUCd

— Cricket Australia (@CricketAus) August 7, 2026

Head amassed 153 votes, edging out wicketkeeper-batter Alex Carey by just one vote (152) and pace spearhead Mitchell Starc, who finished a close third with 150 votes. The achievement places Head in an elite group of Australian cricketers to win multiple Allan Border Medals, joining the likes of Ricky Ponting, Shane Watson, Michael Clarke, David Warner, and Steve Smith.

Head, born on December 29, 1993, has proven his immense value to the Australian setup since his debut. His ability to perform under pressure and adapt to different formats has made him an indispensable asset, and this third Allan Border Medal win is a testament to his sustained brilliance.

Dominant Season Across Formats

Head's triumph comes on the back of a stellar 2025-26 season where he scored an impressive 1437 runs across Test, One-Day International, and Twenty20 International cricket. His pivotal role in Australia's Ashes campaign against England was a standout, where he led the series scoring with 629 runs. A highlight was his electrifying 123 off just 83 balls as an opener in the first Ashes Test in Perth, a performance that set the tone for Australia's dominant 4-1 series victory. He followed this with rapid centuries in Adelaide and Sydney, showcasing his aggressive yet effective style. Josh Hazlewood Targets BGT in India and Ashes in England Before Retirement.

Other Key Award Winners

While Head took home the top honour, other Australian stars were also recognised for their exceptional performances:

Shane Warne Test Player of the Year: Mitchell Starc

Men's ODI Player of the Year: Mitch Marsh

Men's T20I Player of the Year: Tim David

Starc's recognition for his Test prowess comes despite his decision to retire from T20 international cricket in September 2025 to prolong his red-ball and ODI career. David Warner Pleads Guilty to Drink Driving, Ex-Australian Cricketer Faces Potential 9-Month Jail Term.

Women's Australian Cricket Awards 2026

Belinda Clark Award: Annabel Sutherland (77 votes)

All-rounder Annabel Sutherland claimed Australia's top individual honour for the second consecutive year. She became the first player to win back-to-back Belinda Clark Awards since Meg Lanning in 2015.

Women's ODI Player of the Year: Annabel Sutherland

Finished as Australia's leading wicket-taker in 50-over cricket during the voting window (including 17 wickets at 15.82 in the ODI World Cup) while contributing key runs.

Women's T20I Player of the Year: Beth Mooney

Won her fourth career T20I Player of the Year award, securing it on a tie-break countback against rising star Georgia Voll.

Women's Domestic Player of the Year: Nicola Carey

Honoured for her exceptional domestic performances for Tasmania and the Hobart Hurricanes, which earned her a national recall.

Betty Wilson Young Cricketer of the Year: Caoimhe Bray

The Sydney Sixers teenage standout was recognized as the nation's premier emerging talent.

This year's Australian Cricket Awards saw a departure from the traditional gala event, with Cricket Australia opting for a virtual presentation due to scheduling conflicts. Head received his award at a team function in Brisbane, where the Australian Test side is currently preparing for an upcoming series against Bangladesh. This marks the second consecutive year the award has not been presented by Allan Border himself in person, a shift necessitated by the evolving international cricket calendar.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 07, 2026 04:20 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).