Maia Bouchier Crowned ICC Women’s Player of the Month, March 2024
Maia Bouchier outshone Australian cricketer Ash Gardner and New Zealand’s Amelia Kerr to clinch the ICC Women’s Player of the Month title for March 2024.
The young cricket sensation expressed her joy and gratitude after receiving the award, attributing her success to her family and teammates.
“I am immensely grateful to everyone who cast their vote in my favour! My heartfelt thanks to my family, partner, staff, and teammates who have been my pillars of support during my international cricket journey,” said Bouchier.
“Winning this award is a great honour and I hope this is just the beginning. The past few months have been incredible, from rigorous winter training with my coaches to implementing those learnings in this series. I am delighted that I could contribute significantly to the team. A big thank you to all!”
Maia Bouchier’s performance against the White Ferns in New Zealand set a new record for the highest score by a visiting player in Women’s T20Is. Read more See the picture
Since her debut in 2021, the 25-year-old initially played in the middle-order for England. However, a recent shift to the top-order seems to have worked wonders for Bouchier.
This was evident in England’s 4-1 T20I series victory over New Zealand, where Bouchier, batting in the top-order, was named the Player of the Series for her impressive 223 runs at an average of 55.75 and a strike rate of 129.65.
She also achieved a career-best score of 91 from 56 balls, including 12 fours and two sixes, in the fourth match of the series. This performance played a crucial role in England’s series win in the fourth T20I in Wellington. Other notable scores in the series included a solid 43* in the first T20I and 71 in a match that saw England lose by a narrow margin of three runs.
Alterations in New Zealand Squad for Final England ODI
In a post-match interview with TNT Sports, Bouchier expressed her excitement about playing with a positive approach and intent.
“I thoroughly enjoyed my time on the field,” Bouchier shared. “Being given the chance to bat at the top of the order was a special moment for me. I relished the opportunity to play with the intent and positivity that we always strive for.”
Bouchier aims to continue her successful run in New Zealand and secure her position in the team for the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, scheduled to take place later this year in Bangladesh.