Cricket Australia announces redesigned Belinda Clark Award

Cricket Australia announces redesigned Belinda Clark Award The Belinda Clark Award has been redesigned to a create distinct ‘look and feel’, in similar fashion to the Allan Border Medal.  The redesigned Award, a teardrop shaped medallion, depicts three key values – performance, teamwork and respect, and features the Southern Cross. To celebrate the newly designed Award, Cricket Australia

has collaborated with international fashion illustrator and author, Megan Hess who has produced an iconic image featuring the Award. Cricket Australia has today announced the redesign of the Belinda Clark Award ahead of the 2017 Allan Border Medal awards night on Monday.

In its 16th year, the Belinda Clark Award, named after the former Australian Captain and cricketing legend, recognises Australia’s top women’s international cricketer of the year. The Award is based on the votes of peers, umpires and team officials for each match played during the award period^.

Three-time World Cup winner, Clark said: “There is a strong tradition of recognising performances in the Australian team, however, what we were seeking was to create was something distinct and unique that recognised the level of performance that was being obtained.

“Similarly to the Allan Border Medal with its own look and feel, it’s appropriate that this award also has its own identity and we’re really excited with what we’ve come up with.”

According to Clark, the newly designed Award, a teardrop shaped medallion, needed to depict three key values.

“There were three things that were absolutely critical as the redesign was taking place, and that was the redesigned award recognised performance, teamwork and respect.”

Skilfully crafted by renowned Australian silversmith Flynn Silver, the Award features a unique ‘XI Plus One’ silver lanyard, capturing the eleven players who take the field each match plus a symbolic ‘12th man’ representing the significant support provided to players since the start of their playing careers as young girls, as well as prominent positioning of the Southern Cross, celebrating its long term association with the Australian Women’s Cricket team, most notably through its nickname, the Southern Stars.

To commemorate the occasion, Cricket Australia has collaborated with Melbourne-based international fashion illustrator and author, Megan Hess to produce an iconic image featuring the Award.

Speaking about the collaborative process, Megan Hess said: “Cricket is something that I grew up with and loved from afar.

“To be able to connect my work in illustration with such a prestigious award offered such a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the focus, dedication, strength and inspiration of the incredible women who represent our country, in cricket and beyond.”

This is the first occasion Hess, whose clients include leading fashion brands such as Dior, Fendi, Prada and Vanity Fair, has collaborated with a sporting organisation.

With a portfolio that includes the International Cricket Council, the 2006 Commonwealth Games and the Australian Grand Prix, amongst many others, Flynn Silver founder Dan Flynn said: “It’s very exciting and we’re honoured to be involved in this process of creating something that connects to the pinnacle of a sport.

“This is something that when you see it from a distance moving forward, you will know that’s the Belinda Clark Award.”

The announcement of the redesigned Belinda Clark Award follows two recently announced awards for Australia’s women cricketers, the Betty Wilson Young Player of the Year Award and the Domestic Player of the Year award, which will also be presented at the Allan Border Medal awards night on Monday.

The 2017 Allan Border Medal awards night will be held on Monday 23 January at The Star, Sydney. The awards ceremony will be broadcast live by the Nine Network on 9GEM from 7.30pm and will also be broadcast live on cricket.com.au.