Dane Paterson and Nonkululeko Mlaba have been nominated for ICC Player of the Month for December. 

The International Cricket Council (ICC) today unveiled the shortlists in contention for the ICC Men’s and Women’s Player of the Month awards for December 2024, celebrating the outstanding individual performances on the international stage during the calendar month.

Following a gripping month of action in the race to the ICC World Test Championship Final, the nominees for the ICC Men’s Player of the Month comprise standout wicket-takers from India, Australia and South Africa.

Dane Paterson (SA)

The South African seamer is nominated for the first time for the ICC Men’s Player of the Month award, and does so after 13 wickets on a successful return to the Proteas Test side. Recalled for the second Test against Sri Lanka in Gqeberha, Paterson immediately repaid the faith with a Player of the Match performance, claiming his first Test five-for with the wickets of Dhananjaya de Silva, Kusal Mendis and Lahiru Kumara in one over in his first innings return of five for 71. The spell proved crucial in the 109-run win and Paterson backed it up with more heroics with a probing five for 61 in the nail-biting victory over Pakistan that saw South Africa seal their place at Lord’s in what will be their first ICC World Test Championship Final.

Nonkululeko Mlaba (SA)

The South African strike bowler wrote her name into the history books in December thanks to a memorable display against England in their solitary Test at Bloemofontein. Following a modest showing in the ODIs that preceded the contest, Mlaba came to life in the longest format, extracting turn from the surface to take four wickets and a run out in the first innings, before six more in the second saw her become the first South African female to take ten wickets in a Test match.