Orla Prendergast has been announced as the ICC Women’s Player of the Month for August, becoming the fifth Irish women to receive the honour.
Previous Irish winners of this Award are Eimear Richardson (August 2021), Laura Delany (October 2021), Arlene Kelly (August 2023) and Amy Hunter (January 2024).
Harry Tector (May 2023) also won the men’s award.
Prendergast was named the Player of the Series in a home T20I series against Pakistan that her team won 2-1. She compiled 144 runs and took four wickets in the series.
She continued her run of form in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Europe qualifier, where the Pembroke all-rounder made 244 runs at an average of 48.80 and a strike rate of 127.08 and took seven wickets.
Speaking from the UK where she is playing for the Blaze in the 2025 Women’s Metro Bank One-Day Cup, Prendergast said: "I’m delighted to have received this award and would like to extend my thanks to the ICC and anyone who voted for me. I’d also like to acknowledge my teammates and our support staff who have worked hard all summer to come away with some important series wins.
"The T20I series win against Pakistan was the highlight of the summer. Additionally, we had a brilliant series T20i and ODI win against Zimbabwe and completed a clean sweep at the European T20 qualifiers. We’ll be looking to build on these performances into our winter series and the Global T20 qualifiers in January.
"Personally, though, this award means a lot and further validates the decision I made five years ago to pursue cricket as a career. When I was growing up, that wasn't an option. But today, a young girl is able to see women's cricket being played live, on TV or online.
"Visibility is so important in growing interest and participation in the sport, and equally, awards like this one help to reinforce that growing status of the women's game globally. So, I'd like to thank the ICC for continuing to back women's cricket and raise the profile of women cricketers around the world."
