David Warner was named Australia’s Test player of the year on Wednesday, beating Captain Steve Smith for the Allan Border Medal.
Warner won Australian cricket’s highest individual prize judged on performances in Tests and one-dayers over the season with 240 votes, 21 ahead of Smith and 57 more than Mitchell Starc.
The prolific run-scorer totalled 30 votes for Test player of the year, six more than Smith with Starc again in third position (18).
“My heart is racing. I honestly thought Smudge (Smith) had a terrific year and he would have taken this out,” Warner said.
“People said to me I could have been one of the greats of the game but I just sat there and let it go through my ears. You can only control what you control on the field.”
Twenty-nine year-old Warner, who last year was named Test vice-captain, powered his way to his 16th Test century this summer.
