ISLAMABAD: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has shortlisted three players including two pacers from Ireland and New Zealand and a Sri Lankan all-rounder for the Men’s Player of the Month for March 2024. All of the three players displayed a splendid performance in their respective series against their opponents. The three short-listed players included:
Mark Adair (Ireland)
Being an integral part of the Ireland side across all formats since he made his international debut in 2019, Mark Adair played a decisive role in his side’s historic Test triumph over Afghanistan in March.
Adair’s splendid job worked with the ball in the first innings to take his maiden five-wicket haul. His 5/39 bowled out Afghanistan for merely 155. He then contributed a fine 15 with the willow to ensure Ireland’s lead in the first innings was boosted to 108 runs.
In the second innings, Mark also managed to pick up the crucial wickets of Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah and Hashmatullah Shahidi and played his part in dismissing Afghanistan for 218. Later he was declared as Player of the Match for his brilliant performance in the game. His eight wickets came at an average of just 11.87.
Mark Adair also grabbed three wickets in the subsequent ODI series, and five wickets in the following T20I series.
Kamindu Mendis (Sri Lanka)
Making a return to the Sri Lankan side for the first time since 2022, Kamindu had a month to remember. He knocked a fine innings of 68 runs in the T20I series against Bangladesh adding a crucial 37 in the second T20I, in which he was the top-scorer for his team.
His finest moment, however, came in the first Test against Bangladesh in Sylhet when Sri Lanka were in real danger, after being sent into bat on a green wicket. The side was struggling at 57/5 against the home seamers, however, it was Kamindu after joining Dhananjaya de Silva crafted a brilliant 202-run stand for the sixth wicket. Sri Lanka managed to finish at 280 and then bowled out Bangladesh for 188.
Matt Henry (New Zealand)
Seamer Matt Henry displayed some exceptional red-ball skills against a strong Australian side. In the recently concluded Trans-Tasman Trophy in New Zealand, which Australia took 2-0, Henry took 17 wickets at an average of 15.7, with two five-wicket hauls to his name. He also added 101 runs at an average of 25.25.
In the first Test, he was the pick of the Kiwi bowlers with 5/70 and 3/36, and also smashed 42 and 14 runs innings with his bat. Though he was unable to stop the Australian charge, his fighting performance gave New Zealand inspiration before the second Test.
Though the Kiwis were bowled out for merely 162 in the first innings in Christchurch, Henry was the man to fight back and dismissed seven Australian batters to keep their lead to 94. An improved display from New Zealand set the tourists a target of 279.
Henry then joined forces with youngster Ben Sears to leave Australia struggling at 34/4. However, brilliant knocks from Mitchell Marsh and Alex Carey eventually saw the tourists home, but Henry remained the standout performer through the series. He eventually took home the Player of the Series award.
