ICC Player of the Month Awards: Shamar Joseph, Amy Hunter bag honours for stellar show in January 2024

Add as a preferred source on Google

The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday (February 13) unveiled the winners of the ICC Men's and Women's Player of the Month awards for January 2024. The announcement comes after the names of the shortlists were revealed last week.

Young West Indies cricketer Shamar Joseph clinched his inaugural ICC Men's Player of the Month accolade after his outstanding debut for the West Indies during their thrilling Test series in Australia.

Ireland's Amy Hunter secured the ICC Women's Player of the Month title for her remarkable batting performances in her team's T20I series victory over Zimbabwe.

ICC Male Cricketer of the Month January 2024

In the men's category, Joseph enjoyed a remarkable start to his West Indies career. Introduced into the side for the Test series against Australia, the 24-year-old left an immediate impact, dismissing Steve Smith with his debut ball in international cricket.

In his maiden Test appearance, Joseph claimed five wickets in the first innings in Adelaide, including the prized wickets of Marnus Labuschagne and Cameron Green in addition to Smith. However, it was his exceptional performance in the second Test in Brisbane that stood out.

Tasked with defending a modest total of 216 to thwart an Australian victory in the second innings, Joseph showcased a memorable display of fast bowling, taking seven wickets for 68 runs - four of which were bowled - to dismantle the home side just eight runs shy of the target.

This victory enabled the West Indies to secure a historic 1-1 draw, with Joseph clinching the Player of the Series award for his impressive debut. This latest recognition makes him the first West Indian to claim the ICC Men's Player of the Month award since its inception in January 2021.

Reflecting on his achievement, ICC Men's Player of the Month for January, Shamar Joseph, expressed his delight, stating, "I am extremely thrilled to receive this award. It's a special feeling to be recognized on the global stage. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of representing the West Indies in Australia, especially the exhilarating final day at the Gabba. Claiming the winning wicket was a dream come true!"

He further added, "It was an unforgettable moment for me, and I aim to continue working hard and delivering more match-winning performances for the West Indies, both with the ball and, when necessary, with the bat. I would like to extend a special thank you to my teammates and the support staff in Australia who supported me from the start to accomplish our goals. While I am the one receiving this award, it is also a testament to the team's effort and the fans back home in the West Indies."

ICC Female Player of the Month for January 2024

In the women's category, Amy Hunter emerges as another young talent making waves on the international stage, securing her debut award on the back of stellar batting displays as Ireland triumphed over Zimbabwe last month.

Following a subdued start in the ODI series, Hunter delivered explosive performances in the T20I series in Harare. In the first T20I match, the 18-year-old wicketkeeper-batter smashed an impressive unbeaten 101 runs off just 66 balls at the top of the order, propelling the away side to a 57-run victory.

Hunter continued her fine form with scores of 77 and 42 runs in the second and third matches respectively, aiding Ireland in securing a comfortable series win on foreign soil.

Throughout the three T20Is, her tally of 220 runs came at an impressive strike rate of 144.73, making her the first Ireland player to claim the ICC Women's Player of the Month award since Arlene Kelly in August 2023.

Expressing her gratitude, ICC Women's Player of the Month for January, Amy Hunter, said, "It's a privilege to receive the ICC Women's Player of the Month award for January. To be shortlisted alongside two of the world's best players is a source of immense pride for me."

She continued, "It has been an incredible start to the year, with two convincing series wins against Zimbabwe. I am pleased to have contributed to the team's success and hope to continue doing so in the future."

Joseph and Hunter secured their awards through votes cast by global fans registered at icc-cricket.com and a specialised panel consisting of ICC Hall of Famers, former international players, and media representatives.

Joseph emerged victorious over other standout performers in Tests during the month, including England's Ollie Pope and Australia's Josh Hazlewood, while Hunter claimed victory over the Australian duo of Alyssa Healy and Beth Mooney.