Nathan Smith and Danni Wyatt-Hodge Named ICC Players of the Month

In an announcement from Hyderabad on Monday, the International Cricket Council named New Zealand seam bowler Nathan Smith and England opener Danni Wyatt-Hodge as the ICC Players of the Month for June 2026. Smith was recognized for his pivotal role in New Zealand's Test series victory in England, while Wyatt-Hodge was honored for her batting performances in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.

The 28-year-old Smith claimed the men's award ahead of India captain Shubman Gill and Bangladesh all-rounder Mossadek Hossain. Smith finished the Test series in England as the leading wicket-taker, capturing 16 wickets at an average of 23.00 to help New Zealand secure a 2-1 series victory. His standout performance came during the first Test at Lord’s, where he took nine wickets in total, including figures of six for 70 in the second innings.

Reflecting on the achievement, Smith noted the significance of contributing to the team's success after stepping up to open the bowling due to squad injuries. Smith said that it was satisfying to shoulder the responsibility and bowl with the new ball, adding that it was nice to receive the recognition and contribute to a series win.

In the women's category, the 35-year-old Wyatt-Hodge won the award over Scotland all-rounder Kathryn Bryce and India’s left-arm spinner Sree Charani. Wyatt-Hodge finished the league stage of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup as the tournament's leading run-scorer. Her campaign featured an unbeaten 105 off 62 deliveries against Sri Lanka and an unbeaten 89 off 53 against New Zealand, earning Player of the Match honors in both fixtures.

Wyatt-Hodge expressed her delight at winning the award for performances on home soil, which culminated in a final appearance at Lord's. She noted that while her team fell short of lifting the trophy, they gave everything they had and were proud to be part of a tournament that captured the imagination of fans.