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Smith also made his Test debut in the summer as England’s new wicketkeeper and made his first century against Sri Lanka at Old Trafford. <\/p>\n
The 24-year-old finished the three-match series with 280 runs at an average of 46.6, second only to Joe Root. <\/p>\n
His solid wicketkeeping also solved England’s selection dilemma as he edged out Jonny Bairstow and Surrey team-mate Ben Foakes. <\/p>\n
Ecclestone has been an outlier in a difficult year for England’s women, as she becomes the first English woman to be named in the quintet since batter Tammy Beaumont in 2019.<\/p>\n
England were unbeaten during their home summer against Pakistan and New Zealand, before the disappointing group-stage exit in the autumn’s T20 World Cup and a disastrous Ashes defeat which saw head coach Jon Lewis and captain Heather Knight removed from their positions.<\/p>\n
Left-arm spinner Ecclestone, 25, is the world’s number one ranked bowler in both white-ball formats, and surpassed Katherine Sciver-Brunt as England Women’s leading T20 wicket-taker during the series against Pakistan. <\/p>\n
England’s Nat Sciver-Brunt and Australia captain Pat Cummins were the leading cricketers in the world for 2024.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n