Dubai, Jan 28: Indian pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah was on Monday named ICC men’s Test Cricketer of the Year for amassing 71 wickets in just 13 matches at a jaw-dropping sub-15 average, statistics that placed him heads and shoulders above his contemporaries during a phenomenal 2024.Returning to the longest format in late 2023 after recovering from a back injury, world number one Bumrah averaged a “ridiculous” 14.92 through the year while also setting multiple records. He played a pivotal role in keeping India in contention for the ICC World Test Championship before the team fell short.
“Bumrah was the standout bowler in the world in 2024, excelling in both home and away conditions and proving a key contributor in keeping India in contention in the ICC World Test Championship standings,” the ICC stated in a press release.
Bumrah pipped fellow nominees England’s Harry Brook and Joe Root, and ICC’s Emerging Cricketer of the Year Kamindu Mendis to win the award, becoming the first Indian cricketer since Virat Kohli in 2018 to do so.
Before Kohli, legendary off-spinner R Ashwin had been named the Test Cricketer and Cricketer of the Year in 2016.
“I am deeply honoured to receive the ICC men’s Test Cricketer of the Year award. Test cricket has always been a format I hold close to my heart, and to be recognized on this platform is truly special,” Bumrah said in a media release.
“This award is not just a reflection of my individual efforts but also of the unwavering support of my teammates, coaches, and fans who continue to believe and inspire me every day.”
Honour for Mandhana
Charismatic India opener Smriti Mandhana, was on Monday, named ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year for her phenomenal performance that saw the left-hander score tons of runs in 2024.
The India vice-captain, who was the ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year in 2018 and 2022, racked up 747 runs in 13 innings to set new career standards in ODIs.
She put several batting stalwarts, including the likes of South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt, England’s Tammy Beaumont (554) and West Indies’ Hayley Matthews, to shade.
Her tally was the highest among the leading run-getters in Women’s ODIs last year, way ahead of Wolvaardt (697), Beaumont (554) and Matthews (469).
She scored four ODI centuries, a record in the women’s game, and found the boundary more than a hundred times in the year, hitting 95 fours and six maximums.
The 28-year-old cricketer’s runs came at an average of 57.86 and an impressive strike rate of 95.15.
Some of her best innings came against high-calibre opposition, including her back-to-back centuries which guided India to a 3-0 series win against South Africa in June.
Mandhana also smashed a ton in the series decider against New Zealand in October. She went on to showcase her ability to dominate the best bowling in the world with another defiant century in Perth against Australia in a losing cause in December.