An emotional Mitchell Marsh has taken out the Allan Border Medal for the first time, capping off an incredible career revival for Australia.
The 32-year-old returned to the Test side during the Ashes and scored a brilliant century at Headingley, cementing himself as the side's first-choice all-rounder.
Marsh would also play a vital role in Australia's World Cup victory in India and became a captain of the T20 team for the first time in his career.
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The man affectionately known as 'The Bison' finished with 223 votes – miles ahead of fellow finalists Pat Cummins (144) and Steve Smith (141).
At the official Cricket Australia Awards ceremony on Wednesday night, Marsh admitted he didn't expect to be in the running for the top gong in an emotional and hilarious speech during which he also thanked his wife Greta.
"I really hadn't thought about it until a few of the boys started getting stuck into me … then I thought maybe I'm a chance," he said,
"I had four beers at lunch and had to stop there. Now I'm sort of thinking, I hope it's not like COVID and we look back in three years time and go 'that was a weird time'.
"It's obviously a huge honour. I thought I was done and dusted [in Test cricket] and I often spoke to my wife about it and I just wanted to get one more crack at it.
"Greta is an amazing human – I said in my wedding vows eight months ago that she'd given me the perspective on life that I had needed. Every day I come home from cricket, whether I get a duck or I get a hundred … she is just amazing."
After spending four years away from the red-ball lineup, Marsh at one stage claimed that "everyone in Australia hates me" and sought to win them over one day.
Now being crowned as the country's best player marks one of the most remarkable turnarounds in recent memory and Marsh thanked both his coach and captain for their support over the past two years.
"I often regret that statement – it was tongue in cheek … hopefully, eventually, I can shake that comment," he said.
"In the last 18 months playing in that team, I have felt a lot of love and it's helped me a lot. I won't lie, one of my friends sent the list to me today – I just thought if I win it, it's gonna look weird to think that I will join some of the legends of our sport.
"I usually spray people at the table when they don't have anything prepared … and I don't have anything prepared.
"I want to thank everyone at WA Cricket for your amazing support throughout my career.
"To our team – I love playing in this team now, I have had so much fun over the last 12-18 months especially. We have had so much team success and I'm really proud to have been able to contribute to that.
"Particular thank you to Ronny [Andrew McDonald] and Patty [Cummins] … you just believed in me and I can't thank you enough
"I'm a bit fat at times and I love a beer, but you see the best in me always and you've changed my life – playing under you is an absolute dream."
Later in the night, Ash Gardner took out the Belinda Clark Medal for the second time in her career after a stellar 2023 with both bat and ball.
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