ICC Men's Player of the Month for November 2023 revealed
Australia’s World Cup-winning star Travis Head became the ICC Men’s Player of the Month for November 2023, at the back of his scintillating run during the month.
Head beat tough competition from teammate Glenn Maxwell and India seamer Mohammed Shami to take the honour home.
Maxwell scored an all-time great double century against Afghanistan during the World Cup, while Shami had a brilliant run with the ball during the same tournament.
But it was Head's 220 ODI runs during the month of November - that featured a half-century and a century - that proved the difference, with the left-hander winning his first Player of the Month award.
The 29-year-old paid tribute to his teammates for their help in his journey over the last year.
“It’s been an incredible 12 months for the team which it has been a real privilege to be a part of. The way we have navigated a home summer, away trips to India, England, South Africa, India and the World Cup has been great credit to Pat, the players and the staff," Head said.
“I was fortunate that they kept the faith in me for the World Cup after breaking my hand, so it was a great opportunity for me to pay them back. I felt the World Cup was amongst the best I have ever batted, so maybe having a rest before every campaign is the key.
“It’s a great honour to be recognised with this award, but it is a team effort. Without my team-mates across all formats this wouldn’t have happened; so these types of awards are as much for them as they are for me.”
Travis Head cleaned up Heinrich Klaasen before trapping Marco Jansen lbw.
These two best knocks during November came in the most critical stage of Australia’s successful Cricket World Cup campaign.
These innings won Head the Player of the Match award in the semi-final and final of the 50-over showcase.
In the semi-final, he made an impact with the ball initially, derailing the South Africa innings rebuild, claiming the important wickets of Heinrich Klaasen and Marco Jansen. This helped restrict the Proteas to a modest total, which was overhauled in a tense chase. Head led Australia’s effort, smashing an aggressive 62 from 48.
In the final against India, he changed the course of the game with a stunning catch, which sent back the dangerous Rohit Sharma.
Then in a chase of 241, he smashed a brilliant 137 from 120 balls to help Australia win the game by six wickets. Australia's innings was in the doldrums at one stage, having been reduced to 47/3. However, Head kept his cool and picked pace after seeing off a tough new ball period. His special knock was studded with 15 fours and four sixes.
Travis Head won the Player of the Match award for his brilliant century in Ahmedabad.
Head is only the second Australia Men's player to take the award after David Warner, who won it in November 2021.
Head has shown sensational form of late. He was also instrumental in Australia winning the ICC Men's World Test Championship final earlier this year with a brilliant 163 in the first innings against India. He claimed the Player of the Match award in a game which his side won by 209 runs.