In a noteworthy revelation, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced the Test Team of the Year for 2023, dominated by Australia, particularly in the World Test Championship (WTC) playing XI. Pat Cummins, Australia’s premier fast bowler, was appointed the captain of the ICC Test Team of the Year, showcasing Australia’s prowess in the longest format.
Cummins, instrumental in guiding Australia to its first-ever WTC crown and securing a record sixth World Cup title, also leads the ICC Men’s Test Team of the Year. His exceptional leadership saw Australia retaining the Ashes last year, and Cummins himself topped the bowling charts with an impressive 42 wickets in 11 games.
The WTC XI for 2023 includes notable performances from Cummins’ teammates, with Usman Khawaja as the opener. Khawaja, aiming for the Test Cricketer of the Year award, accumulated over 1000 runs (1210) in Tests last year. Travis Head, another key batter for Australia, had a stellar year across all formats, highlighted by his remarkable 163-run innings in the WTC final against India. Alex Carey and veteran pacer Mitchell Starc also secured their spots in the star-studded WTC XI for 2023.
Surprisingly, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma and batting maestro Virat Kohli found no place in the WTC XI, despite their noteworthy contributions. Kohli, with an average above 45, amassed 932 runs in 17 games of the WTC last season, while Rohit accumulated 758 runs in 11 games and played a crucial role in guiding India to the WTC final against Australia.
However, the Indian spin duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja shone in the ICC Test Team of the Year, being the only two Indians to make the cut. Jadeja showcased his all-round prowess with crucial contributions, including a five-wicket haul and a fifty against Australia. Ashwin, the leading wicket-taker for India in the Border-Gavaskar series, adds depth to the Indian bowling attack.
ICC Test Team of the Year 2023:
– Usman Khawaja, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kane Williamson, Joe Root, Travis Head, Ravindra Jadeja, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins (C), R Ashwin, Mitchell Starc, Stuart Broad.
As the cricketing world applauds the outstanding performances in the Test arena, the spotlight now shifts to upcoming series, including India’s home series against England.
Stay tuned for more updates on international cricket.
