Following some stellar performances in December 2023, Australia skipper Pat Cummins is set to engage in a three-way fight alongside Taijul Islam and Glenn Phillips for ICC Player of the month for December award. Having whitewashed Pakistan in a rather contested Test series, the Australia skipper finds himself as the favourite to win the award.
Having had a stellar 2023, the Australian skipper claimed victories in the World Test Championship, Men’s 50-overs Cricket World Cup, and retained the Ashes. Cummins concluded the year with a remarkable performance as both captain and bowler.
In a Test series against Pakistan, Cummins demonstrated a solid start by taking three wickets in the opening match, leading Australia to victory. However, it was in the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) that Cummins truly shone.
Against a resilient Pakistan, Cummins delivered a heroic performance with a five-for in each innings (5/48 & 5/49), reaching 250 Test wickets. This effort earned him the Player of the Match award and secured the series win, propelling Australia to the No. 1 Test ranking.
In another part of the cricket world, Bangladesh’s Taijul Islam played a pivotal role against New Zealand. In the first Test, he took crucial wickets, helping Bangladesh secure a historic win. Taijul continued his brilliance in the second Test, despite the team’s loss, finishing as the highest wicket-taker in the series (15) and receiving the Player of the Series award.
Meanwhile, New Zealand’s Glenn Phillips, known for his batting and wicketkeeping, showcased his spin-bowling prowess against Bangladesh. In the first Test, he took five wickets and contributed with the bat. In the second Test, Phillips displayed his all-round abilities, taking crucial wickets and playing match-winning knocks, earning him the Player of the Match award and making him the top run-scorer for New Zealand in the series.
