No Place For Virat Kohli And KL Rahul!! Test Team Of The Year 2023
Published - 27 Dec 2023, 05:42 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:24 AM
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The year 2023 was an amazing year for Test cricket. Fans witnessed exciting games since the start of the year when some teams toiled hard to grab the final spot in the ICC World Test Championship 2023. In the end, Australia and India managed to reach the final and Australia crushed India to win the trophy.
At the start of 2023, New Zealand won a Test match against Sri Lanka by 2 wickets where Kane Williamson slammed a stunning unbeaten century to drive his team to victory. It was one of the most exciting red-ball matches this year.
After the WTC 2023 final, the new World Test Championship cycle began in June with Ashes 2023. England and Australia executed some of the most nail-biting games during Ashes 2023. Australia finally retained the Ashes urn with a 2-2 tie.
In November, Bangladesh crushing New Zealand in a Test match on Kiwi soil was another surprising moment to watch. It was Bangladesh’s first-ever Test victory in New Zealand. 2023 witnessed outstanding performances by many batters and bowlers. In this article, we form the best Test Team of the year 2023.
Also Read: IND vs SA: Parthiv Patel Defends Himself After Backlash On Questioning KL Rahul’s Place
Test Team Of The Year 2023
Usman Khawaja
Usman Khawaja should be termed as the best Test opener in 2023. The Australia batter is the leading run-getter in the longest format this year. In 23 innings, the left-handed batsman has mustered 1210 runs averaging 55.0.
He also slammed 3 tons and 6 half-centuries. In his opening match of 2023 itself, the 37-year-old stormed a stupendous unbeaten 195-run knock against Sri Lanka. He also slammed a 180-run knock in India and a 141 knock in Ashes 2023.
Rohit Sharma
If we talk about openers, Rohit Sharma was quite a fabulous performer in 2023. He and David Warner share a close competition. However, Sharma wins the battle due to his average.
While Warner averages 29.84 across 19 innings, Sharma has an average of 45+ across 12 innings in 2023. Both of them have scored 2 tons this year. However, Sharma has hit 2 half-centuries while Warner could only score 1. Hence, Rohit Sharma is the other opener in the Test team of the year 2023.
Kane Williamson
At one down position, Kane Williamson is the best choice for the Test team of the year. The right-handed batsman accounts for 695 runs in 13 innings this year. Williamson has shattered 4 centuries, the most than any other batsman. He owns an average of 57.91. The New Zealand skipper also slammed a double century.
Harry Brook
Another middle-order batter who grabbed a lot of limelight in 2023 is Harry Brook. The right-handed batsman slammed 701 runs across 14 innings at an average of 53+. The England youngster slammed 6 fifties and 1 century across 14 innings. He also became the fastest batsman to reach 1000 runs in red-ball format including a 186-run knock against New Zealand.
Joe Root
When we talk about Test specialists, Joe Root is one of the batters who comes to the top. The England star might have lost his captaincy but he still owns the impeccable charm in batting. Across 14 innings in 2023, the right-handed batsman shattered 787 runs with 2 centuries and 5 half-centuries.
Kusal Mendis (WK)
Sri Lanka player Kusal Mendis was one of the stand-out wicketkeepers in 2023. The right-handed batsman scored 586 runs across 10 innings averaging 58.60. He stormed 2 tons and 2 half-centuries. Notably, he slammed a century and double century in consecutive games against Ireland.
Also Read: PAK vs AUS: Pakistan Create Embarrassing Record In A Test Innings At MCG
Ravindra Jadeja
Ravindra Jadeja takes the spot of an all-rounder in the Test team of the year 2023. The left-arm spinner played 7 matches this year. He slammed 281 runs with 2 half-centuries. With the ball, the Indian spinner grabbed 33 scalps averaging 19.39. It included 2 five-wicket hauls and 1 ten-wicket haul.
Ravichandran Ashwin
Ravichandran Ashwin was the best spinner in 2023 in Tests. The Indian spinner hunted 40 scalps across 12 innings averaging 16.42. He also hunted 4 five-wicket hauls and 1 ten-wicket hauls.
Notably, in the series against West Indies, Ashwin grabbed 15 wickets across 2 matches to win the player of the series award. Nathan Lyon shares a close competition with Ashwin. However, the Aussie spinner loses the race on average. Against Ashwin’s 16.42, Lyon has an average of 23.86 in 2023.
Pat Cummins (C)
Pat Cummins led Australia to defend Ashes 2023 and also win the ICC World Test Championship 2023 title. Hence, he should be the captain of the Test team of the year 2023. Cummins was also an outstanding bowler, picking 32 wickets in 11 matches. The right-arm pacer also slammed 238 runs including an unbeaten 44* that led Australia to victory in the opening match of Ashes 2023.
Mitchell Starc
Another Australia pacer who gets a spot in the Test team of the year 2023 is Mitchell Starc. The left-arm pacer clinched 34 wickets across 7 games at an average of 30.44. In Ashes 2023, he hunted 18 wickets across 5 games to finish as the leading wicket-taker for the side. Starc is the 4th highest wicket-taker in 2023.
Stuart Broad
Stuart Broad is a legendary pacer who retired in 2023. The England bowler was the most successful pacer in 2023. The right-arm pacer hunted 38 wickets across 8 games averaging 26+.
He retired from international cricket after Ashes 2023, getting the mark of 604 wickets in Tests. The England pacer hunted 19 wickets in Ashes 2023 across 5 games and helped England to make a comeback after the first two defeats in the opening games.
