India pacer Jasprit Bumrah and Australia all-rounder Annabel Sutherland have been named ICC Men's and Women's Players of the Month for December, respectively on Tuesday.
Bumrah, the number one Test bowler, stood firm against Australia's revival in an exciting Border-Gavaskar Trophy series with match-winning spells of bowling, while Sutherland was in irresistible form for Australia in their ODIs against India and New Zealand, winning the Player of the Series award on both occasions through her all-round performances.
"Both players were elected following a vote carried out amongst the ICC's official website registered fans from around the world and a specialist panel consisting of ICC Hall of Famers, former international cricketers, and media persons," the ICC said in a statement.
Bumrah claims his second ICC Men's Player of the Month award from among the fellow nominees, World Test Championship wicket-takers Pat Cummins and Dane Paterson. Sutherland also claimed her second ICC Women's Player of the Month award, surpassing Smriti Mandhana and Nonkululeko Mlaba in the global vote.
International cricketing year, topped by Bumrah also reached its close with a, more impressive stint in Australia taking 22 wickets at 14.22 from the three Tests played in December.
As the home side grew in confidence, battling back from a 1-0 deficit to take the lead in the series, the seamer spearheaded India's resistance, first starring in Adelaide with four for 61. Onward to Brisbane and Bumrah blitzed the Australian batting lineup in the first innings, recording six for 76 in a fearsome spell in the first innings and three for 18 in the second.
It included a spell of five for 57 in the second innings in another nine-wicket return in the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne, on which the 31-year-old set a new record for the highest rating points tally by any Indian bowler in history.
Bumrah will look forward to the next few weeks when he has been nominated for two of the top honours in the ICC Awards 2024, the ICC Men's Test Cricketer of the Year Award and the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for ICC Men's Cricketer of the Year.
I am excited to be awarded the ICC Men's Player of the Month for December. It is always a humbling feeling to be picked for individual accolades, and it is always nice to get recognized for one's efforts," Bumrah said. "The Border-Gavaskar Trophy was one of the most closely-fought contests ever, and it was an honour for me to go out there and perform for my country," he said.
ICC Women's Player of the Month, Sutherland capped a landmark year with the bat and ball starring in Australia's recent wins over India and New Zealand, notching 269 runs at 67.25 and nine wickets in her five outings.
Sutherland started with four for 39 in a comprehensive win over India in the second ODI at Brisbane, then backed it up with the bat in spectacular fashion, hitting 110 in 98 balls to take out the Player of the Series award.
The subsequent series against New Zealand across the Tasman Sea saw another display of batting prowess, and the 23-year-old hit a statement 105 runs in just 81 balls en route to opening victory by 65 runs (DLS).
The second matchup saw her hit another 42 runs and take three wickets as Australia claimed back-to-back ODI series sweeps and Sutherland a second successive Player of the Series accolade.
She also happens to be nominated for the ICC Awards 2024. The cricketer finds herself in the list for the ICC Women's ODI Cricketer of the Year as well as Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy for ICC Women's Cricketer of the Year.
"December was a fantastic month for us, and it was wonderful to be able to contribute to the team's success," she says. We have great depth in the squad, so to be able to make the most of the opportunities to spend some time out in the middle was really pleasing, Sutherland said. Those ODIs were really important for us ahead of the upcoming Women's Cricket World Cup, and it was great to be able to win both series against India and New Zealand, she added.
Read also| Shubman Gill to Join Punjab Squad for Ranji Trophy Clash Against Karnataka