Despite unpopular opinion, Test cricket still remains the ultimate test of a cricketer’s abilities and talents. Slugging out for five days in order to win a match makes a player bring the best out of himself and brings the team together collectively.
The year 2018 was no different in Test arena as this year we saw some of the best Test series between the top-drawer teams including India touring South Africa, England, and Australia; while England registering their first Test series win in Sri Lanka.
New Zealand defeated Pakistan at ‘home’ after 49 years and Australia and India played a brilliant series down under, with India winning two of the first three Tests of the four-match series to end the year 2018 on a good note.
Keeping that in mind, Team COC presents to you the COC Test XI of 2018.
Opening for the COC Test XI of 2018 will be Australia’s Usman Khawaja and Cheteshwar Pujara of India. Both players have had a good 2018 with Khawaja making over 700 runs in 10 Tests for Australia, including the marathon innings to secure a draw against Pakistan in UAE.
Pujara, on the other hand, had a difficult start to his 2018, with failures in South Africa. But he bounced back brilliantly, scoring a century in England series and then making two centuries in three Tests against Australia in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Series 2018-19.
At no.3 comes Kane Williamson, the New Zealand skipper, who is also the captain of COC Test XI of 2018. Kane Williamson gained a long-awaited feat of defeating Pakistan in an away series in UAE. Williamson has more than 650 runs in 7 Test matches at an average of more than 59.
Virat Kohli comes in at no.4 and an automatic entry into the COC Test XI given that he ended up as the leading run-scorer in Tests in 2018 with 1322 runs in 13 matches at an average of 55.08, five centuries and a best of 153. Kohli, by far, is the best batsman in Test matches in 2018, not by the number of runs he scored, but most of his runs came outside India, as he scored a century in South Africa, two in England and one century in three Tests against Australia.
Then come the English duo of Joe Root and Jos Buttler, both of whom kept the British flag flying in Test cricket. Root made 948 runs in 13 Tests with two centuries at an average of 41.21. 
Buttler, on the other hand, has had a resurgence in Tests, thanks to his performance in IPL 2018, and he celebrated his return to Tests with his maiden Test century against India. Buttler has continued to be an important part of England’s Test plans with 760 runs in 10 Tests with 6 half-centuries to go with the century and an average of 44.70.
Pat Cummins of Australia and South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada came in next. Cummins has been brilliant ever since his return to Tests with 44 wickets in 8 Tests, including a 9-wicket haul against India in the third Test at MCG.
Rabada, meanwhile, topped the wicket-taking chart with 52 wickets in 10 Tests with a best of 6/54 at an average of 20.07.
Nathan Lyon makes it into the playing XI as the sole spinner with 49 wickets in 10 Tests with a best of 8/106 in a Man of the Match winning performance in Perth against India. Lyon was also successful in subcontinent conditions.
The last two players to complete the COC Test XI of 2018 are Pakistan’s Mohammad Abbas and India’s Jasprit Bumrah. Abbas picked up 38 wickets in 7 matches this year with a best of 5/33 and was instrumental in Pakistan’s success in Tests in 2018.
However, the year belonged to Jasprit Bumrah, as he picked up 48 wickets in 2018. He broke the record of Dilip Doshi of most Test wickets for India in debut years and also became the first and only Indian and Asian bowler to pick up a five-wicket haul each in South Africa, England, and Australia in the same calendar year.
However, keeping in mind, that matches have been played in the Indian subcontinent in mind, Team COC has decided to add Pakistan’s Yasir Shah as the 12th man to replace a fast bowler in the playing XI. Yasir Shah has picked 38 wickets in 6 matches this year.
COC Test XI of 2018:
Usman Khawaja (AUS), Cheteshwar Pujara (IND), Kane Williamson (NZ-C), Virat Kohli (IND), Joe Root (ENG), Jos Buttler (ENG-WK), Pat Cummins (AUS), Kagiso Rabada (SA), Nathan Lyon (AUS), Mohammad Abbas (PAK), Jasprit Bumrah (IND), Yasir Shah (PAK-12th man)
