The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Saturday (January 8) nominated India opener Mayank Agarwal for the player of the month award for December.
Apart from Agarwal, Australia pacer Mitchell Starc and New Zealand spinner Ajaz Patel have also been shortlisted for the month of December in the men's category.
Mayank’s knocks of 150 and 62, earning him the Player-of-the-Match award, laid the foundation of India’s series-clinching 1-0 victory over New Zealand in Mumbai Test after the first Test in Kanpur ended in a draw. He also played a crucial knock of 60 in India’s historic win over South Africa in Centurion Test last month.
On the other hand, Ajaz etched his name in the history books in December as he claimed 10 wickets in an innings against India at the Wankhede Stadium. He became only the third bowler in Tests to achieve this rare feat after Jim Laker and Anil Kumble.
The left-arm spinner also returned with four scalps in the second innings, finishing the Mumbai Test with 14 wickets.
Mitchell Starc has played an instrumental role, with both bat and ball, in Australia clinching the Ashes with two Tests to spare. In the three Tests last month, he took 14 wickets at an average of 19.64 and slammed 117 runs with the bat at an average of 58.50.
The left-arm pacer set the tone for the whole series by dismissing Rory Burns with the first ball of the opening Test. While batting, he played second fiddle to Travis Head with an innings of 35 and added 85 crucial runs for the eighth wicket.
Starc continued his brilliance in the second Test, claiming six wickets and scoring 58 runs in Adelaide. This included a brilliant four-wicket haul in the first innings that helped reduce England to 236, giving Australia a massive lead of 237 runs.
In the Boxing Day Test, Starc picked two crucial wickets in the first innings, including that of England's captain Joe Root. His innings of 24* helped Australia gain an 82-run lead, which proved to be enough as England were bundled out for 68. He picked up three wickets in the second innings as Australia won by an innings to retain the urn.
(With ICC inputs)
