India 'GOAT' among cricketers nominated for ICC Player of the Month for December 2024

The International Cricket Council (ICC), on Tuesday (January 7), announced the names of the players nominated for the ICC Men’s Player of the Month nominees for December. Three players are in contention to bag the prestigious award.

A number of high-profile Test series took place in December. India and Australia were involved in a five-match Test series that ended earlier this month. South Africa hosted Sri Lanka as well as Pakistan for two Tests each last month while New Zealand played a three-match Test series against England at home. Afghanistan and Zimbabwe also played two Tests against each other.

A number of players hogged the limelight for their performances in the aforementioned series but only three of them have been nominated for the ICC Player of the Month. The players are India pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, Australia captain Pat Cummins, and South Africa pacer Dane Paterson.

Also Read: Nitish Reddy's ODI and T20I selection blocked by Ex-India coach

Jasprit Bumrah nominated for ICC Player of the Month:

5⃣ matches.
3⃣2⃣ Wickets 🫡
Incredible spells ⚡️#TeamIndia Captain Jasprit Bumrah becomes the Player of the series 👏👏#AUSvIND | @Jaspritbumrah93 pic.twitter.com/vNzPsmf4pv

— BCCI (@BCCI) January 5, 2025

Jasprit Bumrah was the standout performer with the ball in the five-match Test series between India and Australia. While India ended up losing the series 1-3, Jasprit Bumrah managed to make a huge impact with his performance.

In a series where no other bowler could take more than 25 wickets, Jasprit Bumrah picked up a staggering 32 wickets. He picked those wickets at a stunning average of 13.06. Jasprit Bumrah was also adjudged the Player of the Series for his performance.

In December, he picked up 22 wickets in the three Tests at an average of 14.22. The right-arm pacer Jasprit Bumrah picked up nine wickets each in both the Brisbane and Melbourne Tests. The stunning display in Australia also helped Jasprit Bumrah earn the highest rating points by any Indian bowler in the ICC Test Player Rankings.

Pat Cummins and Dane Paterson are in contention for ICC Player of the Month too:

Pat Cummins impressed not only with the ball but with the bat as well during the series against India. He also ended Australia's decade-long wait for a series win over India as they reclaimed the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Under Cummins' captaincy, Australia also booked their spot in the WTC final for the second time in a row.

In three Tests in December, Cummins picked up 17 wickets at an average of 17.64. He picked up a 5-wicket haul in the Adelaide Test that helped Australia draw level. In the Melbourne Test, Cummins played crucial knocks of 49 and 41 with the bat in addition to taking 6 wickets.

On the other hand, Paterson was instrumental in South Africa's march to the WTC final. The Proteas clean swept the two-match series against Sri Lanka as well as Pakistan to book their place in the final of the WTC for the very first time.

Also Read: Sam Konstas breaks silence on Jasprit Bumrah clash, Admits Mistake, bows down to pacer

Three standout pacers have been nominated for ICC Men’s Player of the Month for December 2024 🏏

— ICC (@ICC) January 7, 2025

In the second Test against Sri Lanka played at the beginning of last month, Paterson picked up 7 wickets including a five-wicket haul in the first innings. He followed it up by taking 6 wickets in the Boxing Day Test against Pakistan. In the first innings, Paterson claimed 5 wickets before taking 1 more wicket in the second innings as South Africa won the game and booked their place in the WTC final.