With one of possibly the greatest individual performances in men’s ODIs, helping the Netherlands to a Cricket World Cup spot in the process, starlet Bas de Leede continues to make a name in the international game.
He joins two of England’s Ashes stars in being nominated for the ICC’s Men’s Player of the Month award for July 2023.
With the stakes raised, the 23-year-old took 5/52 and struck 123 for Netherlands against Scotland in Bulawayo to ensure the men in orange pipped their opponents to the final tournament spot on net run-rate. In the process, he became just the fifth player in the history of ODI cricket to achieve the five-wicket/century double, joining Viv Richards, Paul Collingwood, Rohan Mustafa, and Amelia Kerr.
In the other match in July, de Leede compiled 39 against Oman, and the all-rounder looks set to make a big impression come the Cricket World Cup in October and November.
Zac Crawley and Chris Woakes make the other two shortlist.
Possibly the best embodiment of England’s change in thinking with the bat, Zak Crawley continues to flourish at the top of the order.
The right-hander was the highest runs-scorer for England in the recently-concluded Ashes even against the new ball, and he was prolific particularly across his knocks in July, most notably his 189 (182) at Old Trafford.
The innings was sandwiched by scores of 33 and 44 at Headingley, as well as innings of 22 and 73 to help England level the five-match series 2-2, also helping the hosts to crucial World Test Championship points at the beginning for the 2023-2025 cycle. It took his tally for the month to 412 runs at an average of 58.85.
Coming into the England team for the all-important third Ashes Test at Headingley, Chris Woakes needed to hit the ground running to turn the series tide, and the bowling all-rounder certainly made an impression.
The 34-year-old found the outside edge of Marnus Labuschagne’s bat to remove the right-hander early on the first morning, returning to remove Travis Head and Mitchell March, helping the hosts hold Australia to just 263. He would then go on to claim three more wickets in Australia’s second innings of 224, before striking the winning runs in a score of 32* with Mark Wood at the other end.
The quick took five wickets in the first innings in Manchester, and a total seven wickets in the final Test, plus another contribution with the bat at The Oval to help England to a 2-2 series draw. In the month, Woakes averaged 18.15 with the ball.
Despite his limited involvement, playing three of the five Test matches, Woakes went on to claim the Ashes 2023 Player of the Series.