Indian pace bowling sensation Jasprit Bumrah has been named the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Men’s Cricketer of the Year for 2024, securing the prestigious Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy, Al Jazeera reports.
New Zealand’s Amelia Kerr was awarded the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy as the Women’s Cricketer of the Year, capping off a successful awards season for both athletes.
The ICC announced its top award winners on Tuesday, with Bumrah also having been named Men’s Test Cricketer of the Year on Monday. Kerr added to her haul, also claiming the Women’s T20 Cricketer of the Year award on Saturday, making it a remarkable few days for the Kiwi all-rounder.
Bumrah’s stellar performance in 2024 saw him dominate the Test format. The 31-year-old right-arm quick was the leading wicket-taker in international Test cricket, amassing 71 wickets, significantly outpacing England’s Gus Atkinson, who secured 52 wickets in 11 matches. Bumrah’s bowling average was an impressive 14.92, with a strike rate of just 30.1 for the year. His return to the Test arena in late 2023, following a hiatus due to a back injury, has been met with resounding success.
In other categories, Afghanistan all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai was recognized as the Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Year, with 417 runs and 17 wickets to his name throughout 2024. India’s Arshdeep Singh, a vital part of India’s 2024 T20 World Cup-winning campaign, was named Men’s T20 Cricketer of the Year. Singh also secured a spot in the ICC’s T20 Team of the Year, along with fellow Indians Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, and Bumrah.
Sri Lankan batsman Kamindu Mendis, who enjoyed a breakthrough year with 1,451 runs across all formats, was awarded the Men’s Emerging Cricketer of the Year. South African all-rounder Annerie Dercksen received the equivalent honour in the women’s category.
