The year 2019 came to an end with respect to international cricket as the two Boxing Day Tests- South Africa vs England and Australia vs New Zealand came to their conclusions, with both the hosts dismantling the visitors in impressive fashion.
The year was amazing with many teams earning many firsts as Sri Lanka became the first Asian team to beat South Africa in a Test series in their own home, while India achieved their maiden Test series win in Australia. Australia and England played one of the best Ashes series and India continued their domination at the top of the Test rankings and the ICC World Test Championship points table.
2019 also had some individual brilliance as well from some of the best players in the Test arena. The year saw some players showing why they were given a chance to play for their country at the first and excelled, while some already established players showed their mettle against equally food foes.
Therefore, Team COC presents to you the Test XI of 2019
Mayank Agarwal had a brilliant debut against Australia in Australia and he continued having a great year as India played the majority of Tests at home. In just 8 matches this year, he made 754 runs with 3 centuries which came against South Africa and Bangladesh. His highest score was 243 which included an Indian record-equaling 8 sixes as well.
Tom Latham was the best New Zealand batsman this year in terms of not only runs but also impact. The left-handed opener scored 601 runs in 8 Tests with three centuries and one fifty, with the highest score of 161 runs. However, his best innings came against Sri Lanka in the second Test of the series at P Sara Oval in Colombo, when he made 154 as Kiwis won the Test and drew the series 1-1.
STEVE SMITH (AUS)
M: 8| Runs: 965| AVG: 74.23| HS: 211| 100s: 3| 50s: 4
Steve Smith made a triumphant return to Test cricket after the year-long ban, as he slammed 774 runs in 4 Test matches in the Ashes 2019 and in all, made 965 runs in 8 matches at an average of 74.23 with the highest score of 211 and three centuries in total. He helped Australia level the series 2-2, in what was the battle of the year between two amazing sides.
Indian captain Virat Kohli was also at the top of his game this year and scored 612 runs with two centuries and two fifties to his name. His highest score came against South Africa in Pune where he made 254*. He also led India to Test series wins over West Indies in the Caribbean, in Australia and against South Africa and Bangladesh at home, including a victory in the first-ever day-night Test in the country.
Marnus Labuschagne owned the chance he got in the Ashes 2019 when Steve Smith was ruled out of the Lord’s Test due to concussion and held the Aussie batting together for the rest of the series and then scored runs against Pakistan and New Zealand at home. In all, he made 1104 runs in 11 Tests this year with 3 centuries and 7 half-centuries.
England’s Ashes 2019 hero, Ben Stokes had an amazing year which was crowned by their World Cup win. However, in the Test arena, he made 821 runs and picked 22 wickets in 11 matches with two centuries, out of which his 135* in Headingley will go down as an Ashes all-time classic. The Kiwi-born all-rounder may be the player of the year as well.
South African wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Kock came into his own this year as he scored a brilliant ton against India in India where many expected him to struggle. He scored 713 runs in 8 Tests with 5 fifties and 2 centuries at an average of 47.53. He also ended his 2019 with a Man of the Match performance in Proteas’ win against England in Centurion.
Pat Cummins has had an amazing 2019 leading the Australian pace attack when other bowlers were struggling and was their shining light against a rampant Indian side, which won their maiden series down under. Cummins scalped 59 wickets in 12 matches this year in Tests at an average of 20.13 and the best bowling figures of 6/23.
Nathan Lyon is the lone spinner in this XI, as he was perhaps the best with 45 wickets in 12 Tests and had the best bowling figures of 6/49. He was effective on both home pitches and away tracks as well and was a crucial player for Australians in the Ashes where he picked close to 20 wickets and also contributed with the bat.
Neil Wagner was one of the brightest stars for the New Zealand team which had a mixed bag year in Tests. He played 6 Tests and picked 43 wickets with 4 fifers and at an average of 17.81. Wagner beautifully exploited the short ball tactics to trouble both England and Australian batsmen both at home and away. He removed Steve Smith four times in two Tests in the ongoing Trans-Tasman Test series and has kept the best Kangaroo batsmen quiet.
Mohammad Shami has been a revelation in 2019 as he picked 33 wickets in 8 Test matches including successful outings against Australia in Australia and West Indies in the Caribbean. Then he troubled the Proteas and Bangladesh at home and proved his worth in the Indian team’s pace attack, especially when he led the attack in absence of Jasprit Bumrah.