Wanindu and Kusal frontrunners for cricketer of the year award

Wanindu Hasaranga and Kusal Mendis are frontrunners for the ICC Men’s ODI Cricketer of The Year award.

The two Sri Lankan standouts, a young Afghanistan all-rounder and a belligerent batter from the West Indies stand in the running for ICC Men?s ODI Cricketer of the Year.

Hasaranga continued to cement his reputation as a wizard of white-ball cricket, taking a wicket inside every three overs in 2024 ODI cricket.

Hasaranga boasted 11 wickets in his first three 50-over matches of the calendar year, taking 7/19 in 5.5 overs against Zimbabwe, before a 4/27 (6.5) performance against Afghanistan in Pallekele in mid-February.

Six wickets came in the three-match ODI series away in Chattogram, before a 3/58 effort against India upon his return to the bowling crease in August. Spells of 2/18 (6) and 4/40 (8) followed against the West Indies, completing a five-match stretch of consecutive multiple-wicket outings for the leg-spinner.

Kusal Mendis had already utilised four bowlers when he threw the ball to his leg-spinner for just the ninth over of the match, though the decision was vindicated after Hasaranga found Takudzwanashe Kaitano?s top edge for an easy catch for Dilshan Madushanka at short fine-leg.

The wicket began a procession for Hasaranga and Sri Lanka, with Joylord Gumbie and Craig Ervine falling in his next over, and Milton Shumba in his third over to go from 43/0 to 48/4.

Hasaranga returned to claim Clive Madande for a golden duck, before cleaning up the tail with wickets of Wellington Masakadza and Blessing Muzarabani, as the Zimbabweans were bundled out for just 96.

The leg-spinner walked off with 7/19 off just 5.5 overs, and was adjudged Player of the Match for his exploits.

Kusal Mendis? name was prominent in what was a packed year of ODI cricket for Sri Lanka.

Making half-centuries against all six opponents in ODI cricket across 2024, Mendis also celebrated a century against New Zealand, and finished the calendar year with an average of over 50.

Mendis began the year with scores of 46, 17 and 66* against Zimbabwe in January, with the latter score made just 51 balls, having been moved down to No.3.

He remained at first-drop for the rest of the year in the 50-over format, and continued to show his consistency with three double-digit scores against Afghanistan in February, including another half-century in Pallekele.

Mendis toured Bangladesh, making 59 (75) in the first ODI in Chattogram, and made an impression against India, also making 59 (82) in a home series match in Colombo.

While the 29-year-old had threatened to peel off a big score throughout the year, and he duly delivered at the backend of the year, making an unbeaten 56* from just 22 balls against the West Indies, and 217 runs across two knocks against New Zealand. Mendis smashed a 128-ball 143 against New Zealand in Dambulla, before a collected 74* from 102 balls when the teams met in Pallekele.

Mendis also enjoyed a good year with the gloves, claiming 19 dismissals across the matches, and Sri Lanka lost just three of their 17 ODIs over the course of the year.

VOTE NOW FOR ICC MEN’S ODI CRICKETER OF THE YEAR