England's star all-rounder, Chris Woakes, has been crowned the ICC Men's Player of the Month for July 2023, a recognition of his commendable performance during the electrifying men's Ashes series against Australia. Outpacing competition like his teammate Zak Crawley, who showcased outstanding skills with the bat, and Netherlands' prodigy, Bas de Leede, for his remarkable show in the 2023 ODI World Cup qualifiers, Woakes proved to be the standout performer.
"It's very nice to have been voted ICC Men's Player of the Month for July. Everything we did in the Ashes was a team effort, and no individual awards would be possible without everyone else doing their job but it's always nice to be recognised, especially when it's a public vote," Woakes said after winning the prize.
Remarkably, Woakes' efforts in the Ashes 2023 were not just restricted to this monthly accolade. His pivotal role in steering England's recovery from a 2-0 deficit, ultimately culminating in a thrilling 2-2 series draw, fetched him the Player of the Series award. While Australia managed to retain the cherished Ashes Urn, England's spirited and entertaining cricket style was a spectacle for fans worldwide.
It was Woakes' inclusion in the lineup and his tally of 19 wickets in three matches that breathed life into England's campaign. Not to be overshadowed by his bowling, Woakes' batting came to the fore as he contributed 32 pivotal runs in the Headingley Test's second innings, narrowing Australia's series lead. In the three Tests he played, he accumulated a commendable 79 runs.
On the women's cricket front, Ashleigh Gardner is making waves, achieving the remarkable feat of becoming the first-ever cricketer, irrespective of gender, to secure the ICC Player of the Month award in back-to-back months. This recognition marks Gardner's fourth win of this prestigious award, outclassing fellow all-rounders Ellyse Perry and Nat Sciver-Brunt.
Gardner's remarkable consistency was evident during the T20I leg of the women's Ashes, with notable contributions with the bat. Despite going wicketless in two T20Is, her bowling was on point in the second T20I where she claimed two scalps. The ODI series further underscored Gardner's all-round capabilities. The dynamic 26-year-old fetched three wickets in each game while racking up a total of 95 runs throughout the ODI series, emphasizing her importance in the Australian lineup.
MORE ON SPORTS TAK:
Australia captain Pat Cummins reveals timeline of return from injury, set to miss SA ODIs before joining national team for India tour
History scripted in Toronto as USA U-19 team scores 515/8 in 50 overs, trounce Argentina by a mammoth 450 runs
