Shane Watson has won Australian cricket's top annual award for the second year running, making him only the second back-to-back winner in the history of the coveted prize.
He received the Allan Border medal, capping a golden night and a banner year for the all-rounder.
Watson not only joined Test and one-day captain Ricky Ponting in that exclusive club, he also joined Ponting as the only men to have been named the nation's best Test and one-day international player in the same year.
Watson was last year named Australia's best one-day international player, before this year combining it with his first Test award.
He polled ahead of batsman Mike Hussey, who edged out paceman Mitchell Johnson for second place.
Watson thanked his family and teammates, but also offered special thanks to Cricket Australia's medical staff, having faced a constant battle with
injury through the early years of his international career.
