The International Cricket Council (ICC) has made the shortlists of candidates for the December 2023 ICC Men’s and Women’s Player of the Month awards public. Three standout players from last month’s crucial ICC World Test Championship matches are on the shortlist for the ICC Men’s Player of the Month award.
After leading Australia to a series victory over Pakistan with a dominant bowling performance, Pat Cummins received his first nomination for ICC Men’s Player of the Month, capping an incredible year as captain. Thanks to his outstanding bowling performances throughout the series against New Zealand, Taijul Islam of Bangladesh is also happy to receive his first nomination. The Blackcaps’ Glenn Phillips, who is the third name in consideration for the December award, showed heroics enough in the last Test between the two teams to square the series.
Two of India’s top match-winners during their multi-format month are on the December ICC Women’s Player of the Month shortlist, together with a Zimbabwean veteran who dazzled at the ICC Women’s T20WC Africa Qualifier.
During the Africa Qualifier, Precious Marange bowled Zimbabwe to a historic victory with a brilliant run of form that included a hat-trick in the last match. In December, Jemimah Rodrigues led India’s batting assault brilliantly, scoring significant runs in both Tests and One-Day Internationals against Australia and England. Thanks to her explosive performances at both ends of the wicket, including noteworthy runs and wickets against the same opposition, colleague Deepti Sharma rounds out the selection.
The winners will be revealed the following week, and votes will now be accepted from an impartial ICC Voting Academy* and fans worldwide. Voting for their favorite acts is open to fans who have registered at icc-cricket.com/awards through Saturday.
December’s ICC Men’s Player of the Month nominees
Pat Cummins (AUS)
With so many brilliant moments in 2023, Cummins is very much in the running for the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy at the ICC Awards. December brought an end to an excellent year for Australia in all forms of cricket. As the game approached its nerve-wracking conclusion, Cummins led Australia to victory in the second Test in Melbourne, taking ten wickets in the match, five of which came at the end of the second innings. He might earn his first Player of the Month award with 13 wickets in the two Test matches, including his 250th in the longest format.
Islam Taijul (BAN)
Another player enjoying his first nomination for Player of the Month is Taijul Islam. The seasoned left-arm spinner led Bangladesh to victory in the opening Test match against the visiting Blackcaps in Sylhet with a commanding spell. New Zealand lost the first inning by 150 runs despite taking four wickets and then a remarkable six for 75. More triumph came when Taijul took five more wickets and won Player of the Series even though they lost the second Test.
Glenn Phillips ( New Zealand)
Taijul was Bangladesh’s top player, but Phillips was New Zealand’s bright spot, as they prevailed in the second game to secure a 1-1 series tie. Prior to his second-test miracle, Phillips had contributed significant runs and claimed five wickets, albeit in vain. Phillips amassed 87 of New Zealand’s 180 runs on a pitch that proved tough for hitters. He then struck the game-winning forty runs as the Blackcaps recovered from being 69 for six to achieve the necessary goal of 137.
December’s ICC Women’s Player of the Month nominees
Precious Marange (ZIM)
The seasoned bowler from Zimbabwe had a string of performances that defined her career in December, helping her team win the Women’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier. After taking two wickets in their first game against Kenya, they were unable to take any more in their encounter against Botswana. Marange then took over, winning three straight Player of the Match awards after going three for 13 against Tanzania, three for nine against Namibia, and, finally, five for seven against Uganda in the championship match to hold them to 79 all out, including a hat-trick in the 19th over.
Jemimah Rodrigues(IND)
In December, Rodrigues showed exceptional adaptability by putting up strong batting performances across all game forms. Following a poor T20I start to the month, India’s two Test triumphs against Australia and England featured elegant first-inning scores of 70 or more. After averaging over 60 in Tests and ODIs in December, Rodrigues carried on her run-scoring form into the next ODI match against the Australians, scoring 82 and 44 in the opening two games to close the month.
Deepti Sharma (IND)
The all-rounder contributed significantly to India’s December Test and ODI matches as well. Sharma’s triumph against England in the Test match stands out in particular since he scored 67 and 20 runs at bat and claimed nine wickets against the opposition. After leading India to victory in the subsequent Test match against Australia, she went on to highlight her talents in one-day cricket, going five for 38 in the second match as India narrowly lost.
India
