The International Cricket Council (ICC) has awarded Wanindu Hasaranga, the Sri Lankan spinner, and Ashleigh Gardner, the Australian women’s team all-rounder, with the prestigious ‘Player of the Month’ award for their remarkable performances in June. Hasaranga received this honor for his outstanding contributions during the World Cup Qualifier matches in Zimbabwe, where he set new records. Meanwhile, Gardner’s exceptional performances in the Women’s Ashes earned her the distinction of becoming the first player to win the Player of the Month award three times.
During the ICC World Cup Qualifiers, Wanindu Hasaranga played a crucial role in Sri Lanka’s successful qualification for the 2023 ODI World Cup in India, set to commence on September 5. Hasaranga emerged as the top wicket-taker in the qualifiers, impressively securing 22 wickets in 7 matches with an average of 12.90. His impactful performance began in the opening match against UAE, where he claimed six wickets. He continued to excel with figures of 5-13 and 5-79 against Oman and Ireland, respectively. Notably, Hasaranga created history by becoming the first spinner to achieve three consecutive five-wicket hauls in ODI history.
Ashleigh Gardner played a pivotal role in Australia’s triumph in the Women’s Ashes one-off Test match, where her team emerged victorious by 89 runs. Gardner’s contribution proved instrumental in her team’s success. In the first innings, she scored 40 runs and followed it up with a remarkable four-wicket haul. However, her most noteworthy feat came in the second innings when she single-handedly secured the win for Australia by taking eight wickets for just 66 runs. Gardner’s exceptional performance proved to be the decisive factor in her team’s victory.
The winners of the ‘Player of the Month’ award were determined through a voting process conducted among a specialist panel comprising ICC Hall of Famers, former international players, media representatives, and global cricket fans registered at icc-cricket.com. This recognition highlights the remarkable talent and skill displayed by Hasaranga and Gardner in their respective matches.
ICC Founded: 15 June 1909;
ICC Headquarters: Dubai, United Arab Emirates;
ICC Chairman: Greg Barclay.