Nominations for the ICC’s Men’s Player of the Month award for July 2023:

1. Zak Crawley (England):
Zak Crawley stands as a prime example of England’s transformed batting approach, thriving at the top of the order. During the recently-concluded Ashes, he emerged as England’s highest run-scorer, even excelling against the new ball. His remarkable performances in July included a notable 189 (182) at Old Trafford, complemented by scores of 33 and 44 at Headingley, along with innings of 22 and 73, which contributed to England’s 2-2 series draw and earned crucial World Test Championship points for the 2023-2025 cycle. Throughout the month, Crawley amassed an impressive total of 412 runs at an average of 58.85.

2. Chris Woakes (England):
Chris Woakes played a pivotal role in England’s fortunes during the crucial third Ashes Test at Headingley. As a bowling all-rounder, he made a significant impact by removing Marnus Labuschagne early on the first morning and subsequently dismissing Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh, restricting Australia to 263 runs. Woakes continued his brilliance by taking three more wickets in Australia’s second innings of 224 and then scoring the winning runs alongside Mark Wood in an unbeaten 32*. Additionally, he claimed five wickets in the first innings in Manchester and a total of seven wickets in the final Test, contributing to England’s 2-2 series draw. His bowling average for the month was an impressive 18.15. Despite playing in only three of the five Test matches, Woakes was honored with the Ashes 2023 Player of the Series award.

3. Bas de Leede (Netherlands):
Bas de Leede delivered a sensational performance in men’s ODIs, earning the Netherlands a coveted spot in the Cricket World Cup. In a high-stakes match against Scotland in Bulawayo, the 23-year-old displayed extraordinary talent, claiming five wickets for just 52 runs and delivering a remarkable century, scoring 123 runs. His exceptional feat of achieving the five-wicket/century double placed him in an exclusive list of just five players in the history of ODI cricket, joining the likes of Viv Richards, Paul Collingwood, Rohan Mustafa, and Amelia Kerr. In another match in July, de Leede contributed with 39 runs against Oman, further establishing himself as a formidable all-rounder ahead of the Cricket World Cup scheduled for October and November.

In a remarkable achievement, Harry Tector of Ireland has been named the ICC Men’s Player of the Month (POTM) for May. The 23-year-old talented cricketer surpassed competition from Pakistan’s captain Babar Azam and Bangladesh’s Najmul Hossain Shanto to secure his first-ever POTM accolade.

During a three-match ODI series against Bangladesh, the right-handed batsman exhibited his prowess by amassing 206 runs. His exceptional highlight was a breathtaking knock of 140 off 112 balls in the second ODI, which included 10 sixes and seven boundaries. Tector also contributed valuable scores of 21* and 45 in the first and third ODIs, respectively.

Meanwhile, Babar Azam displayed his class by scoring 162 runs in a three-match ODI series against New Zealand, with notable innings of 107 and 54 in the second and first ODIs.

Najmul Hossain Shanto, on the other hand, showcased his skills with scores of 44, 117, and 35 in the ODI series against Ireland.

Expressing his delight upon receiving the award, Tector expressed his gratitude to those who voted for him. However, he humbly emphasized that cricket is a team sport and credited the performances and progress of the entire Ireland men’s squad for his achievement. Tector acknowledged the support of Heinrich Malan, Andrew Balbirnie, and the dedicated group of coaches and players he works with, believing that more Irish players will soon be recognized in a similar manner.