Atkinson, Athapaththu named ICC Players of the Month (July 2024)
England pacer Gus Atkinson has been adjudged the ICC Men's Player of the Month for July 2024. The right-arm seamer took a record 12 wickets on his Test debut, against the West Indies, which was incidentally James Anderson's farewell game. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka's Chamari Athapaththu has been rewarded among women. She led Sri Lanka to their maiden Women's T20 Asia Cup title.
A record-breaking Test debut for Atkinson
England pacer Atkinson has been off to a memorable start in Test cricket. He was included in the squad for England's home Test series against the Windies, after Ollie Robinson fell out of favors with the selectors. Atkinson broke several records with his match haul of 12/106 on Test debut, at Lord's. The pacer made his mark as England thrased the Windies 3-0.
Notable feats attained by Atkinson
Atkison took 7/45 and 5/61 in two innings on his Test debut. He claimed the third-best innings figures on debut for England. Atkinson also recorded the third-best match figures by a pacer on Test debut after Bob Massie and Fred Martin.
Third award for Athapaththu
On the other hand, Athapaththu led Sri Lanka to their maiden Women's T20 Asia Cup title. The Lankans beat seven-time winners India to enter the record books. Athapaththu also led the runs tally, having scored 304 runs at 101.33, including a century. As per the ICC, Athapaththu has won her third Women's player-of-the-month award, the joint second-most West Indies' Hayley Matthews.
Atkinson, Athapaththu surpass their rivals
Atkinson surpassed Indian all-rounder Washington Sundar and Scotland seamer Charlie Cassell to get the player-of-the-month honor (July 2024). Meanwhile, Athapaththu piped India's Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma for the same.
All about Player of the month award
The ICC acknowledges brilliant performances every month in men's and women's categories internationally, and therefore, those players are nominated. Eventually, one of them is picked as the winner for that particular month. They have been handing out these monthly awards since the start of 2021. Renowned journalists and former cricketers form the voting panel. Meanwhile, the public has 10% voting rights.
