Allan Border

Cricket

Allan Border ranks amongst the best batsmen Australia has produced. A defiant left-hander, Border amassed more runs (11,174) than any other Test player, a record only recently bettered by Brian Lara. He is the only batsman to have hit 150 runs in both innings of a test match. A batting average of over 50 was the reward for his grit, determination and courage, and he often held an Australian innings together.

Growing up opposite Mosman Oval, Border made his first-grade debut for Mosman at the age of 16 while still at school. Eager to pull, drive and cut, he made his Sheffield Shield debut in 1976-77 and quickly graduated to the Test team in 1978-79 against the English.

Border took on the role of captain in the 1984-85 series against the West Indies, at a time when Australian cricket was in the doldrums. Thriving under pressure, Border's steely resolve and fighting qualities were rewarded in 1987 when Australia beat England in the World Cup Final.

This was followed by the 4-0 Ashes triumph of 1989 - he was only the third captain to regain the Ashes in England - and the 3-0 thrashing of England in Australia in 1990-91. The 1993 English tour saw Australia triumphant 3-1. In 1994 Border led the first Australian Test side to visit South Africa since 1970.

Border has been inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame and was picked in the Australian Cricket Team of the Century. Each year the Australian Player of the Year receives a medal named in his honour. In 1993 Mosman Oval was renamed Allan Border Oval.