The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the winners of the Player of the Month awards for December 2024.
Indian fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah clinched the honor for his outstanding performances with the ball during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 against Australia. Bumrah outperformed competitors Pat Cummins and Dane Paterson to secure the award.
Bumrah played three matches in December and delivered an exceptional performance, taking 22 wickets at an astonishing average of 14.22. He was the standout bowler on either side, leading India’s attack in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
The month began with Bumrah’s four-wicket haul in the pink-ball Test at Adelaide Oval. He followed it with a spectacular display at the Gabba in Brisbane, claiming six wickets in the first innings and three in the second for a nine-wicket match haul.
In the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Bumrah continued his dominance, taking four wickets in the first innings and a five-wicket haul in the second.
Overall, Bumrah claimed 32 wickets in the series, earning the Player of the Series award and becoming the highest-ranked bowler in ICC Test ratings. He surpassed Ravichandran Ashwin’s 904 rating points and achieved the distinction of being the only bowler with 200 Test wickets at an average below 20.
Bumrah also reached his 200th Test wicket milestone during the series, becoming the fourth-fastest in terms of balls bowled to achieve the feat.
In the women’s category, Australia’s Annabel Sutherland was named the ICC Player of the Month for December. Sutherland excelled with both bat and ball, amassing 269 runs in five ODIs, including two centuries—110 against India in Perth and an unbeaten 105 against New Zealand in Wellington.
She averaged 67.25 with a strike rate of 113.98. Additionally, Sutherland claimed 9 wickets at an impressive economy rate of 3.85 and an average of 16.22. Her all-round brilliance was key to her recognition in December.