For his exploits in the fifth and final Test of the England tour, India’s Mohammed Siraj, along with Matt Henry of New Zealand and Jayden Seales of the West Indies, was nominated on Monday for the ICC’s Player of the Month Award for August.
Siraj stood tall and played in all five Test matches to play a crucial part in a series that saw numerous players from both countries sustain injuries. He took 23 wickets, the most of any bowler in the rubber.
Throughout the five Test matches of the series, which began in late June and ended in early August, Siraj bowled 185.3 overs to help an inexperienced and youthful Indian team force a 2-2 draw without a drop in his intensity.
“Mohammed Siraj played just one match in August, but his brilliance in that outing was enough to earn him a nomination. The India right-armer was instrumental in the final Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series against England at The Oval, where he claimed nine wickets at an average of 21.11,” the ICC said on its website.
“With Jasprit Bumrah absent, Siraj led the attack with great determination, bowling more than 46 overs across two innings, after having featured in the previous four Tests in the series as well.”
“He took four wickets in the first innings and followed it up with a stellar five-wicket haul in the second. His decisive spell in the final innings bowled India to victory and proved crucial in securing a 2-2 series draw. For his stellar effort, Siraj was named Player of the Match in the south London contest,” the governing body added.
New Zealand’s right-arm pacer Henry was nominated for his outstanding performance during the Kiwis’ Test series victory in Zimbabwe, where he took 16 wickets. To assist his team win 2-0, Henry took 6/39 and 3/51 in the first Test and 5/40 and 2/16 in the second.
“Matt Henry was the standout performer in New Zealand’s 2-0 Test series win over Zimbabwe, claiming 16 wickets across two matches at an astonishing average of 9.12,” the ICC said.
Seales received recognition for his “pivotal role” in the West Indies’ first ODI series victory over Pakistan in 34 years. Seales claimed 10 wickets in three games, including 6/18 in the last ODI, where Pakistan was dismissed for just 92 after pursuing 295 runs.
“He had a quiet start in the opening ODI, managing only one wicket while conceding 59 as Pakistan cruised to victory. However, Seales bounced back brilliantly in the second match, striking with three wickets in seven overs, including the prized scalps of Babar Azam and Saim Ayub,” the ICC said.
“The third ODI saw Seales at his lethal best, dismantling Pakistan’s batting with a career-best 6/18 — the third-best figures by a West Indies bowler in ODI history — to seal the series in emphatic fashion,” it added.
