New South Wales fast bowler Mitchell Starc has capped off a remarkable 12 months in the Test arena by earning the Shane Warne Award for Men's Test Player of the Year at the 2026 Australian Cricket Awards.
Mitchell Starc caps off remarkable 12 months with Shane Warne Award
The 36-year-old, currently preparing for Australia's two-Test series against Bangladesh, received the prize from the late Warne's father Keith during a ceremony in Brisbane on Friday evening, marking the second time he has earned the accolade, having previously won the award in 2017.
During the voting period, Starc claimed 56 wickets at 18.12 across 11 Tests, claiming a career-best 7-58 during last summer's Ashes opener against England in Perth.
Last year, the left-armer wrapped up Australia's 3-0 series whitewash over the West Indies in the Caribbean by taking the fastest five-wicket haul in Test history, achieving the feat in just 12 deliveries and finishing the innings with figures of 6-9.
In January, Starc was awarded the Compton-Miller Medal for player of the Ashes, taking 31 wickets at 19.93 across the five Tests as Australia retained the coveted urn with a 4-1 series win.
He also scored three half-centuries in the voting period, including an unbeaten 58 during last year's World Test Championship final against South Africa at Lord's.
The ICC acknowledged Starc's feats in the five-day format by including him in the ICC Men's Test Team of the Year for 2025, while he was also named the ICC Men's Player of the Month for December 2025.