New Delhi:
Indian Test vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah won the International Cricket Council (ICC)’s men’s Player of the Month award for December. Australian all-rounder Annabel Sutherland clinched the prize in the women’s category.
Bumrah had a phenomenal December 2024, which was spent entirely in three Tests of his Player of the Series (PotS) performance in the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Sutherland, meanwhile, won two PotS awards for her all-round contributions in the ODI series against India and New Zealand.
“Both players were crowned following a vote conducted among global fans registered at ICC’s official website and a specialist panel comprising ICC Hall of Famers, former international players, and media representatives,” ICC said in a release.
This was the second such award for both players. Bumrah’s 22 wickets at an average of 14.22 beat tough competition from Pat Cummins and Dane Paterson.
“I am thrilled to be named the ICC Men’s Player of the Month for December. It is always humbling to be chosen for individual accolades, and it is always nice to be recognized for your efforts,” Bumrah, said in an official statement. “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.
Whereas, Sutherland collected 269 runs at 67.25 and nine wickets in five matches to finish in front of India’s Smriti Mandhana and South Africa’s Nonkululeko Mlaba.
“December was a great month for us and it was nice to be able to contribute to the team’s success. We’ve got great depth within 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.
“Both players were crowned following a vote conducted among global fans registered at ICC’s official website and a specialist panel comprising ICC Hall of Famers, former international players, and media representatives,” ICC said in a release.
This was the second such award for both players. Bumrah’s 22 wickets at an average of 14.22 beat tough competition from Pat Cummins and Dane Paterson.
“I am thrilled to be named the ICC Men’s Player of the Month for December. It is always humbling to be chosen for individual accolades, and it is always nice to be recognized for your efforts,” Bumrah, said in an official statement. “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.
Whereas, Sutherland collected 269 runs at 67.25 and nine wickets in five matches to finish in front of India’s Smriti Mandhana and South Africa’s Nonkululeko Mlaba.
“December was a great month for us and it was nice to be able to contribute to the team’s success. We’ve got great depth within 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.
The duo could be in the fray for more awards in the coming days. Bumrah has also been nominated for the ICC Men’s Test Cricketer of the Year Award and the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year.
Sutherland, meanwhile, is in the running for ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year and the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy for ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year.
