Atkinson and Athapaththu: ICC Players of the Month for July

Gus Atkinson: Men's Player of the Month

• England's Gus Atkinson named ICC Men's Player of the Month for July 2024
• First English cricketer to win the award since Chris Woakes in July 2023
• Impressive Test debut against West Indies:
  • Took 22 wickets in the series at an average of 16.22
  • Recorded second-best Test haul for an England bowler on home debut (7/45)
  • Finished with match figures of 12/106 in his debut Test at Lord's
  • Claimed 4 wickets in Nottingham and 6 in Birmingham
• Key contributor to England's 3-0 series victory
• Named Player of the Series for his outstanding performance
• Overcame challenges from Scotland's Charlie Cassell and India's Washington Sundar
• Expressed gratitude to teammates and coaches Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes

Chamari Athapaththu: Women's Player of the Month

• Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu won ICC Women's Player of the Month for July 2024
• Third time winning the award, joining an elite group with Ashleigh Gardner and Hayley Matthews
• Led Sri Lanka to their first Women's Asia Cup title:
  • Scored 304 runs in the tournament at an average of 101.33
  • Maintained an impressive strike rate of 146.85
  • Scored the first-ever century (119*) in Women's Asia Cup history against Malaysia
  • Crucial half-centuries in semi-final against Pakistan and final against India
• Also contributed with the ball, taking 3 wickets in 4 innings
• Named Player of the Tournament in the Women's Asia Cup
• Won the award ahead of Indian openers Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana

Significance and Selection Process

• ICC Player of the Month awards recognize outstanding performances in international cricket
• Atkinson's award highlights his immediate impact in Test cricket:
  • Spearheaded England's bowling attack in James Anderson's absence
  • Demonstrated consistency and pressure on opposition batsmen
  • Contributed to England's rise in ICC World Test Championship standings
• Athapaththu's award emphasizes her role in Sri Lankan cricket:
  • Showcased leadership qualities in guiding the team to a historic victory
  • Consistently performed under pressure in crucial matches
  • Set an example for aspiring cricketers in Sri Lanka and beyond
• Both winners expressed honor and gratitude for the recognition:
  • Atkinson: "It is a real privilege to win the ICC Player of the Month! The start to my Test career has been unbelievable..."
  • Athapaththu: "I am happy and honored to have been chosen as the ICC Women's Player of the Month for the third time..."
• The awards highlight emerging talent (Atkinson) and consistent excellence (Athapaththu) in international cricket

Selection process involves:

• • Votes from global fans registered at icc-cricket.com
  • Input from a specialist panel including ICC Hall of Famers, former players, and media representatives