Medal loses its meaning
Brydon Coverdale
25-Feb-2013
Hamish Blair/Getty Images
The Allan Border Medal was introduced to recognise individual brilliance in a team sport but according to Jon Pierik and David Riccio in the Sunday Telegraph, the very same players who can win the medal are unhappy with the voting system.
Disgruntled players believe the voting criteria gives too much credence to one-day matches and isn't a genuine reflection of Australia's finest overall cricketer during the summer period. Of all the 30 players eligible for the medal, only five can actually win it. Under the voting system, Ricky Ponting, Mike Hussey, Brett Lee, Michael Clarke and Adam Gilchrist are considered the only genuine contenders.
And speaking of one-day cricket, Australia’s dominance in the CB Series prompted Daniel Lane in the Sun-Herald to reassess the idea of including an Australia A team in the competition – not that there was much support for the plan from the likes of Mark Taylor and Mark Waugh.
Glenn McGrath, in his Sunday Telegraph column, says Australia's loss to England was the reality check the team needed ahead of the World Cup, and Keith Stackpole, writing in the Sunday Herald Sun, suggests that Brad Hodge should be promoted to open with Matthew Hayden during the CB Series, as Adam Gilchrist "is looking tired and needs a rest".
Brydon Coverdale is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo. He tweets here