Australia captain Pat Cummins has been named the ICC Men's Player of the Month for December following his outstanding performances against Pakistan in the Test series.
Cummins surpassed competitors Taijul Islam from Bangladesh and Glenn Phillips from New Zealand, securing the monthly award for the first time in his career.
This accomplishment further cements Australia's dominance in the Men's Player of the Month award, following Travis Head's win in November.
Cummins excelled with the ball as Australia secured a clean sweep in the three-match Test series against Pakistan, winning 3-0. He began with an impressive performance in Perth, taking three wickets in the opening match, contributing to Australia's 360-run victory over Pakistan.
However, it was during the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) that Cummins truly showcased his prowess. The Australian captain achieved five-wicket hauls in both innings, totalling 10 wickets in the match and guiding his team to a 79-run triumph.
After this outstanding display, Cummins also joined the ranks of just seven Australians who have taken 250 wickets in Test cricket. His match-winning efforts, recognised with the Player of the Match award, secured Australia's triumph in the series. This victory propelled Australia back to the number 1 spot in Test cricket.
Australia continued their success by winning the next match by eight wickets, completing a clean sweep of Pakistan with a 3-0 series win. Cummins was honoured with the Player of the Series title for his remarkable performance, claiming 19 wickets against Pakistan.
The 30-year-old had an unforgettable 2023, highlighted by significant victories and exceptional individual performances.
He successfully defended the Ashes trophy, triumphed over India in the 2023 World Test Championship final, and later secured victory against the same opponents in the 2023 ODI World Cup final at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
In the IPL 2024 mini-auction held in Dubai, Cummins garnered a significant bid of Rs 20.50 crore and was acquired by Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).
Now, Cummins is preparing to face West Indies in a two-match Test series, with the first match scheduled to commence at the Adelaide Oval on January 17.
(Powered by AI, Inputs by India Today)
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