Dubai [UAE], December 30: India’s pacer Jasprit Bumrah, along with England’s batters Joe Root and Harry Brook, and Australia’s Travis Head have been shortlisted for the prestigious ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year award.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) described the nominees as “England’s marathon run-scoring duo, Australia’s swashbuckling left-hander, and India’s pace-bowling icon,” noting the stellar performances that made them the frontrunners for the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy.
Bumrah had an extraordinary year, delivering impactful performances across all formats for India. He played a pivotal role in India’s unbeaten run at the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, where he took 15 wickets in eight matches, including key scalps in the final against South Africa, contributing to India’s second T20 World Cup title. In Test cricket, Bumrah was in exceptional form, taking 71 wickets from 13 matches, including a standout performance as captain in the Perth Test against Australia. His five-wicket haul in the first innings and his eight-wicket match performance helped India secure a significant lead in the series.
Harry Brook, the 22-year-old England batter, emerged as a key figure in England’s Test team, showcasing remarkable consistency and adaptability. His stellar performances, including back-to-back centuries against New Zealand and his maiden triple century (317) against Pakistan in Multan, were pivotal in England’s success. Brook’s partnership with Root in that innings – a record-breaking 453-run stand – was one of the highlights of the year. His consistent form helped him rise to the top of the ICC Men’s Test Batting Rankings, ahead of Joe Root.
Joe Root continued to scale new heights in 2024, scoring over 1000 Test runs for the fifth time in his career. He finished the year with six Test centuries and five half-centuries. Root’s crowning achievement was his spectacular double century in Multan against Pakistan, where he displayed his full range of shots, and his partnership with Brook laid the foundation for a dominant England win. Root also equaled the legendary Ricky Ponting and Sachin Tendulkar for the fifth-highest number of Test centuries with 36 to his name.
Australia’s Travis Head, known for his aggressive batting, was another standout performer this year. He played a crucial role in Australia’s campaign, finishing as one of the leading run-scorers at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024. In the Test arena, Head’s counter-attacking knock of 140 runs off 141 balls in the second Test against India in Adelaide was a defining moment of the year. His fearless approach helped Australia equalize the Border-Gavaskar series, earning him the Player of the Match award.
These four cricketers have had exceptional years, contributing significantly to their teams’ successes, and are now in contention for the ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year award.