ICC Men's Player of the Month nominees for September 2024 announced

The ICC has revealed the nominees for the Men’s Player of the Month award for September 2024, featuring two standout players from Sri Lanka and a high-scoring Australian batter.

Travis Head (Australia) 
Travis Head is making headlines for his impressive performances, putting himself in the running for the ICC Men’s Player of the Month. He showcased his skills as a top-order batter for Australia during their tour against England and Scotland.  

In five T20I matches, Head scored 182 runs at an incredible strike rate of 245.94. His highlights included a quick 59 off just 23 balls against England and an explosive 80 runs off 25 balls against Scotland. This stellar performance contributed to Australia achieving a record-breaking total of 113 runs in the Powerplay overs, the highest ever for a full member nation in a T20I.

Head continued his excellent form in ODIs as well. He was named Player of the Series after scoring 248 runs in four innings during the five-match series against England, averaging 82.66. He also contributed with the ball, taking six wickets, including an outstanding 4/28 in the crucial fifth ODI, helping Australia secure the series.

Prabath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka)
Sri Lankan spinner Prabath Jayasuriya also earned a nomination after his remarkable performance in Test cricket. He played a key role in helping Sri Lanka win their series against New Zealand, taking nine wickets in each of the two Tests and achieving five-wicket hauls in both matches.

In the first Test in Galle, Jayasuriya took 5/68 in the second innings, leading to New Zealand's defeat. He followed it up with an impressive 6/42 in the second Test, which sealed the series for Sri Lanka. Over three Tests in September, he claimed 21 wickets at an average of 27.90, becoming the fastest Sri Lankan to reach 100 Test wickets in just 16 matches.

Kamindu Mendis (Sri Lanka)  
Kamindu Mendis is another strong contender for the award, continuing his record-breaking start in Test cricket. In September, he played four Tests, scoring 451 runs at an average of 90.20. His efforts were vital in securing a consolation win against England and contributing to a series victory over New Zealand.

Mendis made history by becoming the first men's player to score fifty runs in each of his first eight Test matches. He also became the fastest player in 75 years to reach 1,000 Test runs, doing so in just eight Tests and matching the legendary Don Bradman by achieving the milestone in 13 innings.

His top score in September was a remarkable 182 not out in the second Test against New Zealand, helping Sri Lanka post a massive total of 602/5 declared. He also played a crucial role in the first Test, scoring 114 runs when his team was struggling at 88/3.