The stubborn Kovid-19 made a huge impact on the sports world. International fixtures were either canceled or rescheduled. But somehow 2021 proved to be an important year for the longest format of the game. For the first time ever, fans across the world saw New Zealand as the world champions of Test cricket. Meanwhile, Team India defeated Australia in Brisbane to capture the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the second time and create history by dominating England in their own home. These were just a few examples to illustrate how the purest form of the game prevailed in testing times.
And as we bid adieu to another tough year, here is CricketNext’s Test Team of the Year. There were many impressive talents who proved their mettle on the field. So let’s try and form a formidable playing XI.
Read also | IND vs SA, 1st Test Preview: Team combination on Kohli’s mind as India take on South Africa
Rohit Sharma: Hitman had a great year for Team India in White. He may have been ruled out of the South Africa tour, it is indeed a setback for the team, but before that he had a great time with the bat. 11 games, 906 runs and an average of 47.68 – the numbers themselves show why he was promoted as the team’s new vice-captain. He was the highest scorer for India during the England Test. He scored 368 runs in four matches at an average of 52.57.
Dimuth Karunaratne: The Sri Lankan opener was one of the top performers in the Sri Lankan team this year. He played 7 matches in 2021 in which he scored 902 runs at an average of 69.38. He scored four centuries which put him third in the list of highest run-scorers in Test cricket in 2021. He had a great time playing against West Indies at home, scoring 278 runs in two matches and averaging 55.16.
Joe Root: But not. 3, England captain Joe Root found his place. The right-handed batsman has been the top scorer in Test cricket this year. Two double hundreds in Asia and a total of six centuries so far in 2021 make him one of the key players in this line-up. Root has played 14 matches so far in 2021 and has scored 1630 runs at an average of 62.69. He tops the list and is 724 runs ahead of Rohit Sharma, the second player in the list.
Marnus Labuschagne: He has been Australia’s superstar in the longest format of the game. He has played just 4 Tests this year but his consistency with the bat has been absolutely impressive. He has scored 474 runs this year at an average of close to 80. Recently, he not only became the fifth fastest batsman to reach 2000 runs in the format but also secured the No. 1 spot in the ICC Test Batsmen’s Rankings.
Abid Ali: Abid Ali of Pakistan, No. 5th place in this line-up. He has been a consistent former player for his team in Test cricket this year and is the only Pakistani player in the top five highest scorers in the longest format of the game. He scored 263 and 275 runs in both the series during the overseas tour of Zimbabwe and Bangladesh respectively, he performed brilliantly. He is a dependable player who can be very important in the upper middle order.
Rishabh Pant: Rishabh Pant also emerged in Test cricket in 2021. He started the calendar year playing a match-winning innings in Brisbane to help India history. And then against England, he scored his maiden Test century at home. His performance on the England tour was also very good. Overall, he has established himself as a dependable craftsman who can not only possess acrobatic skills behind the wickets but also has some remarkable shots in his lexicon to stun bowlers. Remember his scoop against Jimmy Anderson in Ahmedabad?
Ravindra Jadeja: It would not be wrong to call him a three dimensional player because he serves his team in the same way. When he is around, the batsman hardly runs the risk of stealing runs while fielding. With the ball in hand, he is adept at breaking important partnerships. And last but not least, he has the ability to bat as long as his team wants him to. He may have taken fewer wickets this year and has been out of action due to injuries, but whatever time he got, he never failed to impress his fans. He scored 269 runs in 12 innings this year, including two fifties.
Read also | India have the best pace attack, they start as favorites at Centurion and Wanderers: Ali Bacher
Ravichandran Ashwin: When it comes to Test cricket, how can you miss a player like Ravichandran Ashwin. Ashwin, who was the highest wicket-taker of 2021, had scored brilliant runs in this calendar year. He not only threatened batsmen across the globe but also scored a remarkable century in front of his home crowd earlier this year. Adding another feather to his cap, he surpassed Harbhajan Singh’s long-standing record to become the third-highest wicket-taker for India in Test cricket. 8 matches, 32 wickets and bowling average of 16.23; Here’s how you can find out why Ashwin deserves to be in this team of the year.
Shaheen Shah Afridi: This 21-year-old player had a dream in international cricket this year. After Ashwin, Afridi is the second highest wicket-taker in the longest format in 2021. Against West Indies, he took 18 wickets in just 2 matches – the most by any bowler in the series. He took 7 wickets in 2 Tests against South Africa and 10 wickets in 2 matches in Zimbabwe. He has taken 44 wickets in 9 matches at an average of 17.45.
Hassan Ali: Next on the list is Pakistani Hasan Ali who excelled with the ball in the tour of Zimbabwe. He took 14 wickets in 2 Tests, taking five wickets twice. He continued the momentum against South Africa at home, taking 12 wickets in just two Tests. He took 39 wickets in total in 8 matches this year against Zimbabwe and Bangladesh.
James Anderson: The only fast bowler among the top three wicket-takers of all time in Test cricket, James Anderson will surely be the leader of the bowling unit. Anderson, who overtook Anil Kumble during the India Test at home, has taken 35 wickets this year, including two five-wicket hauls. He is on par with teammate Olly Robinson for the number of wickets he has taken, but with the kind of experience he has, Jimmy becomes an automatic selection to complete the team of the year.
Read also | Promise to bring out the ‘truth’ behind the Monkeygate scandal soon: Harbhajan Singh
team captain: We will name Rohit Sharma as the captain of this team considering his leadership skills and the tactical mind he has. Joe Root could be one of the contenders for the position but the way he has led his team this year and the work he is doing in the ongoing Ashes series is not that promising. Instead, he could be Rohit’s deputy in this playing XI.
CricketNext’s Test Team of the Year: Rohit Sharma (capt), Dimuth Karunaratne, Joe Root, Marnus Labushen, Abid Ali, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Hasan Ali, James Anderson.
get all IPL news and cricket score Here
,