NEW DELHI:
Shamar Joseph
made history on Tuesday by becoming the first West Indian to win the Men's
ICC Player of the Month
award. This recognition comes in light of his outstanding performance in the
Australia Test series
.
Ireland's explosive young batter
Amy Hunter
claimed the honour in the women's category after her dominance against
Zimbabwe
.
The 24-year-old pace sensation made an immediate impact in his debut Test series against Australia, notably dismissing Steve Smith with his first delivery in international cricket.
Joseph's debut Test match in Adelaide saw him claim five crucial wickets in the first innings, including the prized scalps of
Marnus Labuschagne
,
Cameron Green
, and Smith.
However, it was his exceptional performance in the second Test in Brisbane that stood out. In a challenging situation, defending a modest target of 216 runs, Joseph delivered a remarkable bowling performance by taking 7 wickets for 68 runs, including four bowled dismissals. This effort played a pivotal role in the West Indies securing a historic 1-1 draw in the series.
The outstanding display earned Joseph the Player of the Series award for his impressive debut. This latest accolade as the Men's
ICC
Player of the Month for January 2024 further cements his status as a rising star in
West Indian cricket
. Joseph's achievement also marks the first time a West Indian player has received this award since its inception in January 2021.
Joseph said, "To get such an award on the world stage feels special. I totally enjoyed every moment of that experience playing for the West Indies in Australia, especially the magic of the final day at the Gabba. Taking the wicket to win the match was a dream!
"It was a truly memorable moment for me, and I just want to continue to work hard and deliver more match-winning performances for the West Indies with the ball; and when required also with the bat."
Hunter has been honoured with the Women's ICC Player of the Month award for her exceptional performances, particularly in the T20I series against Zimbabwe. The 18-year-old wicketkeeper-batter showcased her prowess after a relatively quiet start in the ODI series earlier in the month.
In the first T20I match, Hunter played a scintillating innings, scoring an unbeaten 101 runs in just 66 balls from the opening position, contributing significantly to Ireland's 57-run victory.
She continued her impressive form in the subsequent T20Is, scoring 77 and 42 runs in the second and third matches, respectively. Hunter's consistent and explosive performances played a crucial role in Ireland securing the series win on foreign soil.
Throughout the T20I series, Hunter amassed a total of 220 runs at an impressive strike rate of 144.73, highlighting her ability to dominate the opposition bowling attacks.
This achievement marks her as the first Ireland player to receive the Women's ICC Player of the Month award since Arlene Kelly won it in August the previous year. Hunter's performances underline her status as a promising young talent making a significant impact on the international stage.
Hunter said, "It's been an amazing start to the year, with two convincing series wins against Zimbabwe. I am pleased to have been able to contribute to the team's success and hope to continue to do so."
Joseph overcame other top performers in Tests during the month: England's Ollie Pope and Australia's Josh Hazlewood, while Hunter won ahead of top Australian duo of Alyssa Healy and Beth Mooney.
(With PTI inputs)
English (US) ·