Travis Head and Annabel Sutherland Win Top Honors at Australian Cricket Awards 2025

February 3, 2025: Opener Travis Head and all-rounder Annabel Sutherland took the spotlight at the Australian Cricket Awards 2025, securing the prestigious Allan Border Medal and Belinda Clark Award for the Men’s and Women’s Cricketer of the Year, respectively.

Sutherland’s win capped off an unforgettable week for her, having played a crucial role in Australia’s Women’s Ashes victory over England, including a standout century during the one-off Test at the MCG. Despite Head being unable to attend the ceremony as his team prepared for the second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo, he was presented with the Allan Border Medal by coach Andrew McDonald.

Head’s impressive 2024 performance solidified his spot at the top, as he accumulated 1,399 runs in 29 matches across all formats. His consistency in all formats—scoring four centuries and five fifties—earned him recognition as Australia’s top run-scorer. In Tests, Head scored 608 runs, including three centuries, with a career-best 140. In ODIs, he made 252 runs at a stellar 63.00 average, while his T20I performances earned him the number one position in the ICC Men’s T20I Rankings.

Reflecting on his award, Head shared, “Pretty hard to believe. It has been a good year. Very pleased I have been able to fit in, and do a role, and lucky I have been able to play all formats. It is a nice accomplishment and I will enjoy it.” He also discussed his journey, acknowledging the times he had been left out of the team but emphasizing his resilience and positive approach upon returning.

On the women’s side, Sutherland continued her rise as one of Australia’s brightest stars. Her stellar 2024 included a remarkable double century and five-wicket haul against South Africa in February, along with exceptional performances in ODIs and T20Is. In 12 ODIs, she scored 369 runs at an impressive 52.71 average, with two centuries. She also took 13 wickets at an average of 17.69. In T20Is, she claimed 19 wickets, including a career-best 3/21, proving her all-rounder credentials.

“I love batting, my Test record shows that,” Sutherland said, expressing her joy in both her batting and bowling performances. Reflecting on the Women’s Ashes whitewash, she added, “We were able to take a moment on Saturday night to take in what we achieved.”

Both Head and Sutherland’s exceptional performances highlight their significant contributions to Australian cricket over the past year and reinforce their status as two of the game’s brightest talents.