Mitchell, Root and Bairstow shortlisted for ICC Men's Player of the Month

England duo Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root and New Zealand's Daryll Mitchell were shortlisted for the ICC Men’s Player of the Month award for June following their recent three match Test series.

For the Women's Player of the Month award, South Africa pacer Shabnim Ismail, top-order batter Marizanne Kapp alongside England allrounder Natalie Sciver were shortlisted. following the Proteas' ODI series against Ireland and the one-off Test against England.

Root and Bairstow played crucial role as England enjoyed a successful start to Brendan McCullum’s coaching reign in the longest format with a 3-0 whitewash of New Zealand at home. 

Bairstow was at his brutal best during the World Test Championship series against the Black Caps, scoring 394 runs at an average of 78.80.  After a quiet show at Lord's, the 33-year old smashed 136 at Nottingham followed by a sensational 162 off 157 balls and a 71 not out off 44 balls at Headingley. 

Root, starred in the victory at Lord's with an unbeaten 115 in the second innings and followed it up with 176 and 86 not out in the second and third Test respectively to take his tally for June to 396 runs at an average of 99. Root also became the second English batter to complete 10,000 Test runs as well as reclaim the No.1 spot among Test batters with his performances.

Mitchell was the shining light for New Zealand in an underwhelming series as he amassed 538 runs from three Tests at an average of 107.6 scoring three centuries and two fifties.

Experienced South African pacer Shabnim Ismail dazzled in the ODI series against Ireland, claiming 11 wickets in three matches at a stunning average of 5. Kapp was the lynchpin for the visiting South African side in the drawn Test against England as her 150 in the first innings helped them to 284 all out. 

In the same match, England declared their first innings at 417/8, thanks to Nat Sciver's unbeaten 169. The allrounder had also claimed 1-29 in the first innings.