The International Cricket Council (ICC) has unveiled the Women’s Player Of The Month (POTM) nominees for March 2024, featuring a diverse lineup of talent. Among the contenders is an Australian star all-rounder who recently won the Player of the Series accolade against the host team. Alongside her is the Kiwi all-rounder and the right-handed batter who accumulated the highest score by a visiting player against the White Ferns in T20Is.
Maia Bouchier- England
Maia Bouchier has smoothly transitioned to the top of the batting order, showcasing her ability in recent matches. This was particularly evident in the five-match T20I series against New Zealand, where Bouchier dominated the scoring charts with an impressive tally of 223 runs at an average of 55.75.
One standout moment was her remarkable innings in the fourth T20I, where she achieved her career-best score of 91. This exceptional knock, which included 12 boundaries and two maximums took England to a formidable total of 177 runs. Bouchier appeared composed for a century until her dismissal by Amelia Kerr. Remarkably, her innings marked the highest individual score by a visiting player in a women’s T20I against New Zealand on their home ground. Despite the loss of her wicket, Bouchier’s contribution played a pivotal role in securing a match-winning total for her team, ultimately leading England to an invincible lead in the series.
Her consistent presence and solid performances at the top order provided a stable foundation for England throughout the series resulting in 4-1. Consequently, Bouchier was rightfully awarded the Player of the Series accolade in recognition of her significant impact on her team’s emphatic triumph.
Amelia Kerr- New Zealand
Amelia Kerr has previously secured the ICC Player of the Month award in February 2022, a recognition she aims to reclaim in the current period.
During the recent series against England, Kerr showcased her ability as an all-rounder, emerging as one of the top three run-scorers with 114 runs accumulated from four innings. Additionally, she proved to be an effective force with the ball, claiming six wickets across four matches, placing her as the second-highest wicket-taker in the series.
Amelia Kerr’s consistent contributions with both bat and ball have made her a vital asset for New Zealand. Her ability to perform under pressure and make impactful contributions in crucial moments has earned her widespread recognition.
Despite New Zealand’s 4-1 series loss, Kerr’s performances stood out prominently. Notably, her resilient unbeaten knock of 44 runs in the third T20I in Nelson, coupled with a commendable bowling spell of 1/29, significantly contributed to the White Ferns’ lone victory in the series. Following skipper Sophie Devine’s injury, Amelia Kerr took on the role of captaincy for the T20 side in the 5th T20I and also continued leading the team in the ODI series.
Ashleigh Gardner- Australia
Australia’s star all-rounder, Ashleigh Gardner, continues to shine brightly in the cricketing world, earning her record fourth nomination for the ICC Women’s Player of the Month award. Following her commendable performance in the Women’s Premier League WPL, Gardner smoothly transitioned from T20I into Australia’s ODI series against Bangladesh.
In a display of her skill, Gardner not only showcased her batting skills but also proved to be a formidable force with the ball. Across the three-match series, she accumulated 52 runs and claimed eight crucial wickets, with an impressive average of 8.62. Remarkably, in the opening ODI, Gardner’s resilient innings of 32 on a challenging Mirpur wicket laid the foundation for Australia’s total of 213. Additionally, her remarkable bowling spell of 3 wickets against 22 runs contributed significantly to Australia’s convincing victory.
Throughout the series, Gardner remained a consistent performer against the Bangladeshi side, delivering impactful performances in consecutive matches. Gardner’s impressive display saw her elevate her position across all three key categories in the rankings. With a commendable batting performance, she has surged five spots to secure the 17th position in the batting rankings. Simultaneously, she climbed into the top five in the bowling rankings, showcasing her versatility as an all-rounder Gardner rose from sixth to an impressive second position in the rankings for all-rounders. As Australia secured a clean sweep against the host with 3-0, Gardner’s outstanding contributions earned her the well-deserved title of Player of the Series, further solidifying her status as one of cricket’s foremost all-rounders.
