Shamar Joseph nominated for ICC Emerging Men’s Cricketer of the Year

West Indies fast bowler Shamar Joseph’s stellar debut year has earned him a nomination for the ICC Emerging Men’s Cricketer of the Year award, highlighting a bright spot for Caribbean cricket after a challenging year.

The announcement came as the International Cricket Council (ICC) revealed the first wave of shortlists for its prestigious 2024 awards.

Joseph, who claimed 29 wickets from eight Tests at an average of 26.75, is one of four nominees for the accolade, joining England’s Gus Atkinson, Pakistan’s Saim Ayub, and Sri Lanka’s Kamindu Mendis.

Joseph’s exploits, including a series-defining spell against Australia at the Gabba, cemented his rise as a key player for the West Indies.

The 25-year-old made an instant impact on the international stage, helping the West Indies secure their first Test victory in Australia since 1997.

Joseph’s 13 wickets in the two-match series, including two five-wicket hauls, played a pivotal role in leveling the series 1-1.

His standout performance came at the Gabba, where he bowled a match-winning spell of 7-68 with the pink ball.

Despite sustaining a nasty blow while batting, Joseph returned the next day to lead the West Indies to an eight-run victory, becoming the first West Indian in 17 years to take a five-wicket haul on Test debut.

Later in the year, Joseph continued his impressive form in home series against Bangladesh and South Africa, finishing with 12 wickets from three matches.

His consistency and ability to perform in high-pressure situations have made him a household name in Caribbean cricket.

Elsewhere, the ICC Emerging Women’s Cricketer of the Year pits four leading short-format talents against each other for the coveted title.

Comprising the nominees are South African all-rounder Annerie Dercksen, Scotland’s Saskia Horley, India’s Shreyanka Patil, and Ireland’s Freya Sargent, after all, left a significant mark on international competition in 2024.

The ICC Awards 2024 comprise 12 individual awards, with shortlists in nine categories being revealed by the ICC between 28 and 30 December.

Shortlists have been drawn up by a specialist panel of cricket writers and broadcasters, who selected the nominees according to on-field performances and overall achievements in international cricket throughout the calendar year.

Fans are now able to vote for their favourite Emerging players at www.icc-cricket.com, with other categories unlocked as further nominees are revealed by the ICC over the next two days.

Fan voting results will be combined with selections made by a prominent panel of international cricket media—the ICC Voting Academy—to identify the winner in each of the shortlisted categories.

Other categories that will be celebrated in the ICC Awards 2024 include the ICC Men’s and Women’s Associate Cricketers of the Year and the ICC Umpire of the Year.

In addition to the individual awards, five ICC Teams of the Year will also be decided by the ICC Voting Academy, identifying the standout XIs across men’s and women’s international cricket during the calendar year.

Winners of the ICC Awards 2024 will be announced in late January 2025. (Sportsmax)