Mendis and Bouchier Shine as ICC Players of the Month for March

March was a month of cricketing brilliance, and the ICC has recognized two standout performers – Sri Lanka’s Kamindu Mendis and England’s Maia Bouchier – with the prestigious Player of the Month awards.

 

Mendis, a rising star in world cricket, emerged victorious in the Men’s category. This is a significant achievement for the Sri Lankan all-rounder, especially considering he edged out established names like Matt Henry (New Zealand) and Mark Adair (Ireland). Notably, this is only the third time a Sri Lankan cricketer has bagged this coveted award.

 

“I am extremely happy to be named the ICC Men’s Player of the Month, which I consider an inspiration for my international career,” Mendis expressed. “A recognition such as this motivates and makes us as players work more and more to deliver in the middle for the team, country, and fans“, Mendis Said.

 

So, what propelled Mendis to the top? Look no further than his heroics in the Test series against Bangladesh. After a decent showing in the T20Is, Mendis truly came alive in the longer format. He imprinted his name in history by becoming the first player batting lower in the order (number seven) to score centuries in both innings of a Test match! His scores of 102 and a staggering 164 not out were instrumental in Sri Lanka’s dominant win over Bangladesh.

 

Meanwhile, in the Women’s category, England’s Maia Bouchier celebrated her maiden Player of the Month award. The 25-year-old played a pivotal role in England’s convincing 4-1 T20I series victory over New Zealand. Throughout the series, she amassed a staggering 223 runs at an impressive average of over 55.

 

Maia Bouchier, said, “First of all, thank you to everyone who voted for me. I am so happy and grateful to everyone: my family and partner and the staff and my teammates who have supported me whilst playing at the international level. I am so honoured to have won this award and I hope there are many more to come. It’s been such an amazing couple of months, from training through the winter with my coaches at home and transferring what I’ve been working on into this series, so I am really glad I have been able to perform for the team.”

 

Bouchier’s consistency was a hallmark of her performance. Right from the start, she set the tone with an unbeaten 43 in the first T20I. Even in a losing effort during the third match, her knock of 71 runs kept England in the fight. But it was the crucial fourth match where she truly stole the show. Promoted to open the batting, Bouchier smashed a career-best 91 runs off just 56 balls, securing both the series victory and the Player of the Match award.

 

Both Mendis and Bouchier received their honors after a combined vote from global cricket fans and a panel of experts. Their remarkable performances in March are a testament to their talent and dedication, inspiring cricket fans across the globe.