The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Monday, August 12, announced the winners of the ICC Men's Player of the Month and ICC Women's Player of the Month awards for July 2024. England’s pace sensation Gus Atkinson has been named the ICC Men's Player of the Month for July 2024 for his dream debut in his maiden Test series against the West Indies at home. He defeated India’s Washington Sundar and Scotland’s Cassell to win the award. Talking about Women’s cricket Sri Lanka’s captain, Chamari Athapaththu, helped her team win the Asia Cup title against defending champions India. She won the ICC Women’s Player of the Month award for July 2024 defeating Indian duo Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Varma.
Gus Atkinson had a dream debut against West Indies helped England to secure a 3-0 series win. The 26-year-old got 22 scalps during the series at an average of 16.22 also winning the Player of the Series.
This marked the third ICC Women’s Player of the Month award for the Sri Lankan captain equaling the record of the West Indies’ Hayley Matthews as the joint second-most successful cricketer in the Women’s Player of the Month award history. Athapathu is just behind Australia’s Ashleigh Gardner, who has 4 ICC Women’s Player of the Month awards to her name. Athapaththu played a key role in Sri Lanka's Asia Cup 2024 triumph, scoring 304 runs at a strike rate of 146.85 helping Sri Lanka turn the tables.
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“I am happy and honored to have been chosen as the ICC Women's Player of the Month' for the third time. I believe these recognitions will send a positive message to thousands of girls who are already playing cricket in my country and also elsewhere and want to play for their country; that commitment and dedication for the game will one day pay off.” Athapaththu said on the win.
Atkinson after the win said “It's an honour to play and represent my country. I know there is a lot of hard work ahead, especially with a big series against Sri Lanka coming up. I'm excited to maintain consistency and do my best to help England succeed.”
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