<p>South African batter Keegan Petersen pipped under-19 star and compatriot Dewald Brevis and Bangladesh pacer Ebadot Hossain to claim the ICC men's Player of the Month award for January following a phenomenal Test series against India.</p>.<p>For the women's award, England skipper Heather Knight beat off competition from Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu and West Indies star Deandra Dottin to clinch the honour.</p>.<p>Petersen played a pivotal role as South Africa came back from 0-1 down to win the three-match series 2-1 against India. In the second Test, he scored 62 in the first innings, helping the Proteas gain a slender lead. In their chase of 240, he played a crucial 28-run knock.</p>.<p><strong>See here | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/dh-galleries/photos/most-expensive-players-bought-in-the-history-of-ipl-auction-1081136" target="_blank">Most expensive players bought in the history of IPL auction</a></strong></p>.<p>In the final Test, Petersen scored a fifty in each innings, including a superb 82 in a challenging fourth-innings chase of 212 that helped South Africa complete their comeback.</p>.<p>He ended the series as the highest run-scorer with 276 runs and was named the Player of the Series.</p>.<p>"With the hype of the series and the high expectation, the composure he showed while batting in a pivotal No.3 position was simply staggering," said former South Africa star and member of the voting panel JP Duminy.</p>.<p>Knight captained England in the one-off Ashes Test against Australia in Canberra and finished as the highest run-getter.</p>.<p>In the first innings, England were in huge trouble as they kept losing wickets after Australia posted 337/9 declared. However, they did not have an answer to Knight, who walked in to bat at No.3 in the third over and remained unbeaten on 168.</p>.<p>At one point, the visitors were 169/8 before Knight and Sophie Ecclestone added 100 runs for the ninth wicket and eventually finished with 297, just 40 runs behind Australia. The knock helped England secure a thrilling draw that went to the very last ball of the match.</p>.<p>Her 168 not out was the second-highest score by a captain in the history of women’s Tests.</p>.<p>"168 is the highest Test score by any female English batter against Australia in Australia," former India pacer Irfan Pathan, member of the voting panel, said.</p>.<p>"It is also the second-highest score in women’s Tests in Australia. Her innings is made even more remarkable given its importance in securing the draw for England in the only Test."</p>.<p><strong>Check out DH's latest videos:</strong></p>
<p>South African batter Keegan Petersen pipped under-19 star and compatriot Dewald Brevis and Bangladesh pacer Ebadot Hossain to claim the ICC men's Player of the Month award for January following a phenomenal Test series against India.</p>.<p>For the women's award, England skipper Heather Knight beat off competition from Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu and West Indies star Deandra Dottin to clinch the honour.</p>.<p>Petersen played a pivotal role as South Africa came back from 0-1 down to win the three-match series 2-1 against India. In the second Test, he scored 62 in the first innings, helping the Proteas gain a slender lead. In their chase of 240, he played a crucial 28-run knock.</p>.<p><strong>See here | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/dh-galleries/photos/most-expensive-players-bought-in-the-history-of-ipl-auction-1081136" target="_blank">Most expensive players bought in the history of IPL auction</a></strong></p>.<p>In the final Test, Petersen scored a fifty in each innings, including a superb 82 in a challenging fourth-innings chase of 212 that helped South Africa complete their comeback.</p>.<p>He ended the series as the highest run-scorer with 276 runs and was named the Player of the Series.</p>.<p>"With the hype of the series and the high expectation, the composure he showed while batting in a pivotal No.3 position was simply staggering," said former South Africa star and member of the voting panel JP Duminy.</p>.<p>Knight captained England in the one-off Ashes Test against Australia in Canberra and finished as the highest run-getter.</p>.<p>In the first innings, England were in huge trouble as they kept losing wickets after Australia posted 337/9 declared. However, they did not have an answer to Knight, who walked in to bat at No.3 in the third over and remained unbeaten on 168.</p>.<p>At one point, the visitors were 169/8 before Knight and Sophie Ecclestone added 100 runs for the ninth wicket and eventually finished with 297, just 40 runs behind Australia. The knock helped England secure a thrilling draw that went to the very last ball of the match.</p>.<p>Her 168 not out was the second-highest score by a captain in the history of women’s Tests.</p>.<p>"168 is the highest Test score by any female English batter against Australia in Australia," former India pacer Irfan Pathan, member of the voting panel, said.</p>.<p>"It is also the second-highest score in women’s Tests in Australia. Her innings is made even more remarkable given its importance in securing the draw for England in the only Test."</p>.<p><strong>Check out DH's latest videos:</strong></p>