ICC announced the nominees for the 2021 edition of the ICC Men’s Test Cricket of the Year.
England skipper Joe Root, India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, New Zealand fast bowler Kyle Jamieson, and Sri Lanka opener Dimuth Karunaratne made the cut for the prestigious honour.
Root had a dream year with the bat as he aggregated 1708 runs in 15 Tests with six centuries. He also chipped in with 14 wickets this year.
“Be it Asia or conditions back at home. Be it pace or spin. Root has conquered it all with some sublime knocks. His knocks in Galle against Sri Lanka, against India in Chennai and against India again at Lord's are some of the finest witnessed in the modern era, and will be spoken of highly for a long, long time. He hasn't been shabby with the ball as well, chipping in with a handy 14 wickets with one five-for in Ahmedabad,” ICC said in its official release.
One of India's greatest match-winners in the longest format, Ashwin finished the year with 52 wickets in 8 Tests at an average of 16.23 and 337 runs at 28.08 with one century.
The year began on a high in the Sydney Test against Australia. After bowling a disciplined line and length, Ashwin played a patient knock of 128-ball 29* to help India save the Test match.
The off-spinner was in full flight in the home series against England, picking 32 wickets in four matches at 14.72, while also contributing 189 runs with the willow. India might have lost the ICC World Test Championship final against New Zealand, but Ashwin made a mark on the seam-friendly wicket in Southampton, picking up four wickets in the match.
While Ashwin didn’t get an opportunity in the away series against England, he ended the year with 14 wickets at 11.36 in India’s 2-0 home Test series win over New Zealand.
One of the most promising fast bowling prospects in world cricket, Kyle Jamieson took 27 wickets in 5 Tests at an average of 17.51 in 2021. He also scored 105 runs at 17.50.
“In a seminal year for New Zealand where they emerged as the inaugural ICC World Test Championship winner, against India in the final, Jamieson was the X-factor of their pace attack, brilliantly supplanting and often surpassing the exploits of Tim Southee, Trent Boult and Neil Wagner. He was the star performer in Southampton, scalping seven wickets and contributing a handy 21 runs in the first innings, winning the Player of the Match award for his showing,” the apex body said.
“Away from the seam-friendly pitches of New Zealand and England, Jamieson also impressed on the flat decks in India, getting the ball to shape beautifully. He picked up six wickets in the two matches, again reiterating with his performances that New Zealand had a new star,” it added.
Sri Lanka Test skipper Dimuth Karunaratne also impressed one and all with his performance in 2021, finishing the year with 902 runs in 7 Tests at an average of 69.38 with 4 centuries
“He showcased what a brilliant all-condition player he is and cemented his case for being the best opener in Test cricket right now,” ICC said. “A brilliant century in Johannesburg against South Africa, two centuries against Bangladesh in two matches in Pallekele, including a double ton, and a brilliant century against West Indies in Galle were some of the highlights from another stunning year for Karunaratne.”
ICC praised his swashbuckling knock of 103 in the Johannesburg Test against South Africa earlier this year.
“On a Wanderers pitch that was assisting the pacers and with the likes of Anrich Nortje and Lungi Ngidi in the South African attack, Karunaratne played a brilliant attacking knock of 103 off 128 deliveries, showcasing his character.”
"Scoring runs was difficult on this pitch as Sri Lanka were bowled out for 157 in the first innings and South Africa could only reply with a score of 302. Karunaratne's knock in the second innings consisted of 19 boundaries but unfortunately, he failed to get any support from the other end as the visitors were skittled out for 211.”
(With ICC inputs)