He is set to represent his country and become Australia’s next millionaire cricketer, but Hobart Hurricanes batting sensation Mitch Owen couldn’t even crack it for a nomination in the BBL player-of-the-tournament award at the Allan Border Medal night. In what appears an astonishing oversight, Owen wasn’t among the top five players considered for the top individual prize, with Cooper Connolly and Glenn Maxwell named co-winners ahead of Tom Rogers, Tim David and Will Sutherland.

That’s despite Owen breaking a string of batting records and leading the Hurricanes to their first BBL title with a belligerent 39-ball century against Sydney Thunder in the final. That knock was the equal-fastest ton in BBL history and took Owen’s run tally for the campaign to 425 runs – the most of any player.

The big-hitting right-hander averaged 45 with a strike rate of 203.60, scoring two centuries and smashing 36 sixes and 35 fours in the process. He also chipped in with three wickets. Australian cricket great and Fox Sports commentator Mark Waugh said during the final: “The Australian (T20) selectors would have to be taking notice of Mitch Owen’s batting in this tournament.

“(It’s) as good hitting as I’ve seen in a long time in this tournament. Fields well, can bowl. He’s crunched anything in his arc, whether it be spin or pace.” Owen’s breakout year has already been rewarded with a contract at the Paarl Royals in South Africa’s T20 competition.

He is also being talked about as a possible replacement player in the lucrative IPL, which starts next month. Being crowned BBL player-of-the-tournament would have further lifted the 23-year-old’s profile, but he was surprisingly bypassed despite his enormous contribution to the Canes’ success.

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Awards snub for BBL’s top-scorer Mitch Owen shocks fans

The award is conducted along similar lines to Dally M or Brownlow Medal voting, with players polling points throughout the season. A host of BBL stars predicted Owen would take home the trophy when asked to nominate a player as they entered Monday night’s ceremony.

Fans were just as certain the Tasmanian would figure prominently after lighting up the tournament and were left stunned when he wasn’t even shortlisted. One wrote: “(Maxwell and Connolly were) probably 3rd and 4th most deserving after Mitch Owen and (Dave) Warner….Owen should have cleared the other three by a mile.

Another added: “Huh? Both these guys had good seasons but they were so far from who had the best season – Mitch Owen. This “vote” puts into question the integrity of the league.” A third wrote: “Mitch Owen was the top scorer of #BBL14 with an average of 45.2 and a strike rate of 203.60. He also scored two 100s, one which was in the final and was the joint fastest in BBL history. How is he not the player of the tournament?”