Indian stars Yashasvi Jaiswal, all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, and pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah have made it to the ICC Men's Test Team of the Year 2024, announced on Friday.
Alongside them, the squad features some of Test cricket's top players, including England’s Joe Root, New Zealand’s Kane Williamson, and Australian captain Pat Cummins.
Yashasvi Jaiswal (India)
Jaiswal’s rise in 2024 has been nothing short of sensational. After a tough tour of South Africa, he made an incredible comeback during the home series against England, scoring 712 runs, which included two double centuries and three fifties.
His consistency continued throughout the year, with key performances in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where he finished as India’s top scorer with 391 runs, including a brilliant 161 in Perth.
By the end of 2024, he had accumulated 1,478 runs at an average of 54.74, including three centuries and nine half-centuries, making him the second-highest run-scorer of the year, behind Joe Root.
Ben Duckett (England)
Duckett played a pivotal role in England’s Test triumphs this year. After an impressive start with 343 runs in India, including a knock of 153 in Rajkot, Duckett continued his form with centuries in multiple series, including against West Indies, Sri Lanka, and New Zealand.
By the end of the year, Duckett had scored 1,149 runs at an average of 37.06, including two centuries and six fifties, finishing as the third-highest run-scorer of 2024.
Kane Williamson (New Zealand)
Despite a challenging year due to injuries, Williamson proved why he’s one of the best Test batsmen. After an outstanding start with centuries against South Africa and a superb series against England, he finished the year with 1,013 runs at an average of 59.58.
His tally included four centuries and four half-centuries, with his standout performance being a match-winning 156 against England.
Joe Root (England)
Joe Root once again dominated Test cricket in 2024. After a slow start against India, Root found his rhythm with some impressive performances, including a monumental 375-run series against Sri Lanka, where he surpassed Alastair Cook's record for most Test centuries by an English player.
He ended the year with 1,556 runs at an average of 55.57, including six centuries and five fifties.
Harry Brook (England)
Brook had a stellar 2024, especially in the latter half of the year. After missing the India tour, he returned with a century against the West Indies and then had a sensational partnership with Joe Root in Pakistan, where he scored a triple century.
Brook finished with 1,100 runs at an average of 55, including four centuries and three fifties.
Kamindu Mendis (Sri Lanka)
Mendis made a sensational return to Test cricket in 2024, finishing the year as Sri Lanka’s top run-scorer. His remarkable performances included two centuries in Bangladesh and a career-best 182* against New Zealand.
Mendis accumulated 1,049 runs at an exceptional average of 74.92, including five centuries and three fifties.
Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper) (England)
Smith, in his debut year, made a strong impact. He scored a half-century and a century against Sri Lanka, followed by a gritty 89 against Pakistan.
In total, Smith made 637 runs in 2024 at an average of 42.46, including a century and four fifties, and played a key role behind the stumps with 32 dismissals.
Ravindra Jadeja (India)
Jadeja had a superb all-round year in 2024. He was a key figure in India’s series wins against England and Bangladesh, contributing with both bat and ball.
He took 48 wickets at an average of 24.29 and scored 527 runs, including a century and three half-centuries, helping India dominate in multiple series.
Pat Cummins (Australia, captain)
Pat Cummins led Australia to victory in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, leading them to a 3-1 win against India.
As captain, he also contributed significantly with both bat and ball, taking 37 wickets at an average of 24.02 and scoring 306 runs.
His leadership helped Australia reclaim the prestigious Border-Gavaskar Trophy after a decade.
Matt Henry (New Zealand)
Henry was a standout performer for New Zealand in 2024. His most notable performances came against Australia, where he claimed 17 wickets in the home series, including a memorable eight-wicket haul.
Henry finished the year with 48 wickets at an exceptional average of 18.58, the fourth-highest wicket-taker of the year.
Jasprit Bumrah (India)
Bumrah was the best bowler in Test cricket in 2024, finishing as the highest wicket-taker of the year. He took 71 wickets at an astonishing average of 14.92, including five five-wicket hauls.
His performances against Australia were particularly memorable, where he led India to crucial victories, including a mesmerizing 5/30 in the first Test at Perth and a nine-wicket haul in Melbourne.
ICC Test Team of the Year 2024:
Pat Cummins (c) (Australia), Yashasvi Jaiswal (India), Ben Duckett (England), Kane Williamson (New Zealand), Joe Root (England), Harry Brook (England), Kamindu Mendis (Sri Lanka), Jamie Smith (wk) (England), Ravindra Jadeja (India), Matt Henry (New Zealand), Jasprit Bumrah (India).
These 11 players have truly set the benchmark in Test cricket for 2024, showcasing their dominance in both batting and bowling.
