The ICC has announced the nominees for the 2024 ICC Women’s Emerging Cricketer of the Year award. The contenders include India’s Shreyanka Patil, South Africa’s Annerie Dercksen, Scotland’s Saskia Horley, and Ireland’s Freya Sargent.
Shreyanka Patil debuted for India in December 2023 and has since become a reliable player in white-ball cricket. She consistently performs well under pressure.
Shreyanka is primarily a bowler but also shows promise as a lower-order batter. Her performances in the Women’s T20 Asia Cup and the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup solidified her position in the Indian team.
Shreyanka’s bowling figures of 2/14 against Pakistan in a crucial World Cup match were instrumental in restricting the opposition to 105/8. Her economical bowling, including a maiden over where she took a wicket, helped keep India’s tournament hopes alive.
Annerie Dercksen’s journey from teaching to international cricket has been quite remarkable. The 23-year-old debuted in 2023 and quickly became a vital member of the South African team. She played a key role in South Africa’s progression to the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup final in 2024.
Dercksen, a lower-order batter, made the most of her opportunities, scoring 69 runs in a three-match T20I series against England. Her all-around contributions with both bat and ball have highlighted her potential.
Dercksen’s unbeaten 44 off 23 balls in the deciding T20I against Pakistan was a match-winning performance. Chasing 154, her innings included six boundaries and two sixes, leading South Africa to a thrilling victory and earning her the Player of the Match award.
Saskia Horley has significantly impacted the Scotland women’s cricket team. Her journey began on a cricket TV show featuring Ellyse Perry, and she has since achieved historic milestones for her country.
Horley’s ODI performances in 2024 were exceptional, including Scotland’s first-ever century in Women’s ODIs. She also demonstrated her all-round abilities with the ball, contributing significantly in multiple series, including the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifiers.
In a tri-series against the Netherlands and Papua New Guinea, Horley scored a composed 100 off 121 balls and followed it up with bowling figures of 4/24. This performance led Scotland to their highest ODI total of 258/6 and a resounding victory.
At just 18, Freya Sargent has become a crucial player for Ireland. Her career-best bowling figures of 3/29 in ODIs and 3/30 in T20Is demonstrate her ability to compete against top teams.
Sargent’s maturity and composure under pressure are noteworthy. Her all-round skills in both ODI and T20I formats make her a promising young talent in international cricket.
Opening the bowling against England in a T20I, Sargent took three key wickets and was involved in a run-out, finishing with figures of 3/30. This impactful spell showcased her capability to excel against strong opponents.