West Indies Spinner Earns ICC Men’s Player Of The Month Award For January 2025

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the Player Of the Month for January 2025 as the West Indies spinner has overtaken the Indian mystery spinner, Varun Chakravarthy, for the award. Varun was the leading wicket-taker for the blue brigade during the five-match T20I series against England with 14 scalps.

West Indies’ left-arm spinner left a mark during the recent two-match Test series in Pakistan, as they secured their five-ever victory in the format in the Asian country in 35 years.

Jomel Warrican’s contribution to the Pakistan series

The 32-year-old spinner came into the series with just 17 red-ball clashes under his belt. That was a very low number of games in the longest format for someone who made his red-ball debut nearly a decade ago.

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In the very first game of the two-match Test series, Warrican picked up three wickets in the first innings. West Indies was struggling at 66/8 in their first innings after the home side ended with 230 runs in the first innings. But the left-handed batter drilled unbeaten 31 runs in 24 deliveries, with the help of four boundaries and one six at a strike rate of 129.16.

His last wicket partnership of 46 runs in nearly four overs pushed the visitors to 137 in the first innings. In the second innings, Warrican came as the second change bowler for the Caribbean side and grabbed seven wickets in 18 overs at an economy rate of 1.77.

Opening batter Muhammad Hurraira was stuck on the front foot, along with Babar Azam, while Kamran Ghulam couldn’t understand the length and spin of the delivery. The result didn’t go the visitors’ way, as they lost the contest by 127 runs.

It was nearly the same surface in the second encounter in Multan. The tourists were struggling at 95/9 in the first session after opting to bat first on the surface. But Jomel Warrican again stepped up with 36 runs in 40 deliveries at a strike rate of 90 and carried West Indies to 163 in the first innings. The St. Vincient-born picked up four wickets in 17 overs at an economy rate of 2.52, including the vital scalps of Mohammad Rizwan and Saud Shakeel.

In the second innings, he celebrated his five Test five-wicket haul with figures of 5/27 in 16 overs as he sent back Rizwan, Kashif Ali, and Ghulam in the pavilion. The celebration increased as they earned a 120-run victory in the fixture.

West Indies spinner shares emotion after winning award

The Barbados spinner has notched up 73 wickets in 19 games at an average of 27.56 and a strike rate of 54.1, thanks to six four-wicket hauls and a pair of five-wicket hauls at the best bowling figure of 7/32 in an inning.

“It’s an honor to win this award. One of my goals for this year was my first five-for in Test cricket, but I did not think that it would be this grand.” The spinner told the ICC.

The 32-year-old featured in a recent first-class game against Academy in Bridgetown, where he picked up eight wickets in two innings.

“I see this as one small step in my cricketing career, and I look forward to many more. I promised my captain something special in this series, especially when my father, my biggest supporter, predicted a phenomenal performance for me.” Warrican stated.

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“Multan has a special place in my heart: not only because of the historic win for the West Indies, beating Pakistan away from home but also by earning this prestigious award.” The West Indies bowler addressed.

West Indies aims for better performance in WTC 2025-27

In the maiden edition of the WTC 2019-21, West Indies finished at the penultimate position with just three victories in 13 games. They ended at the same eighth position in the 2021-23 season with seven wins in 13 games at a percentage of 34.62.

In the recent 2023-25 season, the Kraigg Braithwaite-led side ended again at eight with 28.21. They will start the fourth edition with three Tests against Australia at home before touring India.