Nathan Smith Beats Shubman Gill to ICC Player of the Month Award… New Zealand Pacer’s Heroics Seal June Honour

New Zealand fast bowler Nathan Smith has been named the ICC Men’s Player of the Month for June 2026, edging past India captain Shubman Gill and Bangladesh all-rounder Mossadek Hossain after an outstanding Test series against England.

Smith’s remarkable performances played a decisive role in New Zealand’s impressive 2-1 Test series victory on English soil, making him the standout performer of the month in international cricket.

Nathan Smith Dominates England Series

The Kiwi pacer finished the three-match series as the leading wicket-taker, claiming 16 wickets at an impressive average of around 23.00.

His defining performance came during the opening Test at Lord’s, where he produced a sensational spell of 6/70 in the second innings to help New Zealand seize control of the match.

Throughout the series, Smith consistently troubled England’s batting lineup with disciplined pace bowling, emerging as the backbone of New Zealand’s attack.

His match-winning contributions ultimately earned him the International Cricket Council’s monthly individual honour.

Smith Reflects on ICC Recognition

Reacting to the award, Nathan Smith described the recognition as a proud moment but stressed that team success remained his biggest motivation.

The fast bowler said he was delighted to receive acknowledgement from the International Cricket Council (ICC), especially after contributing to an overseas Test series victory against England.

Smith also revealed that injuries within the New Zealand squad meant he had to shoulder greater responsibility than usual.

Leading the bowling attack with the new ball was a role he had performed regularly in domestic cricket, but one he rarely gets to undertake at the international level.

The added responsibility, however, proved to be an opportunity that he embraced successfully.

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Shubman Gill Misses Out

India captain Shubman Gill was among the finalists for the prestigious monthly award after another productive month with the bat.

However, Smith’s match-winning bowling performances and consistent impact throughout the Test series gave him the edge in the final voting.

Bangladesh all-rounder Mossadek Hossain was the third nominee for the June honour.

Danni Wyatt-Hodge Wins Women’s Award

In the women’s category, England opener Danni Wyatt-Hodge was named the ICC Women’s Player of the Month for June 2026.

The experienced batter enjoyed a superb campaign during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, finishing the league stage as the tournament’s highest run-scorer.

Among her standout performances were a blistering 105 off 62 balls against Sri Lanka and a crucial 89 from 53 deliveries against defending champions New Zealand.

Expressing her delight, Wyatt-Hodge said winning the award after performing at a World Cup on home soil made the achievement even more special.

She added that reaching the World Cup final at Lord’s would remain one of the most cherished memories of her cricket career.

With both Smith and Wyatt-Hodge delivering memorable performances during June, the ICC’s latest monthly awards celebrate two players who made a significant impact for their respective national teams on the biggest stages.