Johnson, Watson emerge favourites for AB Medal

Australian left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Johnson and all-rounder Shane Watson are leading contenders for Monday night's Allan Border Medal count, which recognises Australia's best player of the past year. Both players have enjoyed an outstanding 2009 notwithstanding the loss of the Ashes to England.

Johnson has taken 112 wickets and scored 775 runs in games during the voting period. Watson has scored 2,081 runs and claimed 50 wickets with his medium pace in 38 games (both Tests and one-day internationals). The award is now in its 11th year, reports Sydney Morning Herald.

Johnson, Clarke and opener Simon Katich will vie for honours in Test player of the year, while Watson and Hussey are the main fancies for the one-day player award.

Top-order batsmen Chris Rogers of Victoria and South Australia's Michael Klinger are among the candidates to win the state player award. A win for either would be their second, as Rogers won in 2007 with Western Australia, while Klinger won last year.

Allrounder John Hastings could be a bolter given his breakthrough season for Victoria and could also challenge for the young player award, along with NSW trio Steven Smith, Moises Henriques and Usman Khawaja.

The Australian women's award is also likely to be won by an allrounder, either Shelley Nitschke or Lisa Sthalekar, both previous winners.