The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced Jasprit Bumrah and Annabel Sutherland as the ICC December Player of the Month. Both players delivered exceptional performances on the international stage, showcasing their prowess and leaving a lasting impact on the cricketing world.
Jasprit Bumrah
Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah has added yet another feather to his cap by clinching the Men’s ICC December Player of the Month award in 2024. Along with his magnificent bowling during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia. In these three Tests, Bumrah took an astonishing 22 wickets at an average of merely 14.22, demonstrating that he can perform under pressure. Within this included some game-changing spells and nothing less than one of the best bowlers in modern cricket.
Player of the Series 🏅
Jasprit Bumrah – a notch above the rest in the #AUSvIND series 🙌
More ➡️ https://t.co/wXHhtLNeEI#WTC25 pic.twitter.com/UYdH9tafUb
— ICC (@ICC) January 5, 2025
Jasprit Bumrah’s Key Performances
- Adelaide Test：The Adelaide Test saw Bumrah start the series by taking four wickets for India in the first innings, which clawed back the Australian lead and kept India within striking distance.
- Brisbane Test：The Brisbane Test was where Bumrah’s tremendous brilliance was put forth in snatching six wickets during Australia’s first innings, literally decimating their batting stalwarts. Another three wickets fell under his magical dalliance during the second innings, and his nine wickets across the match finally made sure that the match stayed in a rain-affected draw.
- Melbourne Test (Boxing Day Test)：Bumrah, having taken four wickets in the first innings, plummeted to five wickets in the second. India national cricket team went down on the day, but Bumrah had a role to play in an extremely difficult match for the visitors.
Bumrah also achieved some benchmark feats during the series, being the only bowler in history to rack up 200 Test wickets at an average of less than 20 and becoming the first Indian player to set the highest ICC ratings for Test bowlers. These outstanding performances have certainly made Bumrah deserving of the ICC December Player of the Month.
Annabel Sutherland
Australian all-rounder Annabel Sutherland capped off a stellar year by winning the ICC December Player of the Month award in the women’s category. Her all-round brilliance played a pivotal role in Australia national cricket team‘s unbeaten ODI series against India and New Zealand. Sutherland’s performances were nothing short of exceptional, as she amassed 269 runs at an average of 67.25 and a strike rate of 113.98. With the ball, she claimed nine wickets at an economy rate of 3.85, showcasing her ability to influence games with both bat and ball.
Annabel Sutherland continues her fiery form with a second consecutive ODI ton 🔥 #AUSvNZ | ➡ https://t.co/kOQFsedmjE pic.twitter.com/DSnaVyYTMt
— ICC (@ICC) December 22, 2024
Annabel Sutherland’s Key Performances
- India ODI Series：Sutherland did a turnaround in the second ODI in Brisbane with match-winning bowling figures of 4/39 and helped Australia win the match. She followed this up with a brilliant 110 runs off 95 balls in the final ODI and sealed a 3-0 win for Australia in the series.
- New Zealand ODI Series：Sutherland continued her good form with an unbeaten 105 runs off 81 balls in the first match, leading the way to another series. In the final ODI, she made 42 runs and took three pivotal wickets to ensure the ascendancy of Australia.
Conclusion
Awarded ICC December Player of the Month is a testament to the greatness of two cricketer legends. Jasprit Bumrah has been simply phenomenal with the ball while Annabel Sutherland has shone as an all-rounder, providing some thrilling moments on the field that resonated quite well among the players and the crowd alike. Bumrah and Sutherland will likely face many challenges in 2025, their last year performances remaining a true marker of class, determination, and their overall imprint on the game.
