Fans SLAM the Australian Cricket Awards as ‘the most cringeworthy TV you’ll ever see’

Cricket fans queued up to slam the Australian Cricket Awards ceremony on Monday, describing the event as ‘cringeworthy’ and ‘haphazardly thrown together’.  

Australian cricket’s night of nights may be one of the most eagerly awaited ceremonies in the Aussie sporting calendar, but it didn’t exactly capture the imagination of the spectators this year.

Or, rather, it appears it did so but for all the wrong reasons.

Australia Test captain Pat Cummins (left) and Australia Women’s captain Meg Lanning at the Australian Cricket Awards on Monday night

Viewers took to social media to pan the event, which was broadcast simultaneously on Channel Seven and Fox Sports, for a distinct lack of glitz.  

‘These Australian Cricket awards seem so rushed and haphazardly thrown together, it’s nearly unwatchable,’ a viewer tweeted.

On Sunday, David Warner said he was feeling ‘exhausted’ at the end of a hectic campaign and would have preferred having a night off rather than having to suit up for Australian cricket’s awards night.

Several viewers slammed the Australian Cricket Awards as unwatchable

He found an ally Michael Clarke, who said on Monday he felt a number of Australian cricketers would rather skip the Allan Border Medal ceremony.

‘I will say this, I don’t think he’s the only player who feels that way,’ the former Aussie captain said.

‘I promise you he would not be the only player thinking that.’

If the response on social media was anything to go by, several fans shared Clarke’s opinion.

A number of viewers described the broadcast as cringeworthy television

Channel Seven was criticised for not investing in better hosts and directors 

Even the awards themselves came in for some scathing criticism on Monday night

‘The #AustralianCricketAwards is up there with some of the most cringeworthy viewing you will ever see,’ a viewer tweeted.

Another blamed host Channel Seven for the amateurish feel of the production, suggesting the broadcaster should have invested in more high-profile hosts and directors. 

‘Wish Seven had invested in some better hosts, scriptwriters and directors. 

‘This #AustralianCricketAwards is next-level amateurish. The entire thing looks like a bloopers reel. Cringeworthy.’

Even the awards themselves came in for some scathing criticism, with one viewer pointing out they looked far from a prestigious accolade.

‘What’s with the trophies at the #australiancricketawards. They look like PVC pipe cut down the middle,’ he tweeted. 

Warner and Marcus Stoinis both will have the chance to inspect the awards more closely, after they were named the Men’s ODI Player of the Year and Men’s T20I Player of the Year respectively.

Veteran opener David Warner was named the Men’s ODI Player of the Year on Monday

The former was Australia’s leading run-scorer during the voting period with 552 runs at 42.46, including four fifties and a century, while Stoinis scored 347 runs at 31.54 during the voting period at a strike rate of 168.5 and claimed eight wickets.

Beth Mooney was awarded Women’s ODI Player of the Year, scoring 594 runs at 99.00 during the voting period and Tahlia McGrath won the Women’s T20I Player of the Year.

Meanwhile, Matt Short was named the Player of the Big Bash League after smashing 458 runs at 35.23 this summer.