Virat Kohli and Washington Sundar. (Source – Photo by ISHARA S. KODIKARA/AFP via Getty Images)
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has named the shortlists for the ICC Player of the Month awards for July, celebrating the standout performers from an action-packed month of international cricket.
The ICC Men’s Player of the Month shortlist features three outstanding bowlers who grabbed the headlines across all three formats of international cricket last month.
England’s Gus Atkinson entered the Test arena in July and made an immediate impact with a stunning display of destructive pace bowling in their dominant World Test Championship series victory over West Indies. Charlie Cassell of Scotland also made his first steps, this time in the ODI format, blitzing the Oman batting lineup with an inspired spell in Dundee. The lineup is completed by India’s Washington Sundar, who bowled superbly on their short-format tours of Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka.
The ICC Women’s Player of the Month shortlist contains a decorated trio of international icons who provided plenty of highlights during July’s contests.
Chamari Athapaththu continues her rich vein of form for Sri Lanka and celebrates another nomination thanks to her dramatic Women’s Asia Cup-winning exploits with the bat on home soil. India’s Smriti Mandhana aims to make it back-to-back Women’s Player of the Month awards after ending their Test series against South Africa with more run-scoring success and notable performances in their Women’s Asia Cup campaign, while compatriot Shafali Verma joins her as the final candidate for July’s award, after a record-breaking month at the top of the batting order.
ICC Men’s Player of the Month Nominees for July
Gus Atkinson (England)
26-year-old Atkinson made his introduction to the Test match arena at Lord’s in July as the legendary James Anderson was bowing out, and the pacer wasted no time in underlining his credentials as a potential successor, with supreme spells of fast bowling that saw the home side claim a dominant ICC World Test Championship series sweep over the West Indies. 22 Wickets fell to Atkinsons sharp, accurate bowling at an average of 16.22 during the month, 12 of which falling in that first Test, including seven for 45 in the first innings – the second-best haul by an England bowler on Test debut.
Charlie Cassell (Scotland)
Another impressive debut spell came courtesy of 25-year-old Cassell, who inspired Scotland to a thumping ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 win over Oman in Dundee. The fast bowler produced a record-breaking spell of seven for 21 in his 5.4 overs – the best figures for any bowler on ODI debut, beating the record previously held by South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada. Cassell started in blistering fashion, taking three wickets in his first four balls as Oman were skittled for 91, with the home side eventually securing a comfortable, valuable win by eight wickets.
Washington Sundar (India)
In the aftermath of their triumph at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 in the USA and West Indies, India headed to Zimbabwe, and among the stars of their successful tour was spinner Washington. With eight wickets over the course of their five-match contest, he claimed the Player of the Series accolade following their 4-1 win, highlighted by a superb three for 15 in the third match. The next stop was Sri Lanka, where he bowled supremely in the third T20I, including a memorable Super Over performance which restricted the hosts to just two runs in a Player of the Match display.
ICC Women’s Player of the Month Nominees for July
Chamari Athapaththu (Sri Lanka)
With a number of individual accolades under her belt in recent times, the Sri Lanka captain enjoyed another career-defining moment in July, inspiring her side to a memorable triumph in the Women’s Asia Cup on home soil. Athapaththu hit 304 runs during the competition at an average of 101.33 and a strike rate of 146.85, which included a statement, unbeaten 119 against Malaysia and two crucial half-centuries in the latter stages; the first in their tense semi-final victory over Pakistan, and the second as they stunned India to claim their maiden Women’s Asia Cup title, successfully chasing a competitive 166 for victory in Dambulla.
Smriti Mandhana (India)
Mandhana is aiming to make it back-to-back success after winning the ICC Women’s Player of the Month award in June. Her success continued into July, where she hit another superb 149 in the final Test against South Africa in Chennai, enjoying a 292-run opening stand with Shafali Verma as India eased to a ten-wicket win. Scores of 47 and 54 not out came in the subsequent T20I series against the same opposition before the opener contributed strongly in the Women’s Asia Cup, including half-centuries in the semi-final victory over Bangladesh (55 not out) and the final against Sri Lanka (60).
Shafali Verma (India)
Shafali is nominated for the first time since June 2021 and stands in contention after breaking more records in July. The 20-year-old registered the fastest double-century in women’s Test matches in India’s final Test victory over South Africa, showcasing her trademark attacking style to blast 205 in 197 balls. In addition to this, Shafali then starred in the T20I format, top-scoring for India in their Women’s Asia Cup campaign where she produced more fireworks, including in innings against Pakistan (40 in 29 balls), UAE (37 in 18 balls) and Nepal (81 in 48 balls).