The International Cricket Council (ICC) has revealed the nominees for the Men’s Player of the Month Award for December 2023. One player from the Australian team, one from New Zealand and one from Bangladesh were shortlisted for this prestigious award.
The world governing body awards Player of the Month awards to praise outstanding performances in various formats of international cricket. Following the conclusion of the ODI World Cup 2023, the teams participated in bilateral series throughout the month.
Australian captain Pat Cummins, New Zealand all-rounder Glenn Phillips and Bangladeshi spinner Taijul Islam have bagged the award after their impressive performances. Australian opener Travis Head is the current holder of the ICC award for November 2023.
ICC Men’s Player of the Month for December 2023 nominees
Pat Cummins (Australia)
Australian captain Pat Cummins had a remarkable 2023, claiming victories in the ICC World Test Championship and ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, and retaining the Ashes. Pat Cummins showed his prowess as a captain and bowler during a Test series against Pakistan.
Taijul Islam (Bangladesh)
Taijul Islam played a pivotal role in the first Test of the two-match series against New Zealand. The left-arm spinner posted bowling figures of 4/109 in the first innings. He picked up six wickets for 75 runs in the second innings, helping the team to a 150-run victory.
Despite a loss in the second Test, Taijul continued his stellar performance, claiming five more wickets. The bowler took a total of 15 wickets in the series, earning him the Player of the Series title. He also received the Man of the Match award in the first Test match.
Glenn Phillips (New Zealand)
Glenn Phillips, known for his batting prowess, showcased his bowling skills in the Tests against Bangladesh. He claimed five wickets in the first match and also made a notable contribution with the bat, scoring 42 off 62. However, his performances were a lost cause.
In the second Test, Phillips claimed 3 wickets for 31 runs in the first innings, restricting Bangladesh to 172. He rescued the team in the first innings with an outstanding knock of 87 runs off 72 balls. He played a match-winning knock of 40 unbeaten runs during the run chase.
The 27-year-old forged a crucial partnership with Mitchell Santner (35*) after the Kiwis found themselves in a difficult situation. He played a pivotal role in leveling the two-match Test series at 1-1 for New Zealand.
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