South Africa’s World Test Championship (WTC)-winning star batter Aiden Markram has been named as the International Cricket Council (ICC)’s Player of the Month for June 2025. Markram made 136 runs and picked up two wickets to help the Proteas beat Australia at Lord’s and end a 27-year wait for a senior ICC trophy. He was awarded the Player of the Match in the final, too. “It is a privilege to receive this award. To contribute to an ICC World Test Championship win for our team and South Africa is something that means a lot to me,” Markram said, as quoted by the ICC. “Winning the final at Lord’s is a historic moment for South African cricket, and it is something we will all remember forever. This victory was only possible due to the combined efforts of the entire team, with crucial contributions from KG (Kagiso Rabada) and Tembs (Proteas captain Temba Bavuma),” he added. Markram overcame he disappointment of a duck in the first innings to anchor South Africa in the big chase of 282 runs. He put up a 147-run stand alongside Bavuma for the third wicket, which helped them recover from 70/2. He got out after a 207-ball marathon but had done enough to escort the Proteas to the brink of victory. Hayley Matthews claims ICC Women’s Player of the Month Meanwhile, West Indies captain Hayley Matthews took home the award in the women’s category. It is her fourth such accolade. Her best performance came in the three-T20I series against South Africa, where here twin 60s helped the Windies overturn a 1-0 deficit. She also won the Player of the Series trophy for it. “It’s an honour to receive the Player of the Month award again. I’ve been pleased with my form recently, but more importantly, it’s been great to contribute to the team’s success — especially in a hard-fought T20I series against South Africa,” Matthews said about the ICC award in a statement. “Recognition like this is appreciated, but my focus remains on what’s ahead. There’s a lot more I want to achieve, both personally and with this team. We’re heading in the right direction, and I’m excited about where we can go from here.”