ICC Players of the Month for July 2024 Announced

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has revealed the recipients of the ICC Players of the Month awards for July 2024. England’s Gus Atkinson and Sri Lanka’s Chamari Athapaththu have been crowned as the standout performers in men’s and women’s cricket, respectively, for their exceptional contributions to the sport during the month.

Men’s Player of the Month: Gus Atkinson

A Stellar Test Debut

Gus Atkinson, the 26-year-old English fast bowler, made an unforgettable entrance into Test cricket during England’s ICC World Test Championship series against the West Indies. His remarkable performance played a pivotal role in England’s comprehensive 3-0 series victory on home soil.

Impressive Statistics

Atkinson’s debut series was nothing short of spectacular, as he claimed an impressive 22 wickets at an average of 16.22. This outstanding performance earned him the Player of the Series accolade, setting a high benchmark for his future in international cricket.

Record-Breaking Start at Lord’s

The young pacer’s impact was immediate and devastating. On the opening day of the first Test at Lord’s, Atkinson delivered a breathtaking spell, taking seven wickets for 45 runs. This remarkable feat stands as the second-best Test haul for any England bowler in a home Test debut. He followed this up with another five wickets in the second innings, finishing with match figures of 12 for 106.

Consistent Performances Throughout the Series

Atkinson’s form continued throughout the series. He claimed four wickets in Nottingham and six more in Birmingham, showcasing his ability to maintain consistency and pressure on the opposition batsmen. His sharp and accurate bowling was instrumental in England’s dominant performance and their surge up the ICC World Test Championship standings.

A Historic Achievement

With this award, Atkinson becomes the first English cricketer to win the ICC Men’s Player of the Month since Chris Woakes in July 2023. This recognition underscores the impact of his debut and hints at a promising future for England’s pace attack.

Women’s Player of the Month: Chamari Athapaththu

Leading from the Front

Chamari Athapaththu, the influential captain of the Sri Lankan women’s cricket team, continued to demonstrate her exceptional leadership and batting prowess in July. Her performances were instrumental in Sri Lanka’s historic triumph in the Women’s Asia Cup.

Impressive Tournament Statistics

Throughout the competition, Athapaththu amassed 304 runs at an outstanding average of 101.33. Even more impressive was her strike rate of 146.85, highlighting her ability to dominate bowling attacks and set the pace of the game.

Key Performances

Athapaththu’s month was filled with crucial innings that propelled her team to victory:

1. An explosive unbeaten 119 against Malaysia
2. A vital half-century in the tense semi-final victory over Pakistan
3. A match-winning 61 in the final against India, guiding Sri Lanka to their first-ever Women’s Asia Cup title

A Rare Achievement

This latest accolade marks Athapaththu’s third ICC Women’s Player of the Month award, placing her in an elite group. She joins Australia’s Ashleigh Gardner and the West Indies’ Hayley Matthews as the only players to have won this honor three times.

The Voting Process

The ICC Player of the Month awards are determined through a combination of fan votes and expert opinions. The process involves:

1. Votes from global fans registered at icc-cricket.com
2. Input from a specialist panel comprising ICC Hall of Famers, former international players, and media representatives

For the men’s award, Atkinson triumphed over Scotland’s Charlie Cassell and India’s Washington Sundar. In the women’s category, Athapaththu prevailed against the Indian opening pair of Shafali Verma and the previous month’s winner, Smriti Mandhana.