‘Free trip to Noosa’: Aussie stars erupt at awkward Clarke joke

But arguably the biggest laugh of the evening came as Higgins knelt down beside Steve Smith for a quick chat about his nomination for a potential fifth Allan Border Medal.

Higgins reminded him he was equal with former skipper Michael Clarke and Ricky Ponting before slotting in the haymaker.

“This year, the winner actually gets a trip to Noosa with Karl Stefanovic, that’s exciting,” Higgins said, referencing the public feud Clarke was involved in with the TV personality last year.

Smith cracked an awkward grin, but current Aussie captain Pat Cummins couldn’t help but break out laughing as the camera shot transitioned.

Grade Cricketer co-host Sam Perry was also in hot form, questioning women’s star Ashleigh Gardner over the ICC’s apparent snubbing of Aussie stars in the recent world cricket awards.

“Even though the team has owned every trophy, the ICC snubbed all of you for individual awards a couple of weeks ago. What does the ICC have against you guys and how are you going to sustain your excellence despite this petty snubbing?”

“That’s a tough one. I think because it’s voted by the public maybe there’s some influence from around the world where Aussies clearly aren’t voting,” Gardner said.

“But I don’t know, I don’t have an answer to that.”

“Your words, not mine,” Perry said with a grin.

Perry also took a playful swipe at Mitchell Marsh, reminding him his dad, former Test cricketer Geoff, was watching on in the stands as he edged a ball just short of a hometown century in Perth against Pakistan.