Sri Lanka's Wanindu Hasrasnga and Kushal Mendis, West Indies' Sherfane Rutherford and Afghanistan's Azmatullah Omarzai were shortlisted for the ICC Men's ODI Cricketer of the Year 2024 award.
Wanindu Hasaranga (Sri Lanka):
26 wickets at 15.61, economy 5.36, 87 runs at 17.40, strike rate 101.16
Wanindu Hasaranga continued to cement his reputation as a wizard of white-ball cricket by bagging a wicket in every three overs in ODI cricket throughout the year.
Hasaranga had 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 an effort of 3/58 against India on his return to the bowling alley in August. Spells of 2/18 (6) and 4/40 (8) followed against the West Indies, completing a five-match run of consecutive multi-wicket outings for the leg-spinner.
Memorable performance:
Hasaranga flipped the calendar back to January and made headlines in early 2024 when he claimed 7/19 from just 5.5 overs against Zimbabwe in Colombo.
Kusal Mendis had already deployed four bowlers when he threw the ball to his leg spinner for just the ninth over of the match, although the decision was upheld after Hasaranga found the top edge of Takudzwanashe Kaitano for an easy catch for Dilshan Madushanka at short fine leg . .
The wicket began a procession to 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 clearing the tail with wickets of Wellington Masakadza and Blessing Muzarabani as the Zimbabweans were bowled out for just 96.
The leg-spinner walked away at 7/19 off just 5.5 overs and was named Player of the Match for his performance.
Azmatullah Omarzai (Afghanistan):
12 innings, 417 runs at 52.12, Strike Rate 105.56, 7 wickets at 20.47, economy 4.90
Azmatullah Omarzai underlined his reputation as one of the most versatile white-ball players in the world and was a thorn in the side of opponents with both bat and ball in 2024.
Knife in hand, Omarzai made early headlines with a knock of 149* from just 115 balls against Sri Lanka at Pallekele in February, before hitting a half-century against the same opponents five days later, albeit in a series of defeats.
As the year progressed, Omarzai fizzled in both facets, to series-defining effect. Omarzai played a key role in Afghanistan's first-ever ODI series win over South Africa, making an unbeaten 86* off just 50 balls before claiming 1/17 (3) in the second ODI to make it an untouchable 2-0 achieved a lead. He then emulated the success against Bangladesh to claim Player of the Match honors with 70* (77) and 4/37 (7) in a series-deciding third ODI.
Memorable performance:
Omarzai will have fond memories of Afghanistan's trip to Sri Lanka, where he made a stunning 149* off just 115 balls in the first ODI in February, even though his performance ended in defeat.
Having seen Pathum Nissanka shine earlier in the day with a knock of 210* (139), partly at the expense of his own bowling figures, Omarzai demonstrated his world-class talent in response.
Omarzai thought he had nothing to lose when he went to bat on 3/19 with his side wobbly, but lost two partners in the chase soon after. He then found company in Mohammad Nabi as the pair scored 242 in just 222 balls.
The right-hander hit 13 fours and six sixes in his stay at the crease and ended the innings with a six as a final shout even as his side failed to chase down 382.
Kusal Mendis (Sri Lanka):
17 innings, 742 runs at 53.00, Strike Rate 90.59
Kusal Mendis' name featured prominently in a busy year of ODI cricket for Sri Lanka.
Mendis made a half-century against all six opponents in ODI cricket in 2024, also celebrating a century against New Zealand and ending the calendar year with an average of over 50.
Mendis started the year with scores of 46, 17 and 66* against Zimbabwe in January, the latter making just 51 balls after being dropped to No. 3.
He remained at the top spot in the 50-over format for the rest of the year and continued to show his consistency with three double-figure scores against Afghanistan in February, including another half-century at Pallekele.
Mendis toured Bangladesh, making 59 (75) in the first ODI in Chattogram, and impressed against India, also making 59 (82) in a home series match in Colombo.
While the 29-year-old had threatened to make a big score all year, and he performed satisfactorily at the end of the year, with an unbeaten 56* off just 22 balls against the West Indies, and 217 runs over two strokes against New Zealand. Mendis hit a 128-ball 143 against New Zealand in Dambulla before scoring 74* from 102 balls when the teams met in Pallekele.
Mendis also had a good year with the gloves, claiming 19 dismissals during the matches, and Sri Lanka only lost three of their 17 ODIs over the course of the year.
Memorable performance:
It was a career-best day for Mendis in November against New Zealand, who stood out, packing 143 in just 128 balls to help his side to victory in a rain-affected match in Dambulla.
Mendis and Avishka Fernando continued in the first Powerplay after the aforementioned batsman was dropped on 11 and eventually advanced to his half-century in 64 balls. Hitting hard on the sweep against the spinners and fast bowlers straight off the wicket, the pair posted 206 in 215 balls, providing a launching pad for the team to post a score of 300.
Mendis brought up the century off 102 balls before his late acceleration, hitting 17 fours and two sixes to eventually help the side reach 324/5 in 49.2 overs before the weather intervened. Play resumed and the hosts claimed a confident 45-point victory under the DLS method.
Sherfane Rutherford (West Indies):
425 runs at 106.25, average 106.25, success rate 120.05.
Known more for his prowess in the shorter white-ball format, Sherfane Rutherford thrived in the ODI game in 2024, bringing his combative batting skills to bear.
Rutherford did not succumb to the pressure of playing away from home and started his year in the competition with three consecutive half-centuries against Sri Lanka, albeit in a 2-1 defeat. Not only did Rutherford's 204 runs come at a strike rate of 107.36, but the left-hander was dismissed just once.
The 26-year-old still impressed even with just one chance against England at home in Antigua, with 54 (36), although the best was yet to come in December, with Rutherford once again in the points in a home series against Bangladesh.
Rutherford eased a chase of 295 in St Kitts, making 113 in just 80 balls and helping his side take a 1-0 lead. He finished with an unbeaten 24* and a score of 30 in the series, both of which helped the West Indies to a 3-0 series win.
Memorable performance:
St Kitts were treated to a batting exhibition in early December from Rutherford, who hit 113 from just 80 balls against Bangladesh, turning a tricky chase into a Basseterre cakewalk.
Rutherford was run out at 94/3 in the 22nd over in the chase, unperturbed by the pressure on running speed, with his side needing 161 off just 114 balls at one point, and having been hit twice on the helmet in the proceedings.
After a cautious start, Rutherford scored 94 runs in 51 balls in one go, turning the match on its head with the help of Shai Hope and Justin Greaves. Rutherford lost his wicket seven runs short of target, although his efforts saw the team comfortably secure victory with 14 balls to spare.
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