Finance
The ICC Men’s Test Team of the Year 2024 includes all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, pace leader Jasprit Bumrah, and opener Yashasvi Jaiswal.
The team also includes two players from New Zealand, four players from England, and one each from Australia and Sri Lanka in addition to the three Indians.
After leading his team to the ICC World Test Championship Final, managing wins against Pakistan, New Zealand, and India, and taking 37 wickets at an average of 24.02 in nine Test matches, Pat Cummins of Australia is named captain of the ICC Men’s Test Team of the Year for the second year in a row.
Jaiswal of India tops the order with 1,478 runs at 54.74 for the year, including double-centuries in back-to-back Test matches against England in February and an incredible 161 against Australia in Perth. Ben Duckett, one of the four Englishmen on the team and his opening partner, amassed more than 1,000 Test runs (1,149) during the season.
The middle order is full of century-makers, including Kamindu Mendis of Sri Lanka, Joe Root and Harry Brook of England, and Kane Williamson of New Zealand.
While Brook amassed 1,100 calendar runs in 2024, including a record-breaking 317 in a victory over Pakistan in October, Williamson amassed 1,013 runs at an average of nearly 60. Mendis had a historic year, hitting five centuries and becoming the fastest to 1,000 Test runs in 75 years, while the evergreen Root scored more Test runs (1,556) and recorded more centuries (6) than anyone else.
Six months after making his Test debut for England, Jamie Smith’s 637 runs in nine Tests, including his first-ever century against Sri Lanka in August, win him a position as the designated wicketkeeper in the Test Team of the Year.
All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja of India, who finished his Test season with 527 runs and 48 wickets, joins captain Cummins in the bowling group. Matt Henry of New Zealand, a pacer who has made significant contributions against Australia, India, and England, also has 48 wickets.
Top-ranked Test bowler Jasprit Bumrah rounds out the list. He once again showed off his skills with the ball in hand, collecting 71 wickets in 2024 at an incredible average of 14.92.
ICC Men’s Test Team of the Year: Yashasvi Jaiswal (Ind), Ben Duckett (Eng), Kane Williamson (NZ), Joe Root (Eng), Harry Brook (Eng), Kamindu Mendis (SL), Jamie Smith (Eng) (wk), Ravindra Jadeja (Ind), Pat Cummins (Aus) (c), Matt Henry (NZ), Jasprit Bumrah (Ind).
Source: IANS
