The annual Allan Border Medal celebration evenings features two equally significant events.
First, as the cricketers and their wives / girl friends (WAGS) and women cricketers enter the grand auditoriums, the cameras and television news concentrate on what the WAGS and women cricketers are wearing. It's 'fashion week' concertinaed into this 30 minute foyer experience.
Second, the annual cricketers' awards are front and centre with the various formats of the game receiving separate awards plus the overall award, the Allan Border Medal. The matches are gone through one by one, best performance points given, and as the tally arises so too does the tension.
This year was no different. The WAGS and women cricketers were just as splendidly attired and the various interviews discussed the outfits and even the jewellery.
The old boys weren't left out either, Bill Lawry and Graham McKenzie were inducted into the Cricket hall of Fame.
The awards were as follows: Shane Watson was the Allan Border Medallist and the One-Day Cricketer of the Year while Simon Katich was the Test Player of the Year. Michael Klinger won the State Cricketer of the Year award, while Shelley Nitschke was crowned women's international cricketer of the year for the second year in a row.
To this writer, the Australian cricket team chaplain for 17 years to 2000 and from 2001 Life After Cricket to a broader role as the Australian cricket chaplain, there was no greater acknowledgement than former Australian quick Dave Gilbert recently marvelling, whispering in my ear the integrity of Simon Katich's Christian belief.