Yashasvi Jaiswal, the young Indian opener, has been named the ICC Men’s Player of the Month for February 2024. Jaiswal beat out stiff competition from veterans like Kane Williamson of New Zealand and Pathum Nissanka of Sri Lanka to claim the coveted award.
The 22-year-old Jaiswal has made an incredible start to his international career, emerging as one of the best Test openers in the world. His performances in February were nothing short of extraordinary, as he slammed two scintillating double centuries in back-to-back Test matches against England.
Double Centuries and Record-Breaking Feats
Jaiswal’s knocks of 219 in Vizag and another double century in Rajkot helped India fight back from a loss in the first Test of the series against England. In the process, he equaled the long-standing Test record for the most sixes (12) in a single innings during his Rajkot knock.
At the tender age of 22 years and 49 days, Jaiswal became the third-youngest batter in the world to record two double centuries in Tests, after the legendary Sir Donald Bradman and Vinod Kambli.
Stellar Numbers and Continued Form
Jaiswal ended February with staggering numbers – 560 runs at an average of 112, including an incredible 20 sixes. He has carried his form into March, becoming the second-quickest Indian to reach the milestone of 1000 Test runs.
Annabel Sutherland Shines for Australia
In the women’s category, Annabel Sutherland of Australia claimed the ICC Women’s Player of the Month award for February 2024. Sutherland scored 229 runs and claimed seven wickets in four matches, outperforming the UAE duo of Esha Oza and Kavisha Egodage.
Rewriting History Books
Sutherland’s standout performance came in the one-off Test against South Africa, where she rewrote history books with a marathon double century. Her rapid 210 off just 248 balls set a new record for the fastest double century in Women’s Test cricket, surpassing fellow Australian Karen Rolton’s previous mark.
At 22 years old, Sutherland became the second-youngest double centurion in Women’s Test cricket, trailing only Mithali Raj. She joined an elite group as the ninth woman and fifth Australian to score a double hundred in a Test match.
All-Round Brilliance
Sutherland’s all-round brilliance was on full display as she also claimed crucial wickets, including that of South Africa’s top-scorer Chloe Tryon, to help Australia record a massive innings and 284-run victory.
With their exceptional performances, Jaiswal and Sutherland have established themselves as rising stars in the cricketing world, setting new benchmarks and etching their names in the record books.