Steve Smith recently won the Allan Border medal.
Steve Smith's outstanding year with the bat and as a leader got the Australian captain his second Border Medal, as well as, a second Test player of the year award. But the Australia skipper has made it clear that while it has been an achievement for him, he plays to win and not for the awards.
“It has been a pretty busy year in every sense of the word. I am pleased that I can be sitting here today, to be recognized for what I have done over the year. I don’t play for these kind of awards. I play to try and help the team win and stand up as the leader of the side," he said. "It has been challenging and I am proud of the way I have accomplished a few things."
Smith also talked about how a century against India helped him gaining confidence. “Scoring a second innings hundred in India against some quality spinners gave me incredible confidence," he said.
"Also the determination of a few innings in the Ashes – Brisbane and in Melbourne. Whenever I feel like my mind is going off the job, I recognize it and quickly get it back to where it needs to be,” Smith said after the Allan Border Annual Awards night," Smith added.
Along with Smith, Ellyse Perry also dominated the major awards at Australian cricket's Allan Border Medal night. Perry won the Belinda Clark Award for the second time as the top Australian women's player.
The Allan Border medallist: Steve Smith pic.twitter.com/QbTTXwxs6J
— Matt Clinch (@matt_clinch) February 12, 2018
AWARDS
Allan Border Medal — Steve Smith
Test Player of the Year — Steve Smith
ODI Player of the Year — David Warner
Men’s Domestic Player of the Year — George Bailey
Female Domestic Player of the Year — Beth Mooney
T20 International Player of the Year — Aaron Finch
Betty Wilson young cricketer of the Year — Georgia Redmayne
Bradman young cricketer of the Year — Jhye Richardson
Belinda Clark Award — Elyse Perry