ICC Player of the Month: Babar Azam gets nominated
What's the story
Pakistani cricketer Babar Azam has been nominated for the ICC Player of the Month for March 2022. Aussie skipper Pat Cummins and WI skipper Kraigg Brathwaite too have been nominated for the same. Among women cricketers, Sophie Ecclestone (ENG), Laura Wolvaardt (SA), and Rachael Haynes (AUS) have been nominated post their staggering returns in the concluded ICC Women's World Cup. Here are more details.
Context
Why does this story matter?
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has been awarding the trophy since 2021. The voting panel for the same is constituted of journalists and former cricketers. Meanwhile, the public gets to account for 10% of the results. The Player of the Month trophy is handed to the male and female cricketer who has done exceedingly well in international cricket across formats for that given month.
Babar Azam
Babar dished out daunting numbers in March
Babar feasted on the scoring opportunities. He finished as the third-highest run-getter in the three-match Test series versus Australia. He compiled 390 runs across five innings at 78.50. He hammered one hundred (196) and two fifties. He then toyed with the Aussie attack in the ODIs, smashing 171 runs in the first two matches. He averaged 85.50, with a hundred (114) and a fifty.
Duo
Cummins, Braithwaite post historic performances
Cummins led Australia to a famous 1-0 series win in Pakistan. The right-arm quick pocketed match-winning figures of 5/56 and 3/23 in the series decider. He finished with 12 wickets across three Tests at 22.50. Meanwhile, Braithwaite was instrumental in WI's nail-biting 1-0 win over England in the three-match series. He clobbered 341 runs at 85.25, with a hundred and two fifties.
Trio
Haynes, Wolvaardt, and Ecclestone shone in the Women's World Cup
Rachael Haynes (497) was second only to her fellow Aussie cricketer Alyssa Healy (509) in the list of leading run-getters in the tournament. She averaged 62.12. She struck one hundred and three fifties. Meanwhile, SA's Laura Wolvaardt smashed 433 runs at 54.12. She pinned down five fifties. English spinner Sophie Ecclestone was the highest wicket-taker in the WWC (21). She averaged a miserly 15.61.