Shortlist revealed for ICC Women’s Emerging Cricketer of the Year 2024
Stars from South Africa, Scotland, India and Ireland make up the nominees for the ICC Women’s Emerging Cricketer of the Year award.
We take a look at their performances during 2024.
Annerie Dercksen (SA)
161 runs and 5 wickets in 17 T20Is
60 runs in 2 Tests
70 runs and 6 wickets in 4 ODIs
From a career in academia as a qualified teacher to emerging as a rising star in women’s cricket, South Africa’s Annerie Dercksen has had a remarkable journey over the past couple of years.
The year that was
After making her debut in 2023, it took Dercksen less than two weeks to earn a spot in South Africa’s squad for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup on home soil. Although she didn’t feature in the tournament that year, fast forward to 2024, and Dercksen was a pivotal part of the squad that reached the final.
Batting opportunities were limited for Dercksen lower down the order, but she seized her chances when they came. She ended the year strongly with 69 runs in three T20Is against England, despite South Africa suffering a 3-0 series defeat.
The 23-year-old also made her mark in the ODI series against England, contributing a composed 27 runs in South Africa’s only victory of the limited-overs leg during the first ODI.
With 11 wickets across formats to her name, Dercksen showcased her immense potential as an emerging all-rounder for South Africa.
Annerie Dercksen in action at the Women's T20 World Cup // Getty Images
Memorable Performance
Dercksen had only one opportunity in the T20I series against Pakistan in the lead-up to the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, but she made it count with a standout performance.
In the series decider, South Africa faced a challenging chase of 154. After losing Tazmin Brits early and seeing Anneke Bosch retire hurt at a critical moment, Dercksen was thrust into the spotlight.
She rose to the occasion brilliantly, smashing an unbeaten 44 off just 23 balls, featuring six boundaries and two towering sixes. Her explosive knock guided South Africa to a series-clinching victory, earning her the Player of the Match award.
Saskia Horley (SCO)
142 runs and 3 wickets in 10 T20Is
276 runs and 9 wickets in 5 ODIs
Saskia Horley’s cricketing journey is nothing short of a fairytale - starting on a TV show where a young player was coached for a day by an international star, only to later share the global stage with that very icon. The international star was none other than Ellyse Perry, and the aspiring cricketer was a 13-year-old Horley.
The year that was
Horley kicked off the year in style with a standout performance in Dubai, smashing a half-century and taking three wickets in her only outing during the ODI tri-series against PNG and the USA. She carried that momentum into the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier, where she struck an unbeaten 62 in Scotland’s opening match against Uganda.
While her T20I performances were inconsistent, Horley truly shone in ODIs. In August, she made history as the first Scottish player to score a century in Women’s ODIs and followed it up with several vital contributions in the tri-series against hosts Netherlands and PNG.
Horley’s impact extended into the Women’s T20 World Cup, where she made an immediate mark by taking three wickets in the tournament opener against Bangladesh.
Saskia Horley (right) recorded a three-for against Bangladesh in the opening match of the Women's T20 World Cup // Getty Images
Memorable Performance
Becoming the first-ever ODI centurion for your country is a remarkable achievement, but Horley took it a step further by following up her historic ton with a four-wicket haul in the same match, proving her immense all-round ability.
In Scotland’s opening game of the tri-series in the Netherlands, Horley played a composed knock of 100 off 121 balls, including 12 boundaries, helping the team post 258/6 – their highest total in ODI cricket to date.
She then turned the match on its head with her off-spin, dismantling PNG’s batting line-up with a brilliant 4/24, marking her best bowling performance in ODIs.
Shreyanka Patil (IND)
15 wickets in 13 T20Is
4 wickets in 2 ODIs
The last 12 months have been nothing short of a dream for Shreyanka Patil. After making history as the first Indian player to feature in the Women’s Caribbean Premier League in December 2023, she followed it up with her debut for India in the same month – and hasn’t looked back since.
The year that was
Patil has been a model of consistency for India across both white-ball formats, going wicketless in only two matches this year. What makes her achievement even more impressive is the variety of roles she has taken on - regularly being deployed in the Powerplay, middle-overs and at the death.
A steady presence in India’s line-up throughout the year, Patil has featured in bilateral series against Australia, Bangladesh and South Africa, as well as in major tournaments like the Women’s T20 Asia Cup and the T20 World Cup. On the world stage, she has showcased her bowling prowess, earning recognition for her all-round skills.
Though primarily known for her bowling, Patil is also an accomplished lower-order batter. While she hasn’t yet fully displayed her batting capabilities, it remains a vital part of her game, ready to shine when called upon.
WATCH: Shreyanka Patil gets the big wicket of Chamari Athapaththu at the Women's T20 World Cup 2024
Memorable Performance
After losing their opening game of the Women’s T20 World Cup to New Zealand, India found themselves in a precarious position heading into their crucial clash against arch-rivals Pakistan.
Bowling first, Patil delivered a key performance, helping to restrict Pakistan to 105/8. She finished with impressive figures of 2/14, dismissing Muneeba Ali and Tuba Hassan, the latter of whom she removed in a wicket-maiden.
India successfully chased down the target in 19 overs, keeping their World Cup hopes alive.
Freya Sargent (IRE)
13 wickets in 11 ODIs
7 wickets in 9 T20Is
Coming from a family with a rich cricketing legacy, Freya Sargent is the latest to carry forward the family name and she’s doing so on the international stage at just 18 years old.
The year that was
After making her international debut in late 2023, 2024 proved to be a testing year for Sargent, who, at just 18 years old, was entrusted by Ireland as a key player.
She has more than justified that trust, delivering career-best figures of 3/29 in her first ODI of the year against Zimbabwe. Throughout a challenging bilateral series against top-tier teams like Sri Lanka, England and Bangladesh and showed her mantle with two, five and two wickets respectively.
Freya Sargent represented Ireland at the ICC U19 Women's T20 World Cup in 2023 // Getty Images
Memorable Performance
Opening the bowling for Ireland in the first T20I against England, Sargent made an early breakthrough, dismissing Bryony Smith right after the Powerplay.
Later, entrusted with the 19th over, Sargent took two more key wickets—removing Mady Villiers and Georgia Adams - while also affecting the run-out of Charis Pavely. She finished with career-best T20I figures of 3/30.