Australian all-rounder Ashleigh Gardner continues to break barriers after becoming the first Indigenous winner of the Belinda Clark Award for dominance across all three formats.
Gardner won the most prestigious award in women’s cricket for the first time ahead of Beth Mooney (47) and Alyssa Healy (39) who finished second and third respectively in the voting.
It marked a changing of the guard for an award dominated by Australian captain Meg Lanning, Ellyse Perry and Healy for seven years before Mooney won last year.
“I never dreamt of ever winning this award. When I took the call I was in complete surprise,” Gardner said.
“I’m still in shock. To be the first ever First Nations person to win this award is super special not only for me but for my family and my people too.”
Across 10 innings during the voting period Gardner struck 281 runs at an average of 35.1 that included four half centuries and a top score of 73 not out in a memorable T20 win against New Zealand in Hamilton.
Gardner’s off-spin broke through for nine wickets, two shy of Sophie Molineux’s year-leading 11 to cap her all-round contribution.
She finished the voting period inside Australia’s top three run scorers and top five wicket takers across all formats.
“I’ve certainly grown up both on and off the field and maturing off the field has an impact on my game,” Gardner said.
“All I ever want to do when I go out with the ball or with the ball is to win for the team.”
Gardner first shared the news with her mum, after questioning whether they had the voting right but revelled in the idea her teammates had recognised her efforts.
“I was speechless at the time, I didn’t know what to say at the time except thank-you,” she said.
“My mum was definitely the first person I told and she was as surprised as I was.
“It’s a peer voted award and to have my peers back me whether it’s with bat or ball means a lot.”
For the third consecutive year Healy claimed top honours as the One-Day International Player of the Year with 13 votes joining husband Mitchell Starc who won the men’s ODI award.
Top-order batting star Mooney, who returned to the Test line-up this week just 10 days after having surgery on a broken jaw, took out the Female T20 Player of the Year with 13 votes, breaking a two-year hold on the award by Healy.
AWARD WINNERS
Belinda Clark AwardAshleigh Gardner (54 votes)2nd: Beth Mooney (47 votes)3rd: Alyssa Healy (39 votes)
Female ODI Player of the YearAlyssa Healy (13 votes)2nd: Rachael Haynes/Megan Schutt (10 votes)Female T20 International Player of the YearBeth Mooney (13 votes)2nxjmtzywd: Tahlia McGrath (10 votes)3rd: Ashleigh Gardner (6 votes)
