The winners of the ICC Player of the Month awards for May 2023 were named by the International Cricket Council (ICC). Harry Tector is the first player from Ireland to win the ICC Men’s Player of the Month award. Teenage star Thipatcha Putthawong wins the Women’s Player of the Month award for Thailand for the second time in a row, just like her captain Naruemol Chaiwai did in April.
Both players were voted as the best performers by an expert panel made up of ICC Hall of Famers, former international players, and media representatives. Cricket fans from all over the world who had signed up at icc-cricket.com to vote had been doing so since the nominees were announced last week.
Tector has been in good hitting form in One Day International (ODI) cricket since July 2022. His recent run-scoring feats have pushed him to the seventh spot in the ICC Men’s ODI batting rankings, which is the highest he has ever been.
Ireland’s home series against Bangladesh in May marked the end of the ICC Super League. Even though they didn’t get a clean sweep, which would have guaranteed their spot in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in India later this year, Tector once again put on a show with his bat.
Tector’s best performance of the month was a brutal career-best hit of 140 in 113 balls that included ten sixes and helped Ireland reach a strong total of 319. He was unbeaten for 21 runs before the rain came. But they couldn’t protect the total, and even though they lost the last ODI, the Irish batter’s innings of 45 were a strong contribution.
Ireland’s only way to get to the World Cup is through the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe, which starts in a little less than a week. Tector’s 206 runs in May make him a key threat, though.
Tector said, “I’m thrilled with the award and would like to thank those who voted for me. However, cricket is a team sport first and foremost, so the award is more a reflection of the performances and progress of the Ireland men’s squad.” “I wouldn’t have been able to win this award without the help of Heinrich Malan, Andrew Balbirnie, and the other teachers and players I work with.
“Laura Delany and Eimear Richardson have won the same award for women, but this is the first time an Irish player has won the award for guys. Even though it’s an honour for me, I think it won’t be long before more Irish players are honoured in this way.
“Thanks to the ICC, but I’m sure you’ll understand that this is just a short time to reflect. We have a very important qualifier coming up in a few days, and we’ll be putting all of our attention on that for the next few weeks.”
Tector won the award over Najmul Hossain Shanto of Bangladesh and Babar Azam of Pakistan, who currently hold the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year. Both scored a lot of runs in ODIs in May, just like Tector.
Thipatcha Putthawong is the latest Thai player to win the ICC Women’s Player of the Month award. She got it after a string of impressive bowling scores helped Thailand win the gold medal at the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, in May.
The left-handed bowler took 11 wickets in four T20Is during the performance period, with an incredible average of 1.54. Against the Philippines, Malaysia, and Myanmar, he had consecutive spells of four wickets for three runs, three for three, and three for two, which helped Thailand win gold.
“I’m very happy to be named the ICC Women’s Player of the Month,” said the 19-year-old. I’d like to thank the Cricket Association of Thailand for helping me grow and always having faith in my skills.
“It is a great honour for me to be able to serve my country and do important things at the SEA Games. I’d like to thank everyone who voted for this prize. I will keep trying to improve as a cricket player, and I hope that everyone will watch my progress and Thailand’s future success.
Putthawong beat out Chamari Athapaththu and Harshitha Madavi to win this month’s award, and Stacy Ann King, who used to play for the West Indies and is now on the ICC Player of the Month voting group, explained why she chose Putthawong.
King said, “Even though she’s up against Chamari and Harshitha, two well-known and well-respected names, Putthawong’s outstanding figures of 11 wickets and only 17 runs allowed are a magnificent achievement by the 19-year-old, and that should be recognised.”
India
