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Follow UsEngland's Jonny Bairstow and South Africa's Marizanne Kapp on Monday were announced as the winners of ICC Player of the Months awards for June.
Bairstow had memorable month with the bat in his side’s 3-0 ICC World Test Championship (WTC) series victory against reigning champions New Zealand. Despite a quiet start at Lord’s, Bairstow produced an exhibition of explosive hitting to steal victory against the odds in the second Test, smashing the second fastest century ever registered by an English batter in the longest format.
His exploits extended to the final match of the series, sealing the whitewash in equally explosive fashion with scores of 162 and 71 not out.
Bairstow was voted Men’s Player of the Month ahead of teammate Joe Root and Daryl Mitchell of New Zealand. This remarkable series of scores has even continued into July, where back-to-back centuries in his side’s Test victory against India saw them home in a record-breaking chase of 378 at Edgbaston.
"I would like to thank the fans for voting for me as the ICC Men’s Player of the Month. It has been an incredible five weeks for England. It has been a positive start to our summer with four excellent wins against high-class opposition in New Zealand and India," Bairstow said.
“We are enjoying our cricket as a team and playing with clarity and positivity. Even though I have scored four centuries in this period, I would like to acknowledge my teammates who have been excellent in every department and playing with immense confidence," he added.
For the women's award South African allrounder Kapp, pipped compatriot Shabnim Ismail and England's Nati Sciver for her excellent performances in the ODI series against Ireland and the one-off Test against England.
Her solid and fierce resistance in the face of a hostile England bowling attack in the Test match at Taunton which earned her side a valuable draw. In what was her first Test match since 2014, Kapp came in to bat with her side reduced to 45/4 and scored a determined 150 to take South Africa to 284 all out in the first innings. While England set an imposing score in response, Kapp once again starred for her team with a score of 43 not out before rain curtailed play on the final day.
"It really means a lot for me to win the ICC Women’s Player of the Month award, especially being up against two absolutely brilliant players in Shabnim Ismail and Nat Sciver. What made my first Test century so special was that, number one, our first Test match (in 2014) was an absolute nightmare. Then having to play another one after eight years where I had minimum preparation for the Test match because I was unwell and then finding my team in the position we were in at 45 for four, it is something that will stay with me throughout my career," Kapp said.
"It’s definitely a highlight for me, especially with the wickets that fell at the other end and then having to bat with the tail as well, those partnerships are what also made it so special," she added.
