Watson hot tip for top prize

Shane Watson is the favourite among his team-mates for the Allan Border Medal after a spectacular home summer. Watson didn't join the Test side until the middle of the Ashes series, but it hasn't stopped Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey from tipping him for Australia's prestigious prize at tonight's ceremony in Melbourne.

Michael Clarke and Mitchell Johnson, who would become the third bowler to win in the 11 years of the award, are the other major contenders. "If you read the paper Watto can't be beaten and is a $1.30 favourite," Ponting, who shared the honour with Clarke last year, said. "I thought it would be Watto, Pup or Mitch."

Watson has been strong since his return to the Test team in Edgbaston and has also contributed heavily in the one-day team, while Clarke has been consistent and Johnson has had patches of brilliance sprinkled with deep troughs. "For me, Shane Watson is the favourite," Hussey said. "He's only played half the games, but I think in those games he's probably polled very well.

"Mitchell Johnson has been outstanding really, I think he'll vote consistently through the whole course of the year, but having said that there's only been two fast bowlers [Brett Lee and Glenn McGrath] that have won the award, I don't know whether that's a trend. Michael Clarke, his Test form over the course of the year has been fantastic and will probably poll well, and I'm sure he'll pick up votes in the one-dayers as well. So he might be the one to come in and sweep past both them."