Jay Shah Commends Bumrah and Sutherland for Securing ICC December Player of the Month Awards

Dubai, Jan 14 (NationPress) Jay Shah, the Chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC), expressed his congratulations to India’s pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah and Australia’s all-rounder Annabel Sutherland for being recognized as the Men’s and Women’s Players of the Month for December.

“Kudos to Jasprit Bumrah and Anna Sutherland for winning the ICC Players of the Month for December!” stated Jay Shah in a message on X, previously known as Twitter.

“These two luminaries of our sport are also contenders for the ICC’s most prestigious individual awards in 2024 - the Sir Garfield Sobers ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year and the Rachel Heyhoe-Flint ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year - which will be announced later this month,” Shah added in his update.

Bumrah and Sutherland were declared the award winners on Tuesday.

Bumrah, currently the top-ranked Test bowler, showcased remarkable skill during the gripping Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia, delivering standout bowling performances, while Sutherland excelled in Australia’s ODI matches against India and New Zealand, earning the Player of the Series title on two occasions for her all-around contributions.

Bumrah claimed his second ICC Men’s Player of the Month title, surpassing fellow nominees, Pat Cummins and Dane Paterson. Sutherland, too, secured her second ICC Women’s Player of the Month award, defeating Smriti Mandhana and Nonkululeko Mlaba in the global poll.

Bumrah concluded an impressive year on the international scene with exceptional performances in Australia, taking 22 wickets across three Tests in December at an average of 14.22. As the home team gained momentum, overcoming a 1-0 deficit to lead in the series, the fast bowler led India’s charge, first showcasing his talent in Adelaide with figures of four for 61.

Moving to Brisbane, Bumrah dismantled the Australian batting order in the first innings, recording six for 76 in a fierce spell and three for 18 in the second innings. In the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne, he achieved another nine-wicket haul, including a five for 57 in the second innings, setting a new record for the highest rating points by any Indian bowler in history.

Bumrah aims to maintain his success in the upcoming weeks, where he is nominated for two top honors in the ICC Awards 2024 – the ICC Men’s Test Cricketer of the Year Award and the highly sought-after Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year.

Meanwhile, Sutherland concluded a remarkable year with both bat and ball, playing a key role in Australia’s recent victories over India and New Zealand, scoring 269 runs at an average of 67.25 and claiming nine wickets in her five matches.

Sutherland initiated her campaign with four for 39 in a dominant win against India in the second ODI in Brisbane, before following up with a stunning 110 runs off 98 balls in the final match, earning her the Player of the Series award. The subsequent series against New Zealand showcased her batting brilliance, as the 23-year-old scored an impressive 105 runs off just 81 balls, leading to a 65-run victory (DLS).

In the second match, she added another 42 runs and took three wickets, helping Australia achieve back-to-back ODI series sweeps and securing her second consecutive Player of the Series title. The all-rounder is also nominated for the ICC Awards 2024, competing in both the ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year category and the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy for ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year.