India opener Mayank Agarwal was on Saturday named for the ICC Player of the Month award for December after his stellar performances within the Test sequence in opposition to New Zealand and South Africa.
Besides Agarwal, New Zealand spinner Ejaz Patel and Australian pacer Mitchell Starc had been additionally shortlisted for the award.
With common openers Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill and KL Rahul lacking a tough sport final month, Agarwal grabbed the chance with each fingers in opposition to New Zealand and South Africa.
In two matches, he scored 276 runs at a median of 69.00, together with two fifties and a century.
Agarwal was the architect of the victory in opposition to New Zealand in Mumbai with match-winning performances of 150 and 62 within the two innings.
An Australian quick bowler, an in-form India opener and New Zealand’s record-equalling spinner.
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He was additionally instrumental in breaking the Centurion Hoodoo for the primary time in India.
Batting first in stormy situations, KL Rahul and Agarwal set the stage with a scintillating opening partnership of 117. During the stand, he was examined by a fiery Proteas tempo assault however shone with an excellent 60.
India scored 327 within the first innings, which finally proved to be the distinction between the 2 sides.
India-born Kiwi spinner Ejaz Patel was immortalized in cricket historical past in December when he took 10 wickets in an innings in opposition to India, turning into the third participant in Tests after Jim Laker and Anil Kumble to attain the feat.
The left-arm spinner performed only one Test a month, the place he took 14 wickets at a median of 16.07. He took all 10 wickets within the first innings however was upset by the Kiwi batsmen who had been bundled out for 62 runs.
In the second innings, he took 4 wickets together with Agarwal and Cheteshwar Pujara. He completed with figures of 14/225, which had been the most effective bowling figures in a Test match in 2021.
Starc additionally carried out exceptionally with each bat and ball as Australia retained the Ashes with two video games to spare.
In three matches final month, he took 14 wickets at a median of 19.64 and was extra helpful with the bat, scoring 117 runs at 58.50.
He set the tone for your complete sequence by dismissing Rory Burns on the primary ball of the primary Test. Batting, he supported Travis Head with an innings of 35 runs and added 85 essential runs for the eighth wicket.
In the second Test at Adelaide, Starc took six wickets and scored 58 runs. This included a spectacular four-wicket haul within the first innings, which helped scale back England to 236, giving Australia an enormous 237-run lead.
In the Boxing Day Test, Starc took two essential wickets within the first innings, together with that of England captain Joe Root.
His innings of 24 not out helped Australia take an 82-run lead, which proved to be sufficient as England had been bundled out for 68. He took three wickets within the second innings as Australia received by an innings to retain the urn.
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
