Atkinson and Athapaththu Crowned ICC Players of the Month

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the winners of the prestigious ICC Player of the Month awards for July 2024. England’s exciting new fast bowler, Gus Atkinson, and Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu were recognized for their outstanding performances in July.

Atkinson, making his Test debut, spearheaded England’s bowling attack in their dominant 3-0 series win over the West Indies in the ICC World Test Championship. The 26-year-old wasted no time making his mark, grabbing a sensational seven wickets for just 45 runs on the opening day at Lord’s – the second-best bowling figures ever for an England bowler on Test debut at home! He continued his destructive form throughout the series, finishing with an impressive haul of 22 wickets at an average of just over 16 runs each, earning him the Player of the Series award. This performance not only secured England a crucial victory but also established Atkinson as a potential successor to the legendary James Anderson, who recently retired from international cricket.

Gus Atkinson commented: “It is a real privilege to win the ICC Player of the Month! The start to my Test career has been unbelievable, and I never imagined achieving this level of success in my first series with England. I am incredibly grateful to my teammates and the fantastic environment created by Baz (Brendon McCullum) and Stokesy (Ben Stokes). 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.”

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s inspirational captain, Chamari Athapaththu, led her team to a historic Women’s Asia Cup victory in July. She was at the heart of Sri Lanka’s success, dominating the batting charts with 304 runs at a phenomenal average of over 101 and a blistering strike rate of nearly 150. Her explosive unbeaten 119 against Malaysia was a standout performance, while crucial half-centuries in the tense semi-final against Pakistan and the thrilling final against India helped Sri Lanka secure their first-ever Women’s Asia Cup title. This award marks Athapaththu’s third time winning the ICC Women’s Player of the Month award, placing her alongside greats like Ashleigh Gardner and Hayley Matthews.

Chamari Athapaththu expressed her delight by saying: “I am happy and honored to have been chosen as the ICC Women’s Player of the Month for the third time. and it is heartening to see such acknowledgement for my efforts, achieved with the support of my teammates and coaches, being continuously recognized by the cricketing world. 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.”

Both Atkinson and Athapaththu received their awards after a voting process involving global fans and a panel of cricket experts. Atkinson faced stiff competition from fellow debutant Charlie Cassell (Scotland) and experienced all-rounder Washington Sundar (India) for the men’s award. Athapaththu edged out India’s young opener Shafali Verma and the previous winner, Smriti Mandhana, to claim the women’s title.

These awards not only celebrate the incredible performances of Atkinson and Athapaththu but also serve as an inspiration for young players around the world. Their dedication and hard work have paid off, and they are now recognized as some of the best players in the game. Cricket fans can look forward to seeing these rising stars continue to shine in the years to come.