The International Cricket Council (ICC) has released the list of nominees vying for the November Player of the Month award. The month was an eventful one for the sport, hosting the second half of an incredible 2023 ODI World Cup campaign.

In a month full of brilliant cricketing performances, the race for the ICC Men's Player of the Month Award for November 2023 is heating up. Among the contenders are two World Cup-winning Australians, Travis Head and Glenn Maxwell, as well as Indian fast bowling maestro Mohammed Shami, who was one of the key reasons for India's brilliance in the major event.

Mohammed Shami (India)

The Indian speedster finished the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 as the leading wicket-taker. He rose to prominence in the second half of the season after Hardik Pandya suffered an injury at the end of the tournament.

Shami picked up 15 wickets at an average of 12.06 and an economy rate of 5.68 in November, including a historic seven-wicket haul in the semi-final match against New Zealand at the Wankhede Stadium. He also took a five-wicket haul in Team India's stunning win over Sri Lanka in the league phase at the same venue.

Travis Head (Australia)

Australia's batting sensation Travis Head celebrated his return to the team after a long injury layoff with an impressive hundred against New Zealand at the end of October and continued his strong form in November.

In November, he amassed 220 runs in five ODIs at an impressive average of 44, including both a half-century and a century. Of particular note are his outstanding performances in the semi-final and final of the Cricket World Cup, where he won the Player of the Match award and played a crucial role in helping Australia lift their sixth trophy.

Head was named player of the match for Australia's victory in the World Cup semi-final and final against South Africa and India respectively. He scored a fifty in a thrilling chase against the Proteas before scoring a historic hundred in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Head ends the month with 220 runs in five ODIs at an average of 44 as well as some key contributions in Australia's T20I series against India.

Glenn Maxwell (Australia)

Glenn Maxwell amassed 204 runs at an average of 204 and a strike rate of 152.23 along with two wickets in his three ODI outings last month. In two T20Is of the series against India, he scored 116 runs at an impressive strike rate of 207.14.

A golfing accident meant Maxwell missed Australia's match against England at the Cricket World Cup earlier this month, but the all-rounder returned in style against Afghanistan.

He dismissed Rahmat Shah with the ball and finished the game with 1/55. However, Afghanistan's total of 291/5 seemed well out of reach after Australia slipped from 43/1 to 91/7. Maxwell took charge thereafter and, despite severe cramps, scored a magnificent 201 off 128 - one of the greatest ODI knocks. During the record innings, he hit 21 fours and 10 sixes.

His double hundred was the first by an Australian in the men's ODI and the second fastest double hundred of all time. It was also the first time a double century was scored in a chase. This was also the highest score by someone who placed 6th or lower.

He later appeared in the T20I series against India and helped Australia win the third T20I in Guwahati with a sensational hundred. His 104* came in just 48 balls and included eight fours and eight sixes. Chasing India's 223 helped.