West Indies’ Shamar Joseph after taking 7 wickets in his staff’s defeat of Australia on the fourth day of their cricket check match in Brisbane, on January 28, 2024.
| Photo Credit: AP
Latest tempo sensation Shamar Joseph on Tuesday turned the first West Indian to win the Men’s ICC Player of the Month award for his heroics in the Australia Test sequence.
Ireland’s explosive younger batter Amy Hunter claimed the honour in the ladies’s class after her dominance in opposition to Zimbabwe.
The ICC revealed the award winners for January on Tuesday after shortlists have been introduced final week.
Joseph loved a stellar begin to his West Indies profession. Brought into the aspect for his or her Test sequence in opposition to Australia, the 24-year-old made an on the spot influence, eradicating Steve Smith along with his first ball in worldwide cricket.
His first outing in Test cricket noticed him declare 5 wickets in the first innings in Adelaide, taking the prized wickets of Marnus Labuschagne and Cameron Green and Smith. However, it will likely be his efforts in the second Test in Brisbane which can lengthy be remembered.
Defending a modest 216 to stop an Australian victory in the second innings, Joseph grabbed 7/68 – 4 of which have been bowled – to skittle the dwelling aspect out eight runs quick of the goal.
The win noticed the West Indies declare a historic 1-1 draw, with Joseph sealing the Player of the Series award for his spectacular debut. This newest accolade means he’s the first West Indian to win the males’s award since its inception in January 2021.
Joseph, mentioned, “To get such an award on the world stage feels special. I totally enjoyed every moment of that experience playing for West Indies in Australia, especially the magic of the final day at the Gabba. Taking the wicket to win the match was a dream!
“It was a really memorable second for me, and I simply need to proceed to work laborious and ship extra match-winning performances for the West Indies with the ball; and when required additionally with the bat.”
Hunter is another of the young talents lighting up the international stage. After a subdued ODI rubber to start the month, Hunter followed up with an explosive series of knocks in the T20I series in Harare.
The first T20I match saw the 18-year-old wicketkeeper-batter smash a glittering 101 not out in just 66 balls from atop the order as the away side won by 57 runs.
Hunter hit a further 77 and 42 runs in the second and third outings respectively as Ireland comfortably secured the series win away from home.
Across her three T20Is during the month, her 220 runs came at an impressive strike rate of 144.73, helping her become the first Ireland player to win the award since Arlene Kelly won last August.
Hunter said, “It’s been a tremendous begin to the yr, with two convincing sequence wins in opposition to Zimbabwe. I’m happy to have been in a position to contribute to the staff’s success and hope to proceed to take action.” Joseph overcame different high performers in Tests throughout the month: England’s Ollie Pope and Australia’s Josh Hazlewood, whereas Hunter gained forward of high Australian duo of Alyssa Healy and Beth Mooney.
