2024 was a year where fans witnessed enthralling Test cricket on offer. With the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25 cycle that ruled the game, several teams made their presence felt in a bid to make it to the final next year. South Africa booked their berth in the final, with Australia, India, and Sri Lanka vying for the 2nd spot. Moreover, individual performances also took centerstage as teams rode on these performances to create quality cricket. England and India played the most number of matches. What stood out was some shocks, like Bangladesh defeating Pakistan and India being thrashed at home by New Zealand. Here, we decode the Test Team of the Year.
Yashasvi Jaiswal (India)
Yashasvi Jaiswal finished the year as the 2nd-highest run-scorer. The Indian opener played 15 Tests and amassed 1394 runs at the time of writing. His average read 53.61. He clobbered three tons and 8 fifties. He had a poor start against South Africa before bossing the show against England at home. He showed his hunger for big scores, smashing two double centuries alongside three fifties in the 5-match series. He also hit three fifties in the series against Bangladesh. An ordinary series followed against New Zealand, where he scored one fifty in the 3-0 defeat. Jaiswal showed he can be an able performer in away Tests. He scored a sensational 161 versus Australia in Perth and an 82 in the 4th Test at the MCG.
Kane Williamson (New Zealand)
Kane Williamson, who missed the India series owing to an injury, featured in 9 Tests and bagged 1018 runs at 59.58. His tally included 4 tons and 4 fifties. In a record-breaking year, Williamson went past 9000 Test runs (9276). He also raced to 33 Test tons and surpassed 1000 career fours. Williamson struck three centuries in a two-match Test series against the Proteas, showing remarkable appetite. He smashed one fifty each versus Australia and Sri Lanka. He did an able job in his side’s 2-1 series defeat to England, scoring two fifties and a ton.
Joe Root (England)
The record scorer of the World Test Championship, Joe Root, remains the best batter in the Fab Four. He was simply unstoppable in 2024, finishing as the top scorer. In 17 matches, Root smashed 1556 runs at 55.57. His tally included six tons and 5 fifties. After a slow start versus India in the first three Tests, Root struck an unbeaten 122 in Ranchi and followed that up with an 84-run knock in Dharamsala. He struck three fifty-plus scores in the series against West Indies and Sri Lanka at home. The 262-run knock in Multan against Pakistan was brilliant. His 106-run effort in the 2nd Test against New Zealand was another testament to his prowess in scoring runs everywhere. The year saw him break Alastair Cook’s record as the top scorer of England in Tests. Root also became England’s highest centurion.
Kamindu Mendis (Sri Lanka)
Kamindu Mendis is one of the reasons why Sri Lanka are still alive in the WTC. In nine matches (16 innings), Mendis smashed 1049 runs at 74.92. His tally included 5 tons and three fifties, with the best of 182*. He started the year with two successive tons and a score of 92* versus Bangladesh away. In the three-Test series against England away, he hit three fifty-plus scores. He decimated New Zealand next at home with two Test centuries. The South Africa series was damper by his standards. He got a crucial 48 and 35 in the 2nd Test after faltering in the 1st.
Temba Bavuma (South Africa)
Temba Bavuma had his challenges in the form of injuries and was limited to just 5 Test matches in 2024. However, the Proteas captain led from the front and delivered the goods, helping his side reach the WTC final. He delivered the goods in 8 of the 10 Test innings he batted in. His performance against Sri Lanka at home, in particular, was noteworthy. He slammed 70, 113, 78 and 66 in the two-Test series. In the Centurion Test versus Pakistan, his knocks of 31 and 40 had a lot of influence. Bavuma scored 503 runs at 55.88, hammering one ton and 4 fifties.
Jamie Smith (England)
The wicketkeeper batter was one of the standout performers among newcomers in Tests. Smith played nine matches in 2024 and scored an impressive 637 runs at 42.46. He struck one ton and fifties. His strike rate of 72.30 was commendable. He hammered a fifty in his debut innings versus West Indies. He also smashed a commendable 95-run knock in the 3rd Test of the series. His first century arrived in the series against Sri Lanka. He hit a fifty as well. Notably, he slammed a solid 89 against Pakistan in the third Test held at Rawalpindi.
Ravindra Jadeja (India)
The Indian all-rounder had another successful year in Tests. In 12 matches, he picked 48 scalps at 24.29. His tally included one four-fer and three five-wicket hauls. Jadeja claimed 19 wickets in the series against England at home. He also picked 9 scalps against Bangladesh and 16 wickets against New Zealand. In the 4th Test against Australia at the MCG, he picked 4 scalps. Jadeja also hammered 500-plus runs in 2024. He struck one century and three fifties.
Gus Atkinson (England)
Gus Atkinson deserves an award for the Outstanding Breakthrough Player of the Year. The Englishman had a solid entry to Test cricket and made his name. He started by claiming the 3rd-best match figures by any bowler in Test debut. He picked 12/106 against the West Indies at Lord’s. He finished with 22 scalps in the 3-match series. He made an impression next against Sri Lanka at home. He also featured against Pakistan away and New Zealand away. Atkinson finished 2024 with 52 wickets at 22.15. He claimed three five-wicket hauls. With the bat, he also hammered a ton, scoring 352 runs.
Josh Hazlewood (Australia)
If Australia make it to the WTC final, they will thank Josh Hazlewood, who claimed an impressive 35 scalps at just 13.60 from 7 Tests. Unfortunately, he was ruled out of the India Test series midway. He claimed two fifers and three four-wicket hauls. The 33-year-old, who owns 279 Test scalps, impressed against Pakistan, West Indies, New Zealand and the first match against India in Perth.
Jasprit Bumrah (India)
Jasprit Bumrah finished as the highest wicket-taker in 2024. His consistency and brilliance made him reach newer heights. At the time of writing, Bumrah owned 70 wickets from 13 Tests at 15.12. He claimed four five-wicket hauls and five four-wicket hauls. Notably, he managed 29 scalps in the first four Tests against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Bumrah made history in the 4th Test at MCG when he became the fastest Indian pacer to 200 scalps.
Kagiso Rabada (South Africa)
The South African fast bowler was the most successful pacer in his side. Rabada played 8 Tests in 2024 and claimed a solid 34 scalps at 19.94. He managed two five-wicket hauls with the best of 6/46. Notably, Rabada helped SA reach the final with a stellar 31*-run effort in a two-wicket victory over Pakistan in Centurion. He added an unbeaten 51-run stand alongside Marco Jansen.