Taijul nominated for December’s Player of the Month

New Zealand arrived in Bangladesh with an untarnished record in Tests in the country in December 2023. Bangladesh left-arm spinner Taijul Islam was soon to change that with his left-arm spin.

Taijul Islam has been rewarded for his pivotal role in the Tigers' maiden Test victory against New Zealand at home  with a nomination for the ICC's Player of the Month award for the month of December.

The first Test of the two-match series witnessed both sides pulling the tug with equal strength. Mahmudul Hasan Joy's 86 was matched by Kane Williamson's hundred while Taijul's 4/109 cancelled Glenn Phillips' four-for in the first innings.

Najmul Hossain Shanto's century helped Bangladesh set a total of 338 for New Zealand to chase in the final innings. Taijul ultimately proved to be the difference maker between the two teams as he grabbed a scintillating 6/75 to help Bangladesh close a win by 150 runs.

Taijul's brilliance against New Zealand continued in the second Test as he plucked five more wickets albeit in a losing cause.

The series ended with milestones aplenty for Taijul. He took his team to a historic win at home against New Zealand, clinched the Player of the Match award in the first game and was named Player of the Series for picking the most wickets (15).

Alongside the Taijul, Australia skipper Pat Cummins and New Zealand all-rounder Glenn Phillips were also nominated.

The Australian skipper had a blockbuster 2023 by winning the ICC World Test Championship, ICC Men's Cricket World Cup and retaining the Ashes. As the universe would have it, Cummins signed off from the year with a sensational performance in the last month as a captain and bowler.