Australia women’s T20 team wins The Don Award after memorable World Cup win in March

Australia’s women’s T20 World Cup winners have become just the second team to win the The Don Award, after their memorable tournament victory at the MCG in March.

Their dominant win in the final was watched by 86,174 fans at the iconic venue - the largest crowd for a women’s sporting event in Australia and the record figure for a women’s cricket match globally.

The Don is presented annually at the Sport Australia Hall of Fame (SAHOF) awards to the athlete or team whose deeds most inspired the nation over the past 12 months - with the Socceroos in 2006 the only other side to be bestowed the honour.

Australia’s women cricketers have won successive T20 World Cups and five in total.

Meanwhile, former Wallabies captain John Eales was the 42nd member of the SAHOF to be elevated to legend status, 17 years after his induction.

He is the first rugby union player to receive the honour - joining the likes of Wally Lewis, Cathy Freeman and Rod Laver in the category.

Eales won two Rugby World Cups, in 1991, aged just 21, and as captain in 1999.

The awards, conducted virtually this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, also marked the induction of seven other Australian athletes to the SAHOF.

They were Olympic diving gold medallist Matthew Mitcham, Tour de France winner Cadel Evans, woodchopping great David Foster, basketball superstar Lauren Jackson, two-time world netball championship winning captain Michelle den Dekker, netball coaching legend Jill McIntosh and Sydney Olympics water polo gold medallist Bridgette Gusterson.