DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — West Indies all-rounder Justin Greaves has been named among the three finalists for the ICC Men’s Player of the Month Award for December, recognition that follows a series of defining performances during the Test tour of New Zealand.
The 31-year-old delivered one of the standout individual efforts of the international calendar year, combining resilience, run-scoring authority, and timely contributions with the ball.
A month defined by defiance
Greaves amassed 283 runs at an impressive average of 56.60 across three Test matches, anchoring the West Indies batting in demanding conditions against a potent New Zealand attack.
His defining moment came in the opening Test at Christchurch, where he produced a monumental unbeaten 202 in the fourth innings. The knock, rich in discipline and resolve, proved decisive in salvaging a historic draw and immediately entered West Indies Test folklore.
All-round contributions add weight to claim
In addition to his batting heroics, Greaves made meaningful contributions with the ball. The medium pacer claimed five wickets across the series, underlining his value as a genuine all-rounder during a fiercely contested campaign.
Those combined efforts placed him firmly in contention for the ICC’s monthly honor.
Greaves faces formidable competition from New Zealand fast bowler Jacob Duffy, who dominated the home Test series against the West Indies. Duffy emerged as the leading wicket-taker of the series, claiming 23 wickets at a remarkable average of 15.43 across three matches as New Zealand secured a 2-0 victory.
His prolific December capped a historic year, as Duffy finished 2025 as New Zealand’s highest wicket-taker across all formats with 81 wickets, surpassing the long-standing national record of 79 set by Sir Richard Hadlee in 1985.
Starc’s Ashes impact
Completing the trio is Australia’s left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Starc, whose influence during the Ashes in December was both decisive and multifaceted. Starc claimed 16 wickets and scored 139 runs across three Tests, consistently shaping the course of the series.
He earned Player-of-the-Match honors in the second Test after scoring 77 runs and taking eight wickets to set up an Australian victory. Starc followed that with another crucial all-round effort in the third Test in Adelaide, contributing 54 runs and four wickets as Australia sealed the Ashes.
With Greaves’ historic double century, Duffy’s relentless wicket-taking, and Starc’s Ashes-defining performances, the ICC Men’s Player of the Month race for December presents a compelling contest, one that places West Indies excellence firmly alongside two of the game’s most dominant fast bowlers.
