For November 2023, the ICC Men’s Player of the Month Award has shortlisted two ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 champions and an Indian fast-bowling veteran.
Travis Head (Australia)
Travis Head, an Australian batting prodigy, scored a magnificent century against New Zealand to mark his return to the squad following a lengthy injury absence at the end of October. He maintained his impressive form throughout November.
During the month of November, he amassed 220 runs at an impressive average of 44 in five ODIs. This included a fifty and a half-century. Significantly, his exceptional play during the Cricket World Cup semi-final and final, during which he was named the Player of the Match and was instrumental in Australia winning their sixth trophy, is noteworthy.
He also contributed to the South Africa innings resurgence in the semi-final by claiming two crucial wickets of Heinrich Klaasen and Marco Jansen, thereby derailment. This helped restrict the Proteas to a modest total, which was overhauled in a tense chase, yet again led by a scintillating 62 from 48 by Head.
He contributed to Australia’s six-wicket victory over India in the final by scoring an outstanding 137 off 120 deliveries. Australia’s innings was in the doldrums at one stage, being reduced to 47/3 in pursuit of 241. However, Head maintained his composure and scored a six during the middle overs. His special stroke contained four sixeens and fifteen fours.
In addition to scoring 35 off 18 balls in Australia’s five-wicket victory over India in the third Twenty20 International of the recently concluded five-match series, which India won 4-1, the batter also scored 35 off 18 balls.
Glenn Maxwell (Australia)
Glenn Maxwell amassed 204 runs at an average of 204 with a strike rate of 152.23 in his three ODI outings last month, along with two wickets. During the two Twenty20 Internationals against India in the series, he scored 116 runs at an impressive strike rate of 207.14.
A golfing mishap had led to Maxwell’s absence from Australia’s match against England at the Cricket World Cup at the beginning of the month, but the all-rounder returned in form against Afghanistan.
He dismissed Rahmat Shah with the ball, to conclude with 1/55. However, Afghanistan’s 291/5 total appeared insurmountable following Australia’s decline from 43/1 to 91/7. Following that, Maxwell assumed control and, notwithstanding the considerable cramping he endured, scored an outstanding 201 from 128 balls; it stands as one of the greatest ODI innings. Twenty-one fours and ten sixes were smashed during his record-setting innings.
His double century was the second-fastest ever and the first by an Australian in Men’s ODIs. An unprecedented double century was also amassed during a pursuit. This also constituted the greatest score achieved by an individual ranking sixth or lower.
He later featured in the T20I series against India, and helped Australia win the third T20I in Guwahati with a sensational hundred. Eight of his forty-eight balls contained four fours and eight sixes in his 104*. It assisted in the pursuit of India’s 223 aircraft.
Mohammed Shami (India)
Mohammed Shami maintained his World Cup dominance through November. He amassed fifteen wickets at a rate of 12.06 per over and 5.68 economy.
In terms of wickets taken, he secured the top position among all participants of the 2023 Cricket World Cup, amassing 24 in just seven innings.
One of his most remarkable displays of the month was a scintillating 5/18 at Wankhede against Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka were doomed from the moment Shami arrived at the conclusion of the initial Powerplay, as they were already exerting pressure in pursuit of 358 runs. In five overs, he throughran their middle and lower order.
A disciplined 2/18 contributed to South Africa’s destruction at Eden Gardens. Nonetheless, it was against New Zealand in the semi-finals that the fast bowler distinguished himself.
Following a first-innings loss of 397 runs, the Black Caps were immediately shaken by Shami’s new ball effort. However, Daryl Mitchell and Kane Williamson stood steadfast and kept their side in the hunt. As the remaining India bowlers were unable to respond, Shami made five more appearances in the striker position to secure an India victory. His 7/57 total stands as the highest return for an India bowler in one-day internationals.
