ICC Announces Nominees for Women’s Player of the Month – July 2025

DUBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) revealed the contenders for the Women’s Player of the Month Award for July 2025 on Wednesday. The nominees include a pair of players from England and one from Ireland.

England’s prominent batter, Sophia Dunkley, and left-arm spin bowler, Sophie Ecclestone, are in contention for the coveted monthly accolade, alongside Ireland’s captain, Gaby Lewis.

Sophia Dunkley’s Consistent Performance

Dunkley stood out as one of England’s most dependable batters during July, a period when they played host to India in both an ODI and T20I series.

The right-handed batter experienced a slow beginning to the month, managing just a single run in the second T20I of the five-match series.

However, she bounced back impressively by scoring a match-winning half-century in the next game. She then added scores of 22 and 46 in the final two matches. This performance made her England’s highest run-scorer in the series, with a total of 151 runs.

Dunkley maintained her form in the subsequent ODI series, playing a solid innings of 83 runs in the opening match. She scored an undefeated nine in the second match and 34 in the third, concluding the series with 126 runs at an average of 63.

Sophie Ecclestone’s Impactful Contributions

Ecclestone, England’s former top-ranked T20I bowler, also enjoyed a stellar month on the international stage.

Despite England losing the T20I series 3-2, Ecclestone played a key role in their two victories. This included taking two wickets and helping the team win a tight run chase in the fifth T20I. In total, she claimed four wickets in as many T20Is.

She also contributed effectively with the bat, scoring 65 runs in the four T20Is played in July. This included a highest score of 35, which was her personal best in the T20 format.

Ecclestone was also named Player of the Match in England’s only ODI victory, thanks to her economical bowling performance of 3/27. These figures helped restrict India to a modest 147 and secure an eight-wicket victory in a rain-affected match.

Gaby Lewis Leads Ireland

Ireland’s captain, Lewis, also shone brightly during the month, playing a crucial role in leading her team to series victories in both ODI and T20I matches against Zimbabwe.

The right-handed batter amassed 154 runs in three T20Is at an average of 77, including two half-centuries. Her efforts propelled Ireland to a clean sweep of Zimbabwe in the T20I series.

Her standout performance came in the second T20I, where she scored 87 runs from 50 balls, guiding Ireland to an unassailable 2-0 lead.

Lewis also contributed with the ball, taking three wickets in the T20I series.

She was equally effective in the two-match ODI series, posting scores of 51 and 44, respectively, to help Ireland secure convincing victories in both matches.