Shane Watson firmed as the Allan Border Medal frontrunner after receiving the McGilvray Medal as ABC Test cricketer of the year today.

But Watson's favouritism says as much about a poor year for Australia as it does about the opener's success.

Watson deserves to be recognised, but his 897 Test runs in 2010 across 11 matches at an average of 42.71 is nowhere near the numbers that were needed for such prizes in the past.

The all-rounder has also contributed with the ball, twice claiming five-wicket hauls on his way to 19 wickets for the year at 27.05.

But the fact he's really the only contender for Australian cricket's big individual honours reflects what a forgettable year 2010 was for the national team.

Michael Hussey is probably the player with a chance of toppling Watson after his golden Ashes summer but for large parts of 2010 his place in the team was under scrutiny as his form dipped.

As for the bowlers, even at their best they've struggled to win the Allan Border Medal with Glenn McGrath (2000) and Brett Lee (2008) the only two to have taken out the award in its 11-year history.

Even the current team's previous Allan Border Medallists, Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke, have endured horror years.

Ponting averaged 36.95 in Tests last year with just one hundred, in stark contrast to his haul of 1503 runs at 100.20 with six centuries when he won the first of his four Allan Border Medals in 2004.

Clarke, who scored 771 Test runs in 2010 at 36.71, won the first of his two medals in 2005 amidst some hot competition.

At the time many felt he was lucky to beat Damien Martyn, especially considering he'd only made his Test debut four months before.

That year Australia won 10 of the 14 Tests played and Martyn scored 1353 Test runs at 56.37 with six centuries.

Both had to share votes with great players such as McGrath, Shane Warne, Ponting, Matthew Hayden, Adam Gilchrist and Justin Langer.

Hardly the calibre of opposition Watson faces when this year's medallist is announced on February 7.