Outstanding young batsman Michael Clarke won the Allan Border Medal as Australia's cricketer of the year here on Monday. The 23-year-old New South Wales right-hander polled 54 votes from team-mates, media and umpires to beat fellow batsman Damien Martyn (51). Vice-captain Adam Gilchrist was third on 41 votes. Clarke is the youngest winner of the award.

His victory was only the second occasion, after Steve Waugh won in 2001, when the medallist did not win either of the Test or one-day player awards.

Martyn, who scored six centuries in 2004, won the Test award, while Clarke was pipped by Andrew Symonds for the one-day award.

Clarke scored 151 on his Test debut against India in Bangalore in October and claimed 6-9 with his left-arm spinners in the same series in India. He then produced 141 in his first Test in Australia against New Zealand in Brisbane in November.

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2005