The year 2017 has seen some high intensity Test cricket being played throughout the year and has also witnessed some memorable performances during its course. As the year draws to a close, looking at the figures from all Test matches completed in 2017 – with the Boxing Day clashes of Australia v England at the MCG and South Africa v Zimbabwe in Port Elizabeth, we have compiled the best Test XI based on performances in the calendar year.
The ICC are yet to come up with their official Test XI for the year and this team is open to being compared with the list that ICC give out later on.
1. Dean Elgar (South Africa)
Matches: 11 | Runs: 1097 | 100s: 5 | 50s: 4 | Ave: 54.85 | Highest Score: 199
The South African opener has been a rock at the top for the Proteas during the year and has simply been the most prolific opening batsman in 2017. While his opening partner has kept on changing, Elgar has effectively gone about his business, scoring 5 centuries during the year.
2. Cheteshwar Pujara (India)
Matches: 11 | Runs: 1140 | 100s: 4 | 50s: 5 | Ave: 67.05 | Highest Score: 202
Cheteshwar Pujara has been in prolific form in 2017 and is the leading run-scorer in Test cricket, ahead of the likes of Steve Smith, Virat Kohli, Joe Root and Kane Williamson. Even though his natural batting position is Number 3 for India, Pujara has a rock solid technique and is more than capable of handling the new ball. As a result, we have picked Pujara to partner Dean Elgar at the top of the order.
3. Steve Smith (Australia)
Matches: 10 | Runs: 1127 | 100s: 5 | 50s: 2 | Ave: 70.43 | Highest Score: 239
Steve Smith is the reason that Cheteshwar Pujara lost out on the Number 3 spot in this team. The Australian captain has been in such good touch of late that he has often looked almost impossible to get out. Smith has put England’s bowling attack to the sword in the ongoing Ashes series and also scored a match-winning century in extremely trying circumstances against India in Pune earlier in the year. With the 4th Ashes Test starting on December 26, Smith has a fair chance of overtaking Pujara in the leading run-scorers list of the year. To add to all this, Smith is also the top-ranked Test batsman in the current ICC Rankings.
4. Virat Kohli (India) – Captain
Matches: 10 | Runs: 1059 | 100s: 5 | 50s: 1 | Ave: 75.64 | Highest Score: 243
Another man who walks into this team is Indian captain Virat Kohli who has been a colossus in the middle-order for his team this year. Kohli has been in such impeccable form that 3 of his 5 centuries this year have been double hundreds. Another important thing to note here is that Kohli has scored his runs at a very impressive strike-rate of 76.24, the highest among all the top run-getters of 2017. He also led India to some impressive wins this year, making him an easy choice as captain in our side.
5. Dinesh Chandimal (Sri Lanka)
Matches: 12 | Runs: 1003 | 100s: 3 | 50s: 5 | Ave: 45.59 | Highest Score: 164
A slightly debatable selection but Sri Lankan captain Dinesh Chandimal is our pick for the Number 5 spot in this team. Chandimal has scored over a thousand runs in the calendar year 2017, including match-winning knock against the almost invincible Pakistan side in UAE. Our favourite Dinesh Chandimal performance this year was the 164 that he scored against the rampaging duo of Ashwin and Jadeja in difficult circumstances at Delhi, which also ultimately saved the match for his team. Hashim Amla and Joe Root are unlucky to miss out here but Chandimal’s level of performance has simply been better.
6. Quinton de Kock (South Africa) – Wicketkeeper
Matches: 11 | Runs: 595 | 100s: 1 | 50s: 4 | Ave: 37.18 | Highest Score: 101 | Dismissals: 50
England’s Jonny Bairstow has had a better year in terms of runs made during 2017 but we have gone ahead with the diminutive Quinton de Kock as the wicketkeeper for our side. After a breakthrough year in 2016, de Kock has been slightly underwhelming with the bat in 2017 but still has decent numbers to show for a lower middle-order batsman. Add to that his explosive Adam Gilchrist-like ability to change the game at any given point of time, Quinton de Kock is the ideal man for this position. Coming to his skills behind the wicket, de Kock has simply been the best wicketkeeper this year. He has effected 50 dismissals in the 11 Test matches that he has played in 2017, while the second-best Saha has 37 dismissals.
7. Ravindra Jadeja (India)
Matches: 10 | Runs: 328 | 100s: 0 | 50s: 4 | Wickets: 54 | 5WI: 3 | Best Bowling: 6/63
After a landmark 2016, Ravindra Jadeja has been his usual effective self in 2017 and has played an instrumental role in India’s rise to the top of Test rankings. While his partner in crime Ravichandran Ashwin is certainly unlucky to miss out in this team, the duo have hunted in pairs and wreaked havoc on all batting line-ups that have played India this year. Jadeja has also scored some crucial runs lower down the order for his team, as attested by his 4 half-centuries this year. Sir Jadeja takes his place as the quintessential all-rounder in this team, ahead of Shakib Al-Hasan and Ashwin.
8. Kagiso Rabada (South Africa)
Matches: 10 | Wickets: 54 | 5WI: 3 | Ave: 20.96 | Best Bowling: 6/55
He’s long been regarded as the future of South Africa’s pace bowling, and after a wonderful year in 2017, Kagiso Rabada has only enhanced his reputation as one of best fast bowlers going around in world cricket today. Rabada has bowled some memorable spells for the Proteas this year and is the leading wicket-taker among seam bowlers in 2017.
9. Josh Hazlewood (Australia)
Matches: 9 | Wickets: 31 | 5WI: 2 | Ave: 24.80 | Best Bowling: 6/67
While the likes of Morne Morkel, Neil Wagner and Shannon Gabriel have all picked up more wickets than Hazlewood in the year 2017, the Australian pacer has certainly been the most impactful bowler among those mentioned. With a Glenn McGrath-esque ability to bowl consistent lines for a long period of time, Hazlewood has been outstanding in the currently ongoing Ashes series and even picked up a 5-wicket haul at Perth, paving the way for a series-clinching win for his team.
10. Nathan Lyon (Australia)
Matches: 10 | Wickets: 60 | 5WI: 5 | Ave: 22.91 | Best Bowling: 8/50
While 2016 belonged to Ashwin and Herath, 2017 has certainly been the year of Australia’s Nathan Lyon. The off-spinner has picked up 60 wickets in 10 matches played so far this year, most by any bowler. It has been Australia’s pace trio of Starc, Cummins and Hazlewood that has generated all the headlines but Lyon has been equally important for Steve Smith’s side and has picked up crucial wickets for his side this year.
11. James Anderson (England)
Matches: 10 | Wickets: 51 | 5WI: 4 | Ave: 16.86 | Best Bowling: 7/42
After Kagiso Rabada, Jimmy Anderson has been the standout pace bowler of the year 2017. The veteran pacer has picked up 51 wickets in 10 Tests played this year at an impressive average of 16.86. He has four 5-wicket hauls to his name, including one in the 2nd Ashes Test which almost got England back into the contest and gave them a glimmer of hope in the match.
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