Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj has been nominated for the ICC Player of the Month Award for August, a recognition of his stellar performance in the final Test against England at The Oval. Siraj's brilliance in the decisive match, where he claimed nine wickets, was instrumental in helping India secure a victory that leveled the series at 2-2. He is joined on the shortlist by New Zealand's Matt Henry and West Indies' Jayden Seales.
Throughout the five-Test series, Siraj emerged as a true workhorse for the Indian team. Despite facing injuries to several players on both sides, the right-arm pacer featured in every match, bowling more than 185 overs with unwavering intensity. He finished the series as the leading wicket-taker with 23 scalps, a performance that showcased his resilience and determination.
The ICC highlighted Siraj's brilliance in the final Test, stating on its website that "his decisive spell in the final innings bowled India to victory and proved crucial in securing a 2-2 series draw." The governing body added that with Jasprit Bumrah absent, Siraj "led the attack with great determination, bowling more than 46 overs across two innings." For his match-winning performance, Siraj was also named Player of the Match.
The other nominees have also had a remarkable month. New Zealand's Matt Henry earned his nomination for his dominant show in the Kiwis’ Test series victory over Zimbabwe. The right-arm pacer claimed a total of 16 wickets across two matches at an impressive average of 9.12, including figures of 6/39 in the first Test. His performance was key to New Zealand's 2-0 series win.
Rounding out the list of nominees is West Indies' Jayden Seales, who played a pivotal role in his team's first ODI series win against Pakistan in 34 years. After a quiet start in the series opener, Seales bounced back with three wickets in the second match before delivering a career-best 6/18 in the final ODI. His performance dismantled Pakistan's batting lineup and sealed a landmark series triumph for the Caribbean side. The winner of the award will be announced later this month.
