ICC announces February Player of the Month nominees

The ICC today revealed the outstanding performers nominated for the ICC Men’s and Women’s Player of the Month Awards for February 2023, capturing the thrilling action that played out across international cricket during the month, including in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023 and the ICC World Test Championship.

Among the names in contention to claim the February awards is the current ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year, two top-ranked all-rounders, and two Test newcomers.

The three nominees for the ICC Women’s Player of the Month all enjoyed a memorable ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023 in South Africa.

Ashleigh Gardner won the award back in December and her inspirational all-round form in February earned her the Player of the Tournament prize as Australia claimed a sixth global T20 crown. Nat Sciver-Brunt followed up her recent ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year Award with a string of impressive batting performances, steering England to another World Cup semi-final. Completing the lineup for the Women’s Player of the Month is leading run scorer from the event, Laura Wolvaardt, who thrilled in a series of performances that led South Africa to their maiden T20 World Cup Final.

Forming the candidates on the ICC Men’s Player of the Month shortlist are three prolific performers in the longest format.

Harry Brook continues to thrive in Test cricket, and yet more explosive scoring during England’s series in New Zealand last month earns him another nomination for the award, following his win back in December. Ravindra Jadeja is on the shortlist for the first time after inspiring a dominant start to the series for India in their World Test Championship battle against Australia. The final name in line for the ICC Men’s Player of the Month crown is the West Indies’ spinner Gudakesh Motie, who returned staggering figures in a record-breaking bowling display during their away Test series in Zimbabwe.

An independent ICC Voting Academy* and fans around the world will now cast their votes to decide the winners, which will be announced next week. Fans registered are invited to head online to pick their favourite stars until Sunday.

ICC Women’s Player of the Month Nominees for February:

Ashleigh Gardner (Aus)

Australian all-rounder Gardner arrived in South Africa atop the MRF Tyres ICC Women’s T20I Player Rankings, and her form with bat and ball during February helped illustrate why she sits at the summit. Scoring 110 runs and taking ten wickets at 12.50 across the tournament, her vital contributions included a starring role in the thrilling semi-final victory over India, scoring a crucial 31 (18 balls) and taking two wickets in the match, one of which being the prized scalp of Smriti Mandhana. Valuable runs in the Final also earned Gardner the Player of the Tournament accolade, to sit alongside the ultimate prize – the Women’s T20 World Cup trophy.

Nat Sciver-Brunt (Eng)

Despite falling short at the semi-final stage of the Women’s T20 World Cup, Sciver-Brunt proved a pivotal figure in England’s top order throughout the tournament thanks to her powerful hitting and varied strokeplay. The England star recently celebrated scooping the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy for ICC Women’s Player of the Year in 2022, and her extended spell of good form continued with four 40-plus scores across five matches, resulting in 216 runs at an average of 72.00. Shortlisted for the ICC Women’s Player of the Month on five occasions, she is yet to seal her maiden award win, but is well-placed to break that run after a sterling February.

Laura Wolvaardt (SA)

South Africa enjoyed a historic run to the Women’s T20 World Cup Final, owed in large part to the brilliance of Wolvaardt at the top of the order. The latter stages of the event saw the 23-year-old at her most mesmerizing, scoring big in wins against Bangladesh (66 not out), England (53) and in the Final against Australia (61). These successive scores ensured Wolvaardt ended the tournament as the leading run-scorer with 230 runs, capping a memorable campaign for herself and her Proteas teammates.

ICC Men’s Player of the Month Nominees for February:

Harry Brook (Eng)

Despite having only made his Test debut in September last year, Harry Brook is already emerging as England’s newest danger man in the format, and after winning the ICC Men’s Player of the Month award back in December, he’s showing no signs of slowing down. February saw him produce another explosive display in New Zealand. His 329 runs across two Tests included a stunning 186 in the second Test at Wellington, an innings which featured 24 fours and five sixes, highlighting the threat he holds in England’s resurgent Test team.

Ravindra Jadeja (Ind)

February saw the top two sides in the ICC World Test Championship standings go head-to-head in the long-awaited series in India, and number one ranked all-rounder in Tests Jadeja was quick to showcase his ability as the home team took a 2-0 series lead. Jadeja utilised favourable conditions to take 17 Australian wickets during the month, including an excellent seven for 42 in the second Test in Delhi. Equally impressive with the bat, Jadeja’s innings of 70 in the first Test set the tone for India’s early success as they aim to qualify for the World Test Championship Final at the Oval in June.

Gudakesh Motie (WI)

With only one previous Test to his name before February began, left-arm spinner Motie excelled as the West Indies clinched a 1-0 series victory in Zimbabwe last month. Taking 19 wickets throughout the two-Test series, Motie registered landmark figures of 13-99 in their triumphant second Test in Bulawayo – the best match haul by a West Indies spinner in Test history. The figures were enough to earn him the Player of the Series tag, and his first nomination for the ICC Men’s Player of the Month award, where he has the potential to be the first-ever West Indian winner.

The ICC Player of the Month Voting Process:

The three nominees for either category are shortlisted based on performances from the first to the last day of each calendar month. The shortlist is then voted on by the independent ICC Voting Academy* and fans around the world. The ICC Voting Academy comprises prominent members of the cricket fraternity including well-known journalists, former players, broadcasters and members of the ICC Hall of Fame. The Voting Academy submit their votes by email and hold a 90 per cent share of the vote. Fans registered with the ICC can vote via the ICC website, accounting for the remaining 10 per cent. Winners are announced every second Monday of the month on ICC’s digital channels.

Voting Academy for ICC Player of the Month February 2023:

Afghanistan: Hameed Qayoomi and Javed Hamim; Australia: Scott Bailey and Lisa Sthalekar; Bangladesh: Mohammad Sekander Ali and Md Ariful Islam Roney; England: Elizabeth Ammon and Lydia Greenway; Ireland: Ger Siggins and Clare Shillington; India: Lavanya Lakshmi Narayanan and Irfan Pathan; New Zealand: Merryn Anderson and Craig Cumming; Pakistan: Sawera Pasha and Sana Mir; South Africa: Zaahier Adams and Ashwell Prince; Sri Lanka: Azzam Ameen and Farveez Maharoof; West Indies: Daren Ganga and Stacy Ann King; Zimbabwe: Daniel Nhakaniso and Mpumelelo Mbangwa; Others: Ajit Vijaykumar and Dirk Nannes.