Harry Tector Makes History, Becomes First Ireland Player To Achieve This Feat

Ireland batter Harry Tector has made history as he is the first Ireland player to clinch the 'ICC Player of the Month' award for men's cricket. "The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced the winners of the ICC Player of the Month awards for May 2023. In-form batter Harry Tector becomes the first Irish player to win the ICC Men's Player of the Month award, while teenage sensation Thipatcha Putthawong seals consecutive Women's Player of the Month awards for Thailand, emulating her skipper Naruemol Chaiwai's win back in April," ICC said in a press release on Monday.

Tector has been enjoying a sustained period of good batting form in One Day International (ODI) and his recent run-scoring feats have seen him shoot to his highest-ever position of seventh spot in the ICC Men's ODI batting rankings.

Ireland's home series against Bangladesh in May marked the conclusion of the ICC Super League, and despite failing to secure a whitewash which would have ensured their qualification for the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup in India later this year, Tector produced some eye-catching displays of batting.

An unbeaten 21 before the rain intervened in the first outing was followed by Tector's highlight of the month, a brutal career-best knock of 140 in 113 balls which featured ten sixes and helped Ireland post a formidable total of 319.

The series defeat meant Ireland's route to the World Cup will need to come via the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe starting in just under a weeks' time, yet with 206 runs in May, Tector's form identifies him as a key threat.

"I am delighted with the Award and would like to thank those who voted for me, however, cricket is a team sport first and foremost, so the Award is more a