Cricket Tournament Awards: Player of the Match, Series, and Tournament

Player of the Match

The Player of the Match award (formerly 'Man of the Match') is presented after every completed cricket match to the player whose performance was judged the most outstanding. It is decided by a panel of match officials, former players, or tournament selectors — not by the players themselves or a public vote. The criteria are not rigidly defined: a 5-wicket haul, a match-winning century, a game-changing spell of bowling economy, or even a brilliant fielding performance can win the award. In ICC events, the 'Player' terminology is now universal across men's and women's cricket.

Player of the Series

Presented at the end of a bilateral series (such as a three-Test series or a five-ODI series), the Player of the Series goes to the player who contributed most consistently and decisively across all matches in the series — not just a single standout game. A batter who averaged 80 across a Test series or a bowler who took 20 wickets at 15 would typically be strong candidates.

Player of the Tournament

In ICC tournaments (World Cups, Champions Trophies), the Player of the Tournament is the overall award for the player who influenced their team's path through the event most significantly. Like the other awards, it is judged by a panel rather than statistics alone. The award goes to the player who was most valuable — often the tournament's leading run-scorer or wicket-taker — but can go to an all-rounder who contributed in both departments, or a wicketkeeper who combined batting and glove work to a championship standard.