Australia’s Annabel Sutherland and South Africa’s captain Laura Wolvaardt are the other two players nominated for the honor.
“Sri Lanka’s all-format captain has been producing the goods with the bat for a long time now for her country. Athapaththu is ranked among the top-10 players in the ICC Women’s rankings for batters and all-rounders in ODIs as well as T20Is, proving her mettle with both bat and ball,” said ICC in a release.
“A stellar year with over 1,000 runs across formats, picking up 30 wickets as well along the way has underlined her position as one of the most impactful players in women’s cricket,” it added.
Athapaththu made 458 runs in nine ODIs at 65.42 and claimed nine wickets while in 21 T20Is, she scored 720 runs and took 21 wickets.
Kerr has been nominated for her stellar performances, especially in New Zealand’s title-winning Women’s T20 World Cup campaign.
“Melie Kerr had a remarkable year, highlighted by leading New Zealand to their maiden Women’s T20 World Cup title and setting a national record for the most Women’s T20I wickets in a calendar year,” the ICC said.
“Her crowning achievement came during the White Ferns’ triumphant World Cup campaign, where she amassed 135 runs and claimed 15 wickets — a tournament record — culminating in their maiden Women’s T20 World Cup crown.” Wolvaardt was short-listed following her highest run tally in ODIs as well as in the T20 World Cup.
“Laura Wolvaardt has been a force to reckon with for the Proteas, leading the team from the front as the all-format skipper as well as piling up runs when needed at the top of the batting order,” the ICC said.
Wolvaardt scored 697 runs in 12 ODIs at 87.12 with a highest score of 184 not out, and made another 223 runs across three Tests with a highest score of 122. In nine T20Is, Wolvaardt made 673 runs at 39.58 with a highest score of 102.
Australia’s Sutherland was rewarded for her knock of 210 against South Africa at Perth in the one-off Test in February. She also made 369 runs and took 13 wickets in 12 ODIs.
“The 23-year-old set new standards with a breakout year that places her among the best all-rounders in the world in the 50-over format,” the ICC said.
“Sutherland became the first cricketer in women’s ODI history to score back-to-back centuries while batting at No 5 or lower in the ODI series against New Zealand. Sutherland also became the second-youngest Australian to score three ODI centuries behind former captain Meg Lanning,” it added.
