Aiden Markram, Hayley Matthews named ICC Players of the Month for June
Markram won the men's award ahead of teammate Kagiso Rabada and Sri Lanka opener Pathum Nissanka for his Player of the Match effort in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final against Australia at Lord's.
The 30-year-old opener struck a solid 136 off 207 balls and featured in a 147-run third-wicket stand with captain Temba Bavuma in a successful chase of 282. The five-wicket victory helped South Africa win an ICC title for the first time in 27 years. Markram also picked up a wicket each in both innings.
Matthews, who has previously won the awards in November 2021, October 2023 and April 2024, edged South Africa's Tazmin Brits and compatriot Afy Fletcher to become only the second player to win the award four times after Australia all-rounder Ashleigh Gardner.
The West Indies skipper scored 104 runs in the three ODIs against South Africa, which included a half-century in the third match. She also grabbed four wickets in the series. Her fine run continued in the subsequent 2-1 T20I series win. She was named Player of the Series for her two fifties in an aggregate of 147 runs and two wickets.
Markram said: 'It is a privilege to receive this award. To contribute to an ICC World Test Championship win for our team and South Africa is something that means a lot to me.
'Winning the final at Lord's is a historic moment for South African cricket, and it is something we will all remember forever. This victory was only possible due to the combined efforts of the entire team, with crucial contributions from KG (Kagiso Rabada) and Tembs (Temba Bavuma).'
Matthews said: 'It's an honour to receive the Player of the Month award again. I've been pleased with my form recently, but more importantly, it's been great to contribute to the team's success—especially in a hard-fought T20I series against South Africa.
'Recognition like this is appreciated, but my focus remains on what's ahead. There's a lot more I want to achieve, both personally and with this team. We're heading in the right direction, and I'm excited about where we can go from here.'
Both players were crowned following a vote conducted among global fans com and a specialist panel comprising former international players and media representatives.
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