Jasprit Bumrah & Australia all-rounder win ICC Player of the Month awards for December 2024

Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah and Australian all-rounder Annabel Sutherland bagged the ICC Men's and Women's Player of the Month honors for December 2024, respectively. While Bumrah overcame stiff competition from Pat Cummins and Dane Paterson, Sutherland beat Smriti Mandhana and Nonkululeko Mlaba from the women's side.

Bumrah enjoyed an incredible Border-Gavaskar Trophy Down Under, finishing with 32 wickets at an average of 13.06 in five Tests. His numbers in December comprised the second to fourth Tests of the Australian series, where he bagged 22 scalps at an average of 14.22.

The month started with the champion pacer picking up a four-wicket haul in the first innings of the second Test in Adelaide. The next four innings over the Brisbane and Melbourne outings saw Bumrah pick up two five-wicket hauls and another four-wicket haul.

His heroics helped him also win the Player of the Series award despite India suffering a 1-3 series defeat.

Meanwhile, Australia's Sutherland shone against India and New Zealand women in the ODI format in December. The 23-year-old all-round sensation scored 269 runs at an average of 67 and picked up nine wickets across the five ODI games.

This includes back-to-back centuries in the final ODI against India and the opening encounter against New Zealand. Sutherland's four-wicket haul in the second ODI against India helped Australia take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the best-of-three series.

Another three-wicket haul in the second ODI against New Zealand helped Australia pull off a 2-0 series win and an overall 5-0 sweep in December over India and New Zealand, respectively. Sutherland was also awarded the Player of the Series against India and New Zealand.

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"One of the most closely fought contests ever" - Jasprit Bumrah

Bumrah lit up Australia with several game-changing spells [Credit: Getty]

Jasprit Bumrah was delighted to be named the ICC Men's Player of the Month and called the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy one of the toughest contests of his career.

The ace pacer also captained India in the first and final Tests, leading them to their lone Test win in the last eight red-ball outings.

"I am thrilled to be named the ICC Men's Player of the Month for December. It is always humbling to be chosen for individual accolades, and it is always nice to be recognized for your efforts. The Border-Gavaskar Trophy was one of the most closely fought contests ever, and it was an honor for me to go out there and perform for my country," said Bumrah told the ICC.

Bumrah is also ranked the No.1 Test bowler in the world as per the latest ICC rankings. He finished with the most Test wickets (71) in 2024 at a stunning average of 14.92 in 13 matches, including five five-wicket hauls.