Our Test Cricket World XI – Did We Get It Right?

As we welcome in 2020 it gives us a chance to look back at the year that was and the Test XI who dominated red-ball cricket in 2019. 

The return of David Warner and Steve Smith after their year-long suspensions made selection tough. The rise of young gun Marnus Labuschagne and outstanding form of Rohit Sharma put pressure on others to perform, but ultimately, this is the World Test XI I would select following 2019. 

Mayank Agarwal (India)

Agarwal, alongside Rohit Sharma enjoyed a dominant 2019 at the top of the order for India. The 28-year-old made 754 runs at an average of 68.5 from his 11 innings, a key reason for India’s dominance in 2019. 

Rohit Sharma (India)

I almost left Sharma out after having only played batted in six innings for the year, but the stats don’t lie, and you have to reward such amazing form. 556 runs at an average of 92.7, with two centuries and a double ton against South Africa the highlight of his year. A big test looms for Sharma now to back up his form against New Zealand away from home.

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Marnus Labuschagne (Australia)

12-months ago Labuschagne was a fringe player in the Australian line-up, making 38 in his only innings against India at the SCG. Fast forward to 2020 and he is the number three ranked batsman in the world coming off a player of the series performance against New Zealand. 1,146 runs at an average of 67.4 from his 18 innings, Labuschagne comes in at number three. 

Virat Kohli (India, Captain)

The number one ranked batsman leading the number one ranked test team in the world is an automatic selection as captain in this side. 608 runs at an average of 67.6 from his 11 innings, Kohli now sets his sites on New Zealand. 

Steven Smith (Australia)

The long-awaited return led to one of the most dominant Ashes series in memory. 774 runs at an average of 110.57 almost single handily dragged Australia across the line to retain the Ashes in England for the first time since 2001. Overall in 2019 Smith tallied 966 runs averaging 74.3. 

Ajinkya Rahane (India)

With the number one test ranking, it is no surprise India is finding a few players selected in the starting XI. Ajinkya Rahane, like many of his teammates, enjoyed a superb 2019 with the bat, smashing 642 runs from his 11 innings with an average of 71.3. 

BJ Watling (New Zealand, WK)

It was a tough choice between BJ Watling and South Africa’s Quinton de Kock but Watling gets the nod. 559 runs averaging 55.9 from a wicket-keeper is outstanding and another key reason for New Zealand’s climb up the rankings in 2019. 

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Pat Cummins (Australia)

The number one test bowler was never going to be left out of this side. He has enjoyed a stellar three years since returning from injury in 2017 and 2019 was his best yet. 59 wickets at 20.1 are his best figures to date and at the ripe old age of 26, the best is yet to come. 

Neil Wagner (New Zealand)

Neil Wagner entered the Kiwi’s tour of Australia as one of the best bowlers in the world and his stocks grew even more following his gritty performance down under. The 33-year-old took 44 wickets at an average of 17.8, taking four five-wicket hauls for the year.

Mohammed Shami (India)

Three Indian batsmen have already found their way into the side so of course, a bowler was going to find his way in. An impressive 2019 for Mohammed Shami, leading the Indian attack following Jasprit Bumrah’s injury in September. He took 33 wickets from just 194.2 overs at a world best average of 16.6, some of his best figures to date. 

Nathan Lyon (Australia)

As has been the case for years the choice of the best spin bowler in the world was between Nathan Lyon and India’s Ravichandran Ashwin. For 2019 Lyon got the chocolates. The ‘GOAT’ took 45 wickets at an average of 33.3 from over 500 overs on the year and looks ready to do some damage in 2020, already taking 10 wickets at 11.8.

Honourable Mentions

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Ben Stokes (England) 821 runs, an average of 45.6 – 22 wickets at 35.5 

I went back and forth between adding Stokes in as the all-rounder and leaving him out, but in the end, the batting of Smith and Rahane edged him out. Just.

Tom Latham (New Zealand) 601 runs, an average of 50.1 

The Kiwi opener was a driving force behind New Zealand’s rise up the test rankings in 2019 but the Indian opening pair were just better, not a knock at all on a superb year from Latham. 

Quinton de Kock (South Africa) 712 runs, an average of 47.5

A seasoned veteran for South Africa, de Kock has become a world-class wicketkeeper. Enjoyed a stellar 2019 but Watling’s strong form with the bat just edged him ahead. 

Mitchell Starc (Australia) 42 wickets at 20.7

After being dropped throughout the year Starc returned with a vengeance, his 42 wickets attesting to that. He just misses out this year though behind some world-class fast bowlers. 

Ravichandran Ashwin (India) 20 wickets at 24.2

Bowled well in the limited-overs he did compare to Nathan Lyon, but ultimately the numbers became too much and Lyon got the nod.

Written By Ollie Nash

Catch Ollie’s thoughts alongside Matt & Liam on their podcast – On The Pine

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