Retired Shane Watson bags Australia's T20I Player of the Year award

Sydney, Jan 23 (CRICKETNMORE): Retired all-rounder Shane Watson has pipped his former team-mate Glenn Maxwell to be adjudged Cricket Australia's (CA) T20 International Player of the Year at the Allan Border medal ceremony.

The 35-year-old Watson, who retired from international cricket just after the World T20 in India last year, was the second highest run-getter behind Maxwell during the voting period from January 8, 2016 to January 7, 2017 but bagged the award on the back of his equally potent bowling.

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Watson's nine wickets from as many appearances at a tidy economy rate of just above seven runs an over, helped him bag the award, according to a CA statement.

"That seems like a long time ago now actually," Watson said, referring to his time on the international scene. 

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"I'm certainly enjoying a different life now playing T20 cricket around the world. "There's a lot less pressure than playing for Australia, so I'm enjoying that. I've got a lot more time to spend with my family and more downtime between tournaments," he added after receiving the award.