Usman Khawaja has been rewarded for his stellar form in 2023, named the ICC men's Test cricketer of the year.
The opening batter scored 1210 runs at 52.60 last year which included three centuries.
"To think that you've been named the best of the year is a tremendous achievement for Usman Khawaja and Australia," England great Michael Vaughan said on Fox Cricket during Australia's second Test against the West Indies.
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"They keep picking up awards … there's another one."
Khawaja was part of Australia's side that won the World Test Championship against India, retained the Ashes in England and defeated Pakistan in their Test series.
The achievement caps a significant rise for Khawaja who spent two years in the wilderness after he was dropped in 2019 and didn't return to the Test side until 2022.
Since then the 37-year-old has been a rock at the top of the order for Australia.
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His highest score in 2023 came in his first innings of the year when he hit 195 not out against South Africa at the SCG.
Khawaja also hit 180 against India in the fourth Test of the series at Ahmedabad.
His third century was against England in the Ashes, hitting 141 in Birmingham with the left-hander rating that as his best.
"My first hundred in England and the way we won that Test match. It was an amazing finish. To be able to contribute to something like that, it just makes it that much special," Khawaja said on Fox Cricket.
The 36-year-old added the century in India was comforting given the fact he's battled a perception he couldn't play spin.
"I've had to work really hard, mostly perception (around spin bowling), it's hard though because perception becomes reality, if enough people tell you something you start to believe it," he said.
"It's something I really struggled with for a long time, going out there fighting a losing battle.
"That innings I played in Dubai in 2018 was the catalyst. I just did it my own way … we were trying to save a Test match, I stuck to it, played my game, scored a big hundred second innings and that probably gave me the confidence going forward that I know I have the game, I know what to do in these conditions and that's what's helped me score runs in the sub-continent since then."
Khawaja beat teammate Travis Head, Indian spinner Ravi Ashwin and England's Joe Root for the prestigious award.
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