The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the shortlists for the ICC Player of the Month awards for July, highlighting the standout performers from a thrilling month of international cricket.
The ICC Men’s Player of the Month shortlist features three remarkable bowlers who made headlines across all formats. England’s Gus Atkinson burst onto the Test scene in July with a brilliant display of pace bowling in their dominant World Test Championship series win over West Indies. Scotland’s Charlie Cassell shone in the ODI format, dismantling Oman’s batting lineup with a spectacular spell in Dundee. Completing the lineup is India’s Washington Sundar, who delivered exceptional performances during their short-format tours of Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka.
The ICC Women’s Player of the Month shortlist includes three celebrated international stars who provided plenty of highlights during July. Sri Lanka’s Chamari Athapaththu continued her excellent form, earning another nomination for her dramatic batting performances that led to a Women’s Asia Cup victory on home soil. India’s Smriti Mandhana aims to secure consecutive Women’s Player of the Month awards after concluding their Test series against South Africa with more run-scoring success and notable performances in the Women’s Asia Cup. Fellow Indian Shafali Verma is the final candidate, following a record-breaking month at the top of the batting order.
ICC Men’s Player of the Month Nominees for July
Gus Atkinson (England)
Atkinson, 26, made his Test debut at Lord’s in July as James Anderson retired. Atkinson impressed immediately, delivering superb fast bowling spells that contributed to England’s dominant ICC World Test Championship series sweep over the West Indies. He took 22 wickets at an average of 16.22 during the month, with 12 wickets in his first Test, including seven for 45 in the first innings – the second-best haul by an England bowler on Test debut.
Charlie Cassell (Scotland)
Cassell, 25, inspired Scotland to a commanding ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 win over Oman in Dundee. He produced a record-breaking spell of seven for 21 in 5.4 overs – the best figures for any bowler on ODI debut, surpassing the previous record held by South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada. Cassell started strongly, taking three wickets in his first four balls, leading to Oman being bowled out for 91 and securing a comfortable win for Scotland by eight wickets.
Washington Sundar (India)
Following India’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 triumph, they toured Zimbabwe, where Washington Sundar emerged as a star. He claimed eight wickets in the five-match series, earning the Player of the Series title after their 4-1 win, highlighted by three for 15 in the third match. Sundar then excelled in Sri Lanka, delivering a memorable Super Over performance in the third T20I, restricting the hosts to just two runs and winning the Player of the Match award.
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ICC Women’s Player of the Month Nominees for July
Chamari Athapaththu (Sri Lanka)
Sri Lanka’s captain, Athapaththu, enjoyed a career-defining moment in July, leading her team to a memorable Women’s Asia Cup triumph at home. She scored 304 runs during the competition at an average of 101.33 and a strike rate of 146.85, including an unbeaten 119 against Malaysia and crucial half-centuries in the semi-final win over Pakistan and the final against India, helping Sri Lanka chase down 166 for victory in Dambulla.
Smriti Mandhana (India)
Mandhana is aiming for back-to-back success after winning the ICC Women’s Player of the Month award in June. Her strong form continued into July, where she scored 149 in the final Test against South Africa in Chennai, partnering with Shafali Verma for a 292-run opening stand that led to a ten-wicket win. She also scored 47 and 54 not out in the subsequent T20I series and contributed significantly in the Women’s Asia Cup with half-centuries in the semi-final win over Bangladesh and the final against Sri Lanka.
Shafali Verma (India)
Shafali, nominated for the first time since June 2021, had a record-breaking July. The 20-year-old hit the fastest double-century in women’s Test matches, scoring 205 in 197 balls in India’s final Test win over South Africa. She also excelled in the T20I format, top-scoring for India in the Women’s Asia Cup, with standout performances against Pakistan, UAE, and Nepal.