Flop Test XI Of 2021
Published - 23 Dec 2021, 05:18 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 01:02 AM
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The year 2021 is just a week shy to end and if one can wonder what year it has been for cricket, in a nutshell, it was a roller-coaster ride to watch the games.
All the boards had to struggle with the setbacks; most of them were slapped by the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic leading to a truncated calendar year in 2020 in terms of conducting the matches.
But 2021 was a year of resurgence not only for the administrators but also for the players as they found their rhythm back.
The year saw the completion of the World Test Championship final between India and New Zealand, which the latter won by eight wickets after the match went on to the reserve day.
In a year, where India, one of the best cricket structures in the world, was hit with the second wave of COVID-19. Test cricket took the center stage with 43 matches completed, of course, the numbers might not stand anywhere in comparison to 333 T20I matches (including associate member fixtures).
But Test cricket has definitely received a new craze since the International Cricket Council has introduced the World Test Championship format.
With the Test series between India and England, the new World Test Championship cycle of 2021/23 had started. The points system is way different from the previous one as each team will gain 12 points for a win.
Sri Lanka currently sits on the top of the points table after their twin wins against West Indies at home by the end of November.
Australia is currently leading 2-0 against England in the 2021-22 Ashes at home with the Boxing Day Test match at MCG likely to be the last game of the year, India will also be playing their first Test against South Africa during the same time frame.
India’s win at the Gabba to clinch the series 2-1 against Australia at their fortress was a historic moment. And not to forget West Indies winning against Pakistan by one wicket in a nail-biting contest at the Sabina Park was one of the best games of the year.
There were upsets as well at the individual level by some Test specialist players throughout the year and we hope they make a strong comeback in the next year.
Flop Test XI Of 2021
1) Dominic Sibley
The England opener was under constant criticism for being inconsistent with the bat and not scoring sufficient runs at the top order.
Sibley amassed 356 runs from 20 innings at an abysmal average of 19.78 and his highest score was 87.
He was dropped from England’s team after scores of 18 & 28 against India in the Nottingham Test. He wasn’t included for the Ashes in Down Under.
2) Marcus Harris
Although Australia has just played four Test matches throughout this year. Harris hasn’t managed to overcome his batting woes.
The Perth batter has made 466 runs from 12 Test matches and in his last three, Harris has amassed just 81 runs at an average of 16.20.
He has just scored 38 runs in the first two Ashes Tests but he will get more chances as Australia head coach Justin Langer intends to back him.
3) Zak Crawley
Just like Sibley, Crawley too lost his place in the England Test side after a series of poor scores.
He has amassed 156 runs from 14 innings and has managed to breach the 50-mark score only once in 2021.
4) Dinesh Chandimal
Chandimal has led Sri Lanka in the absence of regular skipper Dimuth Karunaratane in few games but his numbers have dropped as he averaged 23 after scoring 230 runs from 12 innings.
In the two-match Test series against West Indies, the Sri Lanka wicket-keeper could make just 59 from four innings.
5) Ajinkya Rahane
Rahane was the constant feature on Indian cricket critics’ show with many experts have chastised the Mumbai batter for his batting technique.
Rahane scored a whirlwind hundred to turn India’s fortunes against Australia at MCG after a dismal show in Adelaide.
However, his batting form has continued to haunt him and has put him under a lot of pressure. Rahane made 411 runs in 21 innings with an average of 19.57 including two half-centuries.
The consequences of his form grew to the extent that Rahane was stripped off India’s Test vice-captain role for the upcoming Test series in South Africa.
Also Read: IND vs SA: Ajinkya Rahane Might Find It Difficult To Find Place In Indian Team ??? Aakash Chopra
6) Jonny Bairstow
The burly England wicketkeeper-batter is no more his side’s first-choice man to don the gloves behind the stumps as the onus is on Jos Buttler.
Bairstow was England’s prolific Test batter during the 2016-17 period and constant support to Joe Root.
However, the Yorkshire batter has seen growth in his white-ball career after being elevated to open the innings but at the same time, his red-ball numbers have dipped.
During 2016, Bairstow made 1470 runs from 17 games but coming back to 2021 he can just manage 351 runs at an average of 25.02.
He is yet to make his appearance in the Ashes as he was benched for the first two Test matches.
7) Cameron Green
Green made his Test debut against India last year in the Adelaide Test and scored 84 in Sydney while he was involved in a 112-run stand with Australia skipper Tim Paine.
Green has just made 35 runs from three innings in the Ashes so far and started the series on a golden duck against England’s Ollie Robinson.
However, Green has bragged the rights of dismissing England skipper Joe Root twice in the first two Tests but has only claimed five wickets in four games this year.
8) Sam Curran
The England all-rounder’s performance was shocking in the oldest format after how he became a sensational figure in the team’s set-up in 2018.
Curran just scored 87 runs and pouch six wickets after playing seven matches in 2021. Curran was replaced by Chris Woakes in the Oval Test against India.
The England all-rounder is also currently missing from the Ashes squad against Australia due to his poor form.
Also Read: IPL 2022 Auction: 3 Teams Which Can Target Sam Curran
9) Keshav Maharaj
The South Africa spinner has snapped 19 wickets with the red-ball and will have more opportunity against India in the first Test at Centurion.
Maharaj is also well-known to provide runs in the lower order for the Proteas but this year with he could add just 23 in eight innings at an all-time low average of 2.88.
10) Stuart Broad
With 526 wickets from 150 Tests, Broad is England’s second most wicket-taker after his close friend James Anderson (635).
The England pacer has played just seven Tests so far this year and was ruled out of the India Test series after sustaining a calf tear.
Broad was benched alongside Anderson for the first Test in Brisbane only to comeback in Adelaide to dismiss Marcus Harris in each innings. The 35-year-old has managed to pick 12 wickets in 2021 so far.
11) Jack Leach
The England spinner hasn’t tasted enough success compared to his predecessors like Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar.
Leach has accounted for 29 wickets from just seven Tests but didn’t capitalise against India just like R Ashwin and Axar Patel made the best use of the spinning tracks.
He was picked for the first Ashes Test in Brisbane and got the important wicket of Marnus Labuschagne. He was dropped from the team for Adelaide and remains doubtful for the remaining three matches.
