Lucy Barnett of Isle of Man has been named the ICC Women’s Player of the Month for August 2026, becoming the first cricketer from the island to win the award. The 19-year-old captain beat Thailand’s Suleeporn Laomi and Nannapat Koncharoenkai to claim the honour, which was announced in September 2026.
Barnett was the leading run-scorer in the Women’s Continental Cup held in August 2026, producing a century and two fifties across four T20 Internationals. She accumulated 257 runs at an average of 128.50 and a strike rate of 178.47, while also taking four wickets at an economy rate of 3.80 and an average of 14.25.
“Winning the ICC Player of the Month award is an incredible feeling and, honestly, still feels a little unbelievable as I am making history of sorts for the Isle of Man,” Barnett told ICC after receiving the honours.
How did Barnett perform in the Women’s Continental Cup?
Barnett’s performances across the tournament were consistently strong with both bat and ball. She scored an unbeaten 71 against Romania in a 13.1-over chase and managed four runs against Greece, where she also took 1/8. Against Norway, she struck an unbeaten 123 off 64 balls to help Isle of Man top their group, adding 1/11 with the ball in the same match. In the final against Turkey, she was the highest scorer with 59 runs and contributed 2/22 with the ball.
Barnett also holds the record as the youngest player to reach 1,000 Women’s T20 International runs, a milestone she achieved as of August 2026. She was also the first Isle of Man cricketer to feature on an ICC monthly award shortlist before going on to win the award outright.
“I knew I had a strong month, but to be recognised ahead of so many others is something I’m immensely proud of and will cherish for a very long time. It’s a fantastic time for women’s cricket, and to have the spotlight on me now is a truly special feeling,” she added.
What does the award mean for Barnett going forward?
The ICC Women’s Player of the Month award is voted on by a global panel and recognises outstanding individual performances during the calendar month. Barnett’s selection reflects both the volume and quality of her contributions across all four matches in the Women’s Continental Cup, where she performed as a genuine all-rounder for her side.
Barnett’s win is also a significant moment for Isle of Man cricket, as no player from the territory had previously appeared on an ICC monthly award shortlist. Her achievement as captain adds further weight to the recognition, given that she led the team throughout the tournament.
“I’m grateful to the ICC for this honour and to all my team-mates, coaches and officials who have made my international journey such an enjoyable and rewarding one. This award gives me even more motivation to keep pushing myself, and I hope to carry this form into the matches ahead and create many more special moments for my team,” she said further.
