MCGILVRAY: SMITH HITS FOUR
Former Australian captain Steve Smith capped another dominant year by winning the McGilvray Medal for the fourth time in a row.
The former Australian captain claims his fourth straight McGilvray Medal.
Steve Smith won the award, recognising the most valuable Australian Test player over a calendar year as voted by the ABC Grandstand commentary team, after continuing his supreme form in 2017.
Smith became the 11th cricketer to score 1000 Test runs in a calendar year, accumulating 1305 runs at an average of 76.8, with five centuries and a double century – his top score was 239 against England in Perth.
The win makes Smith the first cricketer to win the medal four times, going past former Australian captain Michael Clarke, who won in 2011, 2012 and 2013.
The award is named in honour of former cricketer and legendary ABC broadcaster Alan McGilvray, who called cricket for over 50 years.
The 2018 judging period will encompass Australia’s controversial four-Test tour of South Africa, two Tests against Pakistan in the UAE, and the first three Tests of the home series against India.
Pat Cummins starred in South Africa as Australia’s leading wicket-taker with 22 scalps, as well as registering a half-century in Johannesburg. Tim Paine was Australia’s third-leading run-scorer on tour, behind suspended duo Cam Bancroft and David Warner.
The 2018 award will be presented at the Sydney Test in the New Year.