After producing some stellar performances in 2024, it comes as no surprise that West Indies’ Hayley Matthews and Sherfane Rutherford were named in the ICC Women’s and Men’s ODI Teams of the Year, respectively.
The announcement marked the beginning of the ICC Awards 2024, which will unveil winners across 12 individual categories over five days.
Matthews’ inclusion in the ICC Women’s ODI Team of the Year underscores her status as one of the premier all-rounders in the game. The 26-year-old dazzled in 2024 with 469 runs at an impressive average of 78.16 and contributed with the ball, taking nine wickets.
Her consistency and ability to perform under pressure have made her an invaluable asset to the West Indies Women’s team.
Positioned at No. 4 in a formidable batting lineup, Matthews joins other standout players like South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt, who captains the side, and India’s Smriti Mandhana. The ICC Voting Academy recognized Matthews for her ability to change games with both bat and ball, a hallmark of her exceptional season.
Meanwhile, Rutherford, another shining star from the Caribbean, secured his spot in the ICC Men’s ODI Team of the Year. Rutherford’s exploits with the bat saw him average over 106, scoring 425 runs in just 11 innings.
His ability to deliver impactful performances, often under challenging circumstances, made him a key figure for the West Indies. The 26-year-old’s contributions extend beyond his batting prowess, as his all-round capabilities have bolstered his team’s balance.
He joins a star-studded lineup featuring Sri Lanka’s Charith Asalanka, who captains the team, and Pakistan’s pace duo of Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf.
Unsurprisingly, no Caribbean player made the cut for the ICC Test Team of the Year, which was dominated by England players.
The ICC Teams of the Year were selected by an independent panel of cricket media experts, the ICC Voting Academy, based on players’ statistics and overall impact in international cricket during the calendar year. The awards process also involved over 1.5 million global fans who participated in a 12-day voting period on the ICC’s official website.
Next to be announced is the Men’s and Women’s T20I Teams of the Year. The week will culminate in the presentation of the prestigious Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year and the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy for ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year.
ICC Men’s Test Team of the Year: Yashasvi Jaiswal (Ind), Ben Duckett (Eng), Kane Williamson (NZ), Joe Root (Eng), Harry Brook (Eng), Kamindu Mendis (SL), Jamie Smith (Eng) (wk), Ravindra Jadeja (Ind), Pat Cummins (Aus) (c), Matt Henry (NZ), Jasprit Bumrah (Ind)
ICC Women’s ODI Team of the Year: Smriti Mandhana (Ind), Laura Wolvaardt (SA) (c), Chamari Athapaththu (SL), Hayley Matthews (WI), Marizanne Kapp (SA), Ash Gardner (Aus), Annabel Sutherland (Aus), Amy Jones (Eng) (wk), Deepti Sharma (Ind), Sophie Ecclestone (Eng), Kate Cross (Eng)
Men’s ODI Team of the Year: Saim Ayub (Pak), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (Afg), Pathum Nissanka (SL), Kusal Mendis (SL) (wk), Charith Asalanka (SL) (c), Sherfane Rutherford (WI), Azmatullah Omarzai (Afg), Wanindu Hasaranga (SL), Shaheen Shah Afridi (Pak), Haris Rauf (Pak), AM Ghazanfar (Afg)