The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday (January 10) named the winners of the ICC Player of the Month awards for December 2022. The award recognizes the best performances from both male and female cricketers across all forms of international cricket.

In the men’s category, England batter Harry Brook was crowned the ICC Player of the Month for his stellar showing in the three-match Test series against Pakistan away from home. Brook pipped Pakistan skipper Babar Azam and Australian left-hander Travis Head to win the award.

Brook played a key role in England's 3-0 whitewash against Pakistan, finishing the series as the highest run-getter with 468 runs. He proved to be a perfect fit for England’s fearless approach in the absence of Jonny Bairstow, with his runs coming at a blistering strike rate of 93.41.

Featuring in just his second Test, Harry Brook registered scores of 153 and 87 in the first match of the series in Rawalpindi. His century in the first innings came off just 116 balls, which set the tone for him as he took the Pakistani attack to the cleaners for the rest of the series.

Brook went on to score a hundred each in the remaining two Tests and deservedly earned the Player of the Series award.

In the women’s category, Australia’s Ashleigh Gardner bagged the award, beating out England’s Charlie Dean and New Zealand opener Suzie Bates for the coveted monthly honour.

Gardner won the award on the back of her superb display in the T20I tour of India last month. The Australian all-rounder claimed the equal most wickets during the five-match series against India with seven scalps, while also amassing 115 runs at an average greater than 50.

As a result, Gardner was named Player of the Series and she made it a double celebration by collecting the monthly ICC award.

(With ICC inputs)