Mitch Marsh's emotional tribute to wife and Pat Cummins in Allan Border Medal triumph

Mitch Marsh struggled to hold back the tears as he paid tribute to wife Greta, captain Pat Cummins and coach Andrew McDonald after winning the Allan Border Medal on Wednesday night. The all-rounder, who once declared 'most of Australia probably hates me', capped off his incredible career resurgence by winning the highest individual honour in Aussie men's cricket.

The 32-year-old thought his days representing Australia at Test level were over, until a surprise recall during the Ashes series last year at the expense of Cameron Green. The all-rounder certainly made the most of the opportunity, and has cemented himself in Australia's sides in all three formats.

ALL THE BEST LOOKS: Players and partners dazzle at cricket awards

WATCH OUT: Rivals hit with warning after Aussies embarrassed in loss

Marsh was a runaway winner of the AB Medal on Wednesday night, finishing 79 votes ahead of Cummins in second place. The West Australian paid tribute to wife Greta and thanked her for the support she showed him when he was on the outer.

"I often spoke to my wife about...," Marsh said before pausing as he choked up. "That I just wanted to get one more crack at it, and it's been amazing. She gave me the perspective on life that I needed.

“Grets is an amazing human, I said in my wedding vows eight months ago she gave me the perspective on life I needed and our life is a lot of fun. If I get a duck, or get a hundred, she’s always the same."

Marsh choked up again as he thanked Cummins and McDonald for believing in him. “To Ronny (McDonald) and Patty (Cummins), you believed in me and I can’t thank you enough," he said. “I’m a bit fat at times and I love a beer but you see the best in me always. You’ve changed my life."

Mitch Marsh speech leaves cricket world floored

As well as the emotional moments, Marsh also mixed in plenty of laughs. “I really hadn’t really thought about it (winning the AB Medal) until a few of the boys started getting stuck into me that they thought I was going to win it, and then I started thinking maybe I’m a chance," he said.

"I had four beers at lunch so thought I had better stop there. And now I’m sort of hoping that me winning this is not like Covid and we’ll look back in three years time and go, that was a weird time."

He also thanked his parents and siblings, with father Geoff and brother Shaun also famous names in Australian cricket. “I have a beautiful family,” he said. “Dad obviously did what he did and Shaun did what he did. But Shaun’s my brother and dad’s my dad. And they’ve never been anything more than that to me. My mum and sister are amazing (too). My sister is probably my biggest supporter. Anyone that’s sprayed me on social media - she’ll get you at some point.”

Cricket Australia Awards winners:

Allan Border Medal – Mitch Marsh (223 votes)

Pat Cummins (144)

Steve Smith (141)

Belinda Clark Award – Ash Gardner (147 votes)

2nd: Ellyse Perry (134)

3rd: Annabel Sutherland (106)

Women's ODI Player of the Year – Ellyse Perry

Women's T20I Player of the Year – Ellyse Perry

Shane Warne Men's Test Player of the Year – Nathan Lyon

Men's ODI Player of the Year – Mitch Marsh

Men's T20I Player of the Year – Jason Behrendorff

Women's Domestic Player of the Year – Sophie Day, Elyse Villani (tied)

Men's Domestic Player of the Year – Cameron Bancroft

Betty Wilson Young Cricketer of the Year – Emma De Brough

Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year – Fergus O'Neill

with AAP

Sign up to our newsletter and score the biggest sport stories of the week.