NSW Women’s Team and Sydney Sixers star Ash Gardner has been announced as the ICC Player of the Month for June 2023, following a memorable performance in the first Women’s Ashes showdown.
Ash Gardner voted ICC Player of the Month
The award makes Gardner the first to win three ICC Player of the Month awards, having also won in December 2022 and February 2023. The all-rounder’s third Player of the Month crown came after she nudged out fellow nominees Tammy Beaumont (England) and Hayley Matthews (West Indies).
Sri Lanka’s record-breaking spinner Wanindu Hasaranga won the corresponding men’s award for June.
Both players were selected as the standout performers following a vote conducted among a specialist panel comprising ICC Hall of Famers, former international players, media representatives and global cricket fans registered at icc-cricket.com, who had been voting since the nominees were announced last week.
Gardner celebrates another prize after driving Australia to early success in the ongoing Women’s Ashes series. Trent Bridge was the stage of Gardner’s success, most notably with the ball, spinning Australia to a comfortable 89-run win to begin with a Test win.
She followed up a valuable 40 in Australia’s first innings with a four-wicket spell to help maintain a slender advantage over the hosts. Despite failing with the bat in Australia’s reply, Gardner’s sensational off-spin was the difference. Incredible figures of eight for 66 – the best figures for Australia in a women’s Test – included all five wickets to fall on the final day.
Gardner was excited at winning the award and happy to help her team win a memorable match.
“Thank you to everyone who voted me the ICC Women’s Player of the Month,” Gardner said.
“To win an Ashes Test match at Trent Bridge was a special moment for our team and I’m happy I was able to contribute towards the win.
“Winning a Test match overseas is one of the biggest challenges in cricket, it’s certainly a game that we will remember for a long time to come.
“The women’s Ashes series has seen record-breaking crowds in England, it’s an exciting time for our sport and I’m thrilled to be part of it.”
Fans can continue to vote every month for their favourite male and female cricketers across all formats of international cricket as part of the ICC Player of the Month initiative by registering at www.icc-cricket.com/awards.