The captivating Ashes series, which held sway over July, naturally places two of the ICC Player of the Month’s three nominees as standout contributors from the contest. Given England’s initial 0-2 deficit at the commencement of July, their remarkable turnaround, clinching victories in two of the subsequent three matches, can be attributed to the exceptional displays by bowling all-rounder Chris Woakes and opening batsman Zak Crawley.
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In addition to the English duo, the young prodigy Bas de Leede garners nomination for the Player of the Month accolade, having shone brightly for the Netherlands during the World Cup 2023 qualifiers. The 23-year-old exhibited splendid all-around capabilities, propelling his team to secure qualification for the upcoming grand event scheduled later this year in India.
As anticipation builds for the forthcoming announcement of the winner in the coming days, it is worth delving into the individual achievements of each of the three nominees throughout the eventful month of July.
Chris Woakes
Despite participating in only three out of the five Ashes Tests, Chris Woakes emerged as the standout performer of the series.
The pivotal all-rounder, Chris Woakes, transformed the trajectory of the Ashes series upon his inclusion in the third Test, having been sidelined for the opening two encounters. With the host nation trailing 0-2, the 34-year-old wielded his comprehensive skills during the third Test at Headingley, profoundly impacting the course of the series.
Woakes significantly contributed with six crucial wickets in the match and played an unbeaten innings of 32 runs during England’s nerve-wracking final innings pursuit of 251. Displaying his shrewd bowling acumen, he secured his maiden Ashes five-wicket haul in the first innings of the drawn fourth Test in Manchester, subsequently adding another seven wickets in the series-concluding Test at the Oval.
His extraordinary performances became instrumental in England’s comeback from a daunting 0-2 deficit, orchestrating a series-leveling triumph at 2-2, thereby preventing Australia from securing their first Test series victory on English soil since 2001.
Woakes concluded the month with a remarkable tally of 19 wickets, maintained at an impressive average of 18.15. Notably, his match-defining contribution in the third Test, underscored by a match-winning innings, led to his deserved recognition as the Player of the Series.
Zak Crawley
Zak Crawley delivered the standout performance of the Ashes series in the Manchester encounter.
In the wake of the initial two Tests, Zak Crawley faced intense scrutiny over his place in the team, as the opener struggled to convert promising starts into substantial scores.
Nonetheless, embodying the Bazball ethos and remaining impervious to external distractions, the 25-year-old orchestrated an impressive resurgence during the final trio of matches. Crawley contributed with crucial innings, posting scores of 33 and 44 in a closely-contested third Test at Headingley. However, it was his innings in the penultimate match at Manchester that stood out as the pinnacle of the Ashes series.
Crawley’s aggressive batting approach defied the formidable Australian bowling attack, as he accumulated a remarkable 189 runs off 182 deliveries, significantly bolstering England’s position in the match. He sustained his solid form in the ultimate Test, notching scores of 22 and 73, contributing to England’s 49-run victory, which led to a series-leveling outcome.
In summary, Zak Crawley’s cumulative July performance, encompassing a total of 412 runs (including his contribution of 51 in the second Test), culminated in an impressive average of 58.85, highlighting his pivotal role in the Ashes series.
Bas de Leede
Bas de Leede showcased exceptional prowess both with the ball and the bat, propelling the Netherlands to a triumphant World Cup qualification.Having already played a pivotal role in propelling the Netherlands into the Super Six stage of the 2023 World Cup Qualifiers, Bas de Leede delivered a standout performance in a high-stakes showdown against Scotland.
In this decisive encounter, the 23-year-old exhibited remarkable skill, claiming a five-wicket haul with figures of 5/52 in his allocated 10 overs. To further elevate his impact, de Leede unleashed a scintillating display of batting prowess, amassing a blistering 123 runs from a mere 92 deliveries. His individual brilliance steered the Dutch team to a hard-fought four-wicket victory. These remarkable feats secured the Netherlands a coveted top-two spot, edging ahead of Scotland and securing qualification for the prestigious Main World Cup event in India.
Notably, de Leede etched his name in the annals of cricket history as only the fifth cricketer (across genders) to achieve the rare distinction of both a century and a five-wicket haul in a single ODI match. His versatile contributions extended beyond this exceptional display, having also contributed 39 runs against Oman, contributing to the Netherlands’ 74-run victory.
Finishing as the tournament’s third-highest wicket-taker with an impressive tally of 15 dismissals, de Leede’s influence spanned beyond bowling. His remarkable batting exploits amounted to 285 runs, achieving an impressive average of 47.50 and a strike rate surpassing 100. These combined performances solidified Bas de Leede’s pivotal role in steering the Netherlands toward their World Cup aspirations.
