ICC Names Laura Wolvaardt and Mitchell Starc Players of the Month for December 2025

South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt and Australia’s Mitchell Starc have been named the ICC Women’s and Men’s Players of the Month for December 2025, following decisive performances that shaped series victories for their respective teams.

Wolvaardt’s run-scoring dominance continues

Laura Wolvaardt’s December stood out for its consistency and impact across formats as South Africa completed a clean sweep against Ireland. The 26-year-old opening batter amassed 392 runs across T20Is and ODIs, a tally that included three centuries and underlined her growing authority at the top of the order.

Her month began with a commanding 115 off 65 balls in the opening T20I, an innings featuring 15 boundaries and five sixes that set the tone for a 2-0 series win. She then carried that form into the ODI leg, scoring 124 off 111 deliveries in the second match before finishing with an unbeaten 100 in the third as South Africa sealed a 3-0 whitewash.

Reflecting on the recognition, Wolvaardt said, “I’m delighted to be named the ICC Player of the Month once again. To win it two times in three months is very special and something I’ll cherish for a long time. I loved batting throughout Ireland’s tour of South Africa, and it was hugely rewarding to contribute with runs across both the ODI and T20I formats.”

The award marks her second ICC Player of the Month honor in three months, having previously won in October 2025. She edged out strong competition from teammate Sune Luus, who scored 323 runs and took eight wickets across formats, and India’s Shafali Verma, who made 241 runs in five T20Is during the period.

With major tournaments ahead, Wolvaardt linked her individual form to the team’s broader ambitions. “With the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 on the horizon, my focus is firmly on carrying this momentum forward. We’ve shown real progress in recent ICC events, and I’m excited about the summer ahead in England and Wales. I hope to continue playing my part and help take the team all the way,” she added.

Already the captain of South Africa and a regular across leading global leagues, Wolvaardt’s December performances extended a run that began during the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 and reaffirmed her status as one of the most reliable openers in the women’s game.

Starc spearheads Australia’s Ashes success

On the men’s side, Mitchell Starc claimed the ICC Men’s Player of the Month award after leading Australia’s pace attack in a dominant home Ashes campaign. The left-arm fast bowler finished December with 16 wickets across the first three Tests, laying the foundation for Australia’s eventual 4-1 series victory over England.

Starc entered the month on the back of a ten-wicket haul in the opening Test at Perth and followed it with eight wickets in Brisbane. He then played a supporting role in Adelaide and Melbourne, taking four wickets in each match to maintain pressure as Australia built an unassailable lead.

Beyond his bowling, Starc made timely contributions with the bat. His half-centuries in Brisbane and Adelaide proved valuable as Australia surged to a 3-0 lead in the five-match series. He eventually ended the Ashes with 31 wickets and was named Player of the Series.

Speaking after receiving the monthly award, Starc said, “It’s an honour to be named the ICC Player of the Month, and even more special that it came on the back of such a successful home Ashes. To have played a part in winning such an iconic series in front of our home crowd is something we will all relish for a long time.”

He also pointed to the team’s longer-term goals, adding, “As a team we’ve had some outstanding performances in the last few years. The focus now is on building that momentum towards a place in next year’s ICC World Test Championship Final.”

Starc beat competition from West Indies all-rounder Justin Greaves, who scored his maiden Test double century against New Zealand, and New Zealand seamer Jacob Duffy, who claimed 25 wickets in a 2-0 series win over the West Indies. The honor was Starc’s first ICC Men’s Player of the Month award and ended a two-year wait for an Australian winner, with Pat Cummins having last claimed it in December 2023.