Named after Allan Border, the former Australia captain, the Allan Border Medal is awarded to the best Australian cricketer across formats, based on their performance in a calendar year. The votes are cast after each match by players, umpires and media.
The award that was first given out in the year 2000, has seen Glenn McGrath, Steve Waugh, Matthew Hayden, Adam Gilchrist, Ricky Ponting (4 times), Michael Clarke (4 times), Brett Lee, Shane Watson (2 times), Mitchell Johnson and Steven Smith win previously.
During the award ceremony, the best One-Day International (ODI) player, best Test player, best young player, best woman cricketer, best Twenty20 (T20) player and best state player are also awarded for their performances.
Here, we look at the top five contenders for the Allan Border Medal 2016 (in alphabetic order), which is based on their performances in the year 2015:
1.David Warner
In 2015, the diminutive left-hander brought consistency to his explosiveness - which proved to be a deadly combination as Australia went on their resurgence spree without much fuss. He offered stability and fire-power at top of the order, allowing the likes of Adam Voges and Steven Smith to pile misery on the opposition bowlers.
He was Australia's second highest run-getter in ODIs and Tests, scoring 1973 runs across formats. His form earned him a spot in ICC's Team of the Year and helped Australia be the most dominant side of 2015.
2. Josh Hazlewood
To complement the pace of Mitchell Starc and Mitchell Johnson - the leaders of Australia's pace attack, came a certain Josh Hazlewood. There is nothing threatening about his bowling, much unlike the two left-armers who can unleash terror with pace. Yet, he proved to be effective
Having made his Test debut in December 2014 against India, the lanky Australian seamer, with nagging Glenn McGrath-esque line and length bowling, went on to become Australia's most reliable bowler in 2015.
When the entire bowling unit struggled during the 1-3 defeat against England in Ashes, Hazlewood stood out, bagging 16 wickets at an average of 25.75 and a strike rate of 42. He went on to grab 13 wickets against New Zealand in the three-Test series, including nine in the first day-night Test with pink ball.
He finished the year as Australia's highest wicket-taker in Tests (and third-highest overall) with 51 scalps in 12 matches.
3. Mitchell Starc
The left-armer took his game a notch up, just at the right time to takeover the mantle of leading Australia's pace attack in the year in which Mitchell Johnson retired from international cricket. With extreme pace and good accuracy, he ran through teams across formats, and was largely instrumental in Australia winning the ICC World Cup in 2015.
With his pace clocking around and above 150 kmph on a consistent basis, batsmen across world had little answer to his late in-swingers, which either had them trapped in front of the wicket or left their stumps damaged.
With 41 wickets in 18 One-Day Internationals (ODIs), he finished the year as the highest wicket-taker in the world. He was also the joint highest wicket-taker in the World Cup with 22 scalps at an average of 10.18. His efforts in ODIs overshadowed his performance in the longer format, where he had 46 victims in 11 matches. He was, arguably, the best bowler of 2015.
4. Nathan Lyon
The perennial search for the 'next Shane Warne' was on, when Nathan Lyon, maybe not as good, slowly cemented his place in the Australian side. Comparisons with the legendary leg-spinner would be harsh on him, but he proved to be effective.
Playing all his 13 Tests in Australia or England, barring the two-Test series in West Indies, Lyon bagged 48 wickets - second highest by an Australian and fifth highest overall. His form helped Australia to bring variety into the attack and depend on a spinner to take wickets.
He may not be the strongest contender for the title, but he proved to be an invaluable asset to the side.
5. Steven Smith
The leg-spinner-turned batsman had almost everything going right for him in 2015. The year that started out with him getting the Test captaincy, ended with him holding reins of an Australia's ODI team that created a record of most consecutive wins. Amidst all that, there was a level of surreal consistency with which he shuffled across his stumps to flick the ball through the leg-side and collected 2369 international runs.
Having topped the run-charts for Australia in all three formats, Smith is clearly the favourite to win the Allan Border Medal this year. The only blip came in England - when Australia lost the Ashes series and his batting technique countered challenge in swinging conditions.
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