DUBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced the nominees for the Player of the Month Awards for July 2024 on Monday.
The ICC Player of the Month award celebrates outstanding individual performances on the international stage. The nominees for July include England’s pace bowler Gus Atkinson, India’s off-spinner Washington Sundar, and Scotland’s pace bowler Charlie Cassell.
Charlie Cassell, the Scottish pace bowler, made his ODI debut in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 match against Oman. Cassell made a remarkable first impression, claiming the best bowling figures on debut in ODI cricket, surpassing South African fast bowler Kagiso Rabada’s nine-year-old record. Cassell took 7-21, becoming the first bowler to take seven wickets on debut.
Gus Atkinson, another debutant, impressed in his first game. He made his Test debut in legendary James Anderson’s farewell international match during the series against West Indies. Atkinson dismantled the West Indian batting line-up, claiming a five-wicket haul in each inning and finishing with 12 wickets in the match. He was named man of the match as England defeated West Indies by an innings and 114 runs. Atkinson continued his impressive form, taking 10 more wickets across the remaining two Tests and earning the Player of the Series award.
Washington Sundar, the third nominee, returned to the Indian side during the T20I series against Zimbabwe. Sundar stepped up in the absence of India’s first-choice players, who were rested after the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 triumph. The spin-bowling all-rounder helped India defeat Zimbabwe 2-1 in the series and was named Player of the Series for his eight wickets across three games.
Sundar also played a crucial role in the following T20I series against Sri Lanka, despite only playing one game. He scored 25 off 18 balls, helping India post 137/9. He then took two important wickets during Sri Lanka’s innings, forcing the game into a Super Over. Sundar bowled the Super Over, taking two wickets for two runs and earning the Player of the Match award.
These exceptional performances by Cassell, Atkinson, and Sundar have earned them nominations for the ICC Player of the Month Award for July 2024. Fans eagerly await the announcement of the winner, celebrating the remarkable achievements of these talented cricketers.
