Batsman David Warner claimed the coveted Allan Border Medal at this week’s Cricket Australia awards.

Warner beat fellow batsman Steve Smith to the award by one vote. He collected 194 votes to Smith’s 193. Fast bowler Pat Cummins gathered 185.

The left-handed Warner performed well at the 2019 World Cup, but later weathered a dissapointing stretch of form in the Ashes series. He recovered with a remarkable triple-century during November 2019’s Test series against Pakistan.

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‘If I reflect upon the time that I had away from the game, you don’t realise the importance it actually has on everyone and the effect it has on everyone,’ said Warner, who had been banned for ball-tampering in 2018.

‘I’m just extremely grateful, as I said before, to be accepted back by Cricket Australia and my peers and also be accepted by the fans. I had mixed emotions of how I was going to be received back here at home. I definitely knew what I was in for in England and obviously in a couple of weeks’ time, but standing here today I’m just really proud to have that opportunity again.’

Warner will be part of Australia’s squad for this month’s T20I series against the Proteas. The final T20I of the three-match series will be played at Newlands in Cape Town – the scene of Warner, Smith and fellow fielder Cameron Bancroft’s ball-tampering fallout.

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