Five Players Who Can Win The ICC Test Cricketer Of The Year Award 2019

The year 2019 is just about to end and the fans are definitely looking forward to the ICC Awards. At the end of every year or at the start of a year, the governing body announces the winners of ICC Cricketer of the Year, the ICC Men’s Test Player of the Year, the ICC ODI Player of the Year awards as well as the winners of several other categories.

India skipper Virat Kohli had completely dominated the last ICC awards. The star batsman became the first player in history to win the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for ICC Cricketer of the Year, the ICC Men’s Test Player of the Year and the ICC ODI Player of the Year awards following an extraordinary 2018. Now as the ongoing year is about to end, we take a look at five players who can win the ICC Test Cricketer of the Year award.

5. Virat Kohli:

The India skipper will always be a contender for any top prize in cricket in these times. He has been in top form with the bat as well as captain. He has not been at his very best this year but is still the ninth highest run-scorer this year in Tests. In 8 Tests this year, Kohli has scored 612 runs with the help of 2 centuries and as many fifties. One of those two centuries was the monumental 254-run knock against South Africa at home.

As a captain too, he has done really well this year. Under him, India won their first-ever Test series on Australian soil at the start of the year. In the ongoing ICC World Test Championship, India have won all of their seven Tests this year and are at the top of the points table.

4. Ben Stokes:

Ben Stokes played the best Test innings of this year when he singlehandedly took England over the line in the third Ashes Test in Leeds. The England allrounder took 3-56 and scored 135 not out to seal an unforgettable win in the third Test against Australia to keep his side’s Ashes hopes alive. Ben Stokes is the fourth highest run-scorer this year, having scored 772 runs in ten Tests so far. He will only increase the runs tally as England are currently playing against South Africa in the Boxing Day Test. In addition to the runs, he has also picked up an impressive 20 wickets with his medium pace.

3. Pat Cummins:

It would not be at all surprising if Pat Cummins scoop the top prize for ICC Test Cricketer Of The Year. The Australia pace spearhead has been in stunning form this year. He is currently the leading wicket-taker in Tests and is set to finish the year at the top. At present, he has picked up 55 wickets with no bowler touching the 50-wicket mark. With Australia currently playing the Boxing Day Test against New Zealand, Pat Cummins could also touch the 60-wicket mark.

2. Steve Smith:

Who would have thought that Steve Smith would be one of the top run-getters in Tests this year. The former Australia skipper missed the first half of the year due to the ban and there were apprehensions that he might not hit the ground running. But he took to Tests like a duck takes to water.

The right-handed batsman returned to Tests during the Ashes series and finished the series as the highest run-scorer. As of now, he is the second leading run-scorer this year, having amassed 958 runs while still playing just his eighth Test of the year.

1. Marnus Labuschagne:

Marnus Labuschagne is undoubtedly the find of the year and the Australian batting sensation could very well win the prestigious award for ICC Test Cricketer Of The Year. So far, he is the only player to have crossed the 1,000-run mark in Tests this year. Playing only his 11 Tests this year, he has amassed a staggering 1,085 runs at an average of nearly 68. He has also scored seven fifties and three centuries with all those tons coming in consecutive innings.