The International Cricket Council (ICC) declared England’s swift bowler, Chris Woakes, the Men’s Player of the Month for July this year. This recognition comes on the heels of Woakes’ remarkable dual performance with both the bat and ball during the recent Ashes series against Australia.
Stepping onto the field, Chris Woakes left a significant impact with his bowling prowess in the Test series against Australia, even though he had not been selected for the initial two matches. Displaying his skills as a right-arm pacer, he secured an impressive tally of 18 wickets across three matches, maintaining an average of 18.16. His most notable achievement was recording exceptional figures of 5/61 during the fourth Test.
Great To Have So Much Support – Chris Woakes
Chris Woakes, the 34-year-old, joyfully expressed his recognition as the Men’s Player of the Month, crediting the achievement to the team’s collective effort showcased during the Ashes series.
“It’s truly wonderful to have earned the ICC Men’s Player of the Month title for July. The entirety of our actions within the Ashes hinged on a team effort, with the realization that individual accolades would remain out of reach without the dedicated contributions of every team member. Nevertheless, it’s a heartening experience to receive recognition, especially when it stems from a public vote,” remarked Woakes.
Chris Woakes also left a notable mark with his batting prowess throughout the five-match series, amassing a total of 79 runs at an average of 19.75. His pivotal unbeaten innings of 32* and the crucial partnership formed with Mark Wood played a significant role in the team’s victory during the third Test. Additionally, he contributed 36 runs in the first innings of the final Test.
The award’s shortlist included Chris Woakes, his teammate Zak Crawley, and Dutch cricketer Bas de Leede. Crawley’s remarkable performance involved accumulating 480 runs across five Tests during the 2023 Ashes, showcasing an impressive average of 53.33 along with a strike rate of 88.72. Particularly outstanding was his powerful 189-run inning achieved off 182 balls in the fourth Test.
Meanwhile, Bas de Leede distinguished himself as a standout player for the Netherlands in the Qualifiers, significantly contributing to the team’s qualification for the 2023 World Cup. As the third-highest wicket-taker, he secured an impressive total of 15 wickets. Additionally, he showcased his batting prowess, amassing 285 runs at an average of 47.50 and a strike rate of 101.06.
