A thrilling month of Test cricket in December 2024 came to a close, with high-octane action in Border-Gavaskar Trophy and the Test series between South Africa and Pakistan. As the year comes to a close, three outstanding players have been nominated for the coveted Player of the Month award: Pat Cummins from Australia, Jasprit Bumrah from India, and Dane Paterson from South Africa. Their incredible performances have gone a long way in helping their teams win. As a result, they receive appreciation for the outstanding contributions made.
Pat Cummins (Australia): A dual threat in Border-Gavaskar Trophy
Pat Cummins, Australia’s captain, has been at both ends of the game for his team as he produced breathtaking performances in Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India. Leadership under his watch guided the Australians to a series win, clinching a vital spot in the ICC World Test Championship 2025 Final in June.
Cummins’ bowling brilliance surfaced as he took 17 wickets in three Tests at an average of 17.64. His best performance came in Adelaide, where he took 5/57, leading to the Australian side’s easy 10-wicket victory. Apart from his bowling skills, Cummins was also handy with the bat, scoring 49 and 41 in Melbourne, where the latter performance was accompanied by a six-wicket haul, making him a dual threat for Australia in its decisive win.
Jasprit Bumrah (India): India’s Star Performer in Australia
Jasprit Bumrah was one of the outstanding performers for India during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, winning the Player of the Series award. In the three-match Test series against Australia, Bumrah claimed 22 wickets at a phenomenal average of 14.22.
Bumrah’s greatest spells were against Brisbane and Melbourne where he took nine wickets in total, thereby ensuring India remained competitive throughout the series. He was even rated with the highest ever points as an Indian bowling player in the ICC Test Player Rankings. This marked him to be one of the best fast bowlers in the world.
Dane Paterson (South Africa): Role in South Africa’s WTC25 Qualification
Dane Paterson, in particular was an important reason behind South Africa’s successful spot at the final ICC World Test Championship 2025. Good bowling performances across Test series games against Sri Lanka and Pakistan left South Africa marching to victories along the way and creating momentum through his performances with his team.
In Paterson’s account, he gained 13 wickets in a mere two tests with an unbelievable average of 16.92. His striking performances of taking five wickets on two occasions included against Sri Lanka at 5/71 and Pakistan at 5/61 in South African wins.
Players who dominated their respective series and shone in their teams as a result are nominated for the Player of the Month for December 2024. They are Pat Cummins, Jasprit Bumrah, and Dane Paterson, whose stories set the cricket world and experts abuzz and leave a large print on the Test match field. The winner of the Player of the Month award will be announced soon, but all three nominees have already proved their worth as match-winners on the global stage.