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David Warner in fresh awards controversy as Adam Zampa brutally snubbed

Cricket fans and commentators have lashed out after the Australian Cricket Awards.

Adam Zampa, pictured here alongside David Warner.
Adam Zampa wasn't even nominated as David Warner was named Aussie men's ODI player of the year. Image: Getty

Cricket fans and commentators have questioned why Adam Zampa wasn't even nominated for the men's ODI player of the year after David Warner won the gong at the Cricket Australia Awards on Monday night. Warner was recognised for his stellar 12 months in the 50-over format in which he scored 552 runs at an average 42.46.

The opener scored a century and four half-centuries throughout the voting period, making the most runs amongst all Australian players in ODIs. However many have questioned whether Warner deserved the award over fellow nominees Steve Smith and Travis Head, while the snubbing of Zampa has also gone down like a lead balloon.

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Head (550) and Smith (539) both scored fewer runs than Warner by a slight margin, however Head averaged 68.75 and Smith 67.37. Zampa took a staggering 30 wickets throughout the voting period (at 17.53) and was even named in the ICC's recent ODI world team of the year.

But the leg-spinner was nowhere to be seen when the nominations for Aussie ODI player of the year were announced. Journalist Lachlan McKirdy tweeted on Monday night: "Pretty surprised Adam Zampa wasn't nominated as one of the three best Aussie players in ODI cricket this year.

"30 wickets at an average of 17.53. He was one of the nominees for the ICC ODI player of the year, but not the Aussie version."

For his part, Warner also admitted he was surprised to score the award. Warner earned 25 votes from players, umpires and the media in the 3, 2, 1 system - the same amount as Smith. But Warner got the nod because he was awarded more three-point votes.

It comes after controversy also erupted when Warner was named player of the series after Australia's 2-0 triumph over South Africa in the Test series. Warner made a brilliant 200 in the second Test at the MCG, but did little else throughout the series. Once again fans thought Smith and Head were more deserving, with Pat Cummins also unlucky to miss out.

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Warner attended Monday night's ceremony with wife Candice - not that he was happy about it. Last week the 36-year-old said he didn't think it should be mandatory for players to attend the awards in Sydney, particularly considering the Test squad flew out to India on Tuesday.

Warner said he didn't think it was fair that a number of players - including Zampa and Marcus Stoinis (who won men's T20I player of the year) - were allowed to skip the awards due to playing commitments in the new T20 league in the UAE, but the Test players weren't.

"It's been challenging," Warner said of his busy summer, in which he played five Test matches and six games in the BBL for the Sydney Thunder. "I'm quite tired, exhausted.

David Warner and wife Candice, pictured here at the Australian Cricket Awards.
David Warner and wife Candice at the Australian Cricket Awards. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)

"There are a few guys who have gone to the UAE League, which aren't going to the Cricket Australia awards. From my perspective, that would've been nice to have had another night at home. But it is what it is."

When asked on Monday night if he was happy to be at the awards, he said: "No. But look, for us, it’s not about the men, it’s about the partners.

"It’s their night, they get to dress up and look absolutely amazing, and obviously we celebrate both teams, men and women and there are going to be two smiling people at the end of this with the Belinda Clark Medal and the Allan Border Medal."

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