Ireland’s Amy Hunter takes January ICC Player of the Month award

There’s quite a bit coming up in 2024. A possible T20 World Cup in Bangladesh. Plus the qualifiers to get there in the coming months. But some moments just need to be savoured.

That could include ODI and T20 series wins away in Zimbabwe in January. Not a bad way to kick off 2024. But for Amy Hunter, 18, it now includes picking up the ICC Women’s Player of the Month award.

Hunter enjoyed a successful start to 2024 with a set of fine performances with the bat. A quiet start in the ODI fixtures against Zimbabwe was followed by an explosive 101 not out in 66 balls.

This then followed with 77 not out from 57 balls in the second and 42 in the third to secure a 3-0 away win. Her 220 runs in T20Is during the month also came at a sensational strike rate of 144.73.

The Belfast-born international has appeared 52 times since making her debut in 2021. She grabbed worldwide attention on her 16th birthday when she struck an ODI century against Zimbabwe at Harare Sports Club – becoming the youngest player, male or female, ever to score on ODI century.

Hunter’s most recent T20I century at the same ground makes her only the 12th woman cricketer in history to score a century in both white-ball formats.

She was one of three shortlisted nominees for January, along with the Australian duo Alyssa Healy and Beth Mooney.

“It’s an honour to win the ICC Women’s Player of the Month award for January” said Hunter. “To be on a shortlist alongside two of the world’s best is something that I am immensely proud of”.

The win makes her the first Irish woman to take the award, and the second Irish player after Harry Tector who claimed it in 2023.

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