Following his brilliant effort vs England in the 5th and final Test in Manchester last month, pacer Mohammed Siraj was on Monday selected as the ICC Player of the Month for August. Siraj had snapped up 3 wickets in the 5th day of the final Test, finishing with 9 scalps, helping India win the match by 6 runs and tie the series 2-2.
“It is a special honour to be named ICC Player of the Month. The Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy was a memorable series, and it was one of the most intense contests I have been part of. I am proud that I could contribute with some important spells, especially in the decisive moments. Bowling against a top batting line-up in their home conditions was challenging, but it also brought out the best in me,” said Siraj.
Siraj ended the Anderson Tendulkar trophy as the highest wicket-taker with 23 wickets from five games. Not only was he able to play all the games, but also kept his pace high through the five Tests and was able to come back and pick up crucial wickets spell after spell.
Ben Stokes, England’s captain, would hail him as a “warrior”, Joe Root would say he is “someone you want on your team”. Root would also observe that Siraj’s stares and verbals are part of a “fake anger”. “He has got this fake anger about him sometimes, which I can see straight through. You can tell he is actually a really nice lad. But he tries incredibly hard. He is a very skilful player,” he says.
Also, Ireland all-rounder Orla Prendergast was also named the player of the month alongside Siraj with the cricketer winning the award ahead of Pakistan’s wicketkeeper-batter Muneeba Ali and the Netherlands’ seam bowler Iris Zwilling.
Prendergast was named the Player of the Series in a home T20I series, helping win 2-1 against Pakistan. She scored 144 runs and took four wickets in that series and maintained her fine form in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Europe Qualifier, aggregating 244 runs and finishing with seven wickets in the month of August.
(with agency inputs)
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