The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the nominees for the ICC Men’s and Women’s Player of the Month awards for December 2024, highlighting exceptional individual performances on the international stage during the month.
Following an action-packed period in the race to the ICC World Test Championship Final, the nominees for the ICC Men’s Player of the Month include top-performing bowlers from India, Australia, and South Africa.
India’s Jasprit Bumrah secures a nomination for the second consecutive month, thanks to his devastating bowling spells during the thrilling Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia. Australian captain Pat Cummins also makes the list for his decisive performances with the ball, which were pivotal in Australia’s victories in Adelaide and Melbourne during December. Rounding off the men’s shortlist is South Africa’s Dane Paterson, whose impressive haul of 13 wickets across two Tests propelled South Africa to become the first team to qualify for the WTC Final at Lord’s in June.
The ICC Women’s Player of the Month nominees also feature standout performers from Australia, South Africa, and India, reflecting a similar trend of excellence across both formats of the game.
ICC Men’s Player of the Month Nominees for December
Jasprit Bumrah (India):
The world’s top-ranked Test bowler, Jasprit Bumrah, capped off an extraordinary year with a stellar performance in December, claiming 22 wickets across three Test matches. As Australia gained momentum in the series, Bumrah remained a formidable opponent, delivering standout spells of 4/61 in Adelaide, 6/76 in Brisbane, and a remarkable nine-wicket haul in Melbourne. His efforts not only solidified his dominance but also earned him the highest rating points ever achieved by an Indian bowler in history. Aiming for his second Player of the Month accolade, Bumrah also has his sights set on the prestigious Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year, marking the culmination of a truly exceptional season.
Pat Cummins (Australia):
Australia’s captain, Pat Cummins, sparked a remarkable fightback after his side fell behind 1-0 in the series, delivering inspirational performances in the December Tests. Cummins amassed 144 runs and took 17 wickets at an impressive average of 17.64. Following the setback in Perth, the reigning ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year dismantled the Indian batting order in Adelaide’s second innings, claiming 5/57 to help Australia secure a ten-wicket victory. His standout moment came in Melbourne, where, after contributing 49 runs in the first innings, he played a crucial role in the team’s recovery from 91 for 6, adding 41 valuable lower-order runs. He then bowled out India’s top three as Australia triumphed by 184 runs, seizing control of the thrilling series.
Dane Paterson (South Africa):
South African seamer Dane Paterson earns his first nomination for the ICC Men’s Player of the Month award after an outstanding return to the Proteas Test team, taking 13 wickets. Recalled for the second Test against Sri Lanka in Gqeberha, Paterson immediately justified his selection with a Player of the Match performance, claiming his maiden Test five-wicket haul. He took the crucial wickets of Dhananjaya de Silva, Kusal Mendis, and Lahiru Kumara in a stunning one-over spell, finishing with figures of 5/71. This vital contribution helped secure a 109-run victory. Paterson continued his heroics with another five-wicket performance, taking 5/61 in a tense win over Pakistan, which saw South Africa clinch their spot in the ICC World Test Championship Final at Lord’s, marking a historic achievement for the team.
ICC Women’s Player of the Month Nominees for December
Smriti Mandhana (India):
Indian opener Smriti Mandhana is aiming for her second ICC Women’s Player of the Month award after an impressive 463 runs across a packed calendar month featuring both ODI and T20I matches. The 28-year-old scored 270 runs in six 50-over games, with a standout 105 against Australia in Perth. Building on that performance, Mandhana tore through the West Indies bowling attack, scoring half-centuries in three consecutive T20Is and two more in ODIs, earning the Player of the Series award in the T20I format.
Nonkululeko Mlaba (South Africa):
South African strike bowler Nonkululeko Mlaba etched her name into history in December with a standout performance against England in their only Test at Bloemfontein. After a quiet showing in the preceding ODIs, Mlaba thrived in the longer format, utilizing the turning surface to claim four wickets and a run-out in the first innings. She followed that up with an exceptional six-wicket haul in the second innings, becoming the first South African woman to take ten wickets in a Test match.
Annabel Sutherland (Australia):
The 23-year-old all-rounder finished 2024 on a high, earning nominations for both ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year and Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year. December kicked off with her claiming wickets in Brisbane, where she took 4/39 in a dominant win in the second ODI against India. Sutherland’s form soared in the third ODI, where she smashed 110 off 98 balls, securing the Player of the Series award. She continued her outstanding performances across the Tasman, scoring a quickfire, unbeaten 105 off 81 balls in the opening ODI victory over New Zealand. In the second ODI, she added another 42 runs and took three wickets, earning another Player of the Series accolade.
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