On Sunday, the International Cricket Council (ICC) awarded Sri Lanka’s Kamindu Mendis the 2024 ICC Men’s Emerging Cricketer of the Year for his red-ball performances. Mendis, who made 1451 runs across all formats at little over 50, stood out among cricket’s greats in 2024.
After only one Test appearance for Sri Lanka before the year began, the left-handed batter became a significant performer in all forms and Sri Lanka’s go-to player in crisis and high-stakes scenarios. He was crucial to Sri Lanka’s first ICC World Test Championship Final appearance.
One of six batsmen to achieve 1000 Test runs in a year, the 26-year-old averaged the highest with a string of key innings. The middle-order batter scored five centuries and three fifties.
Sri Lanka’s 602/5 total was built on his undefeated 182 in the first innings, helping them sweep the series 2-0. He won Player of the Match for his 250-ball knock with 16 boundaries and four sixes.
Mendis also became the joint-third fastest to achieve 1000 runs in Men’s Tests, matching Sir Don Bradman’s 13-inning record.
