The International Cricket Council introduced the nominees for the ICC Men’s and Women’s Player of the Month awards for January 2024 on February 5. English batter Ollie Pope, who famously smashed 196 in opposition to India in a primary Test match, is amongst three nominees for the prestigious ICC award. 

Pope’s 196-run knock in the second innings of the Hyderabad Test proved a game-changer as India had taken an enormous 190-run lead of their first innings. The No. 3 English batter performed a memorable knock whereas the different batters struggled in opposition to India’s spectacular spin assault.

The English batter faces robust competitors for the ICC’s month-to-month award from quick bowlers Josh Hazlewood and Shamar Joseph. The Australian pacer took 19 wickets in six Test innings in January and was the main wicket-taker in the two-match Test sequence in opposition to West Indies final month. 

Shamar Joseph stole the limelight in January with a sensational begin to his Test profession. The right-arm pacer dismissed Steve Smith on his first supply in worldwide cricket throughout the first Test match in Adelaide which he became a five-wicket haul as nicely.

However, Shamar’s finest efficiency got here in the second match at Gabba the place he took seven wickets in the second innings to clinch the recreation and stage the two-match sequence. Shamar bagged the Player of the Series award for his 13 wickets as West Indies ended their winless run in Tests in opposition to Australia.

Meanwhile, Australia’s in-form batters Beth Mooney and Alyssa Healy and the younger Irish wicketkeeper batter Amy Hunter are three nominees for the ICC Women’s Player of the Month for January 24. 

The 18-year-old Amy Hunter scored 101* and 77* in opposition to Zimbabwe Women in the five-match T20I sequence final month and grew to become the youngest cricketer, male of feminine, to register a century in each ODIs and T20Is. 

ICC Men’s Player of the Month nominees for January 2024:

1. Ollie Pope (England) – 197 Test runs
2. Josh Hazlewood (Australia) – 19 Test wickets
3. Shamar Joseph (West Indies) – 13 Test wickets

ICC Women’s Player of the Month nominees for January 2024:

1. Alyssa Healy (Australia) – 174 T20I runs, 82 ODI runs
2. Beth Mooney (Australia) – 256 T20I runs
3. Amy Hunter (Ireland) – 220 T20I runs