ICC announces Men's Test team of the Year; Virat Kohli chosen as captain
Two Indians, five Australians, three Kiwis, and one Englishman made the cut in the ICC's Test team of the Year.
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After the annual awards of the Board of Control for Cricket in India [BCCI] were announced on Sunday, all eyes were on the International Cricket Council and its annual awards for the calendar year 2019. And, on Wednesday, the mystery as to who would be awarded the ultimate accolades for their string of consistent performances in the past 12 months was finally unravelled.
Apart from all the other individual awards, the ICC announced the best Test XI for the calendar year 2019 on Wednesday, and most of the selection of players was on expected lines. Two Indians, five Australians, three Kiwis, and one Englishman made the cut in the ICC’s Test team of the Year.
On expected terms, Mayank Agarwal of India and Tom Latham of the BlackCaps were chosen as designated openers for the Test XI. While Mayank continued with the good work that he had started at the end of 2018 by notching up 754 runs in 11 innings at an average of 68.54 with the help of two hundred, three half-centuries and a double-ton, Latham continued with his amazing consistency at the top for the second year running as he racked up 601 runs in 12 innings at an average of 50.08 with three hundred.
Virat Kohli named as captain of the ICC Test XI
Marnus Labuschagne was the find of the year 2019. The right-hander, who came in as an injury replacement for Steven Smith during the Ashes, was the only cricketer to rack up 1000+ runs in 2019- 1104 runs at an average of 64.94 with three hundred and seven half-centuries, and it’s a no-brainer that the 3rd slot in Test XI went to the Aussie.
Steven Smith, who was the bedrock of Australia regaining the Ashes where he racked up 774 runs in 4 Tests at an average of 110, occupies the 4th spot while Virat Kohli, who not only scored 612 runs at an average of 68 with two half-centuries and as many three-figure scores including his career-best of 254* against the Proteas, but also presided over seven Test wins as a leader, has been named as the captain of the Test XI.
The all-rounder’s spot was a no-brainer. Ben Stokes, who played the innings of his life in that Headingley Test of the Ashes series was an obvious choice, as was BJ Watling (559 runs at an average of 55.90 with four half-centuries and two hundred), as far as the wicketkeeper slot is concerned. Nathan Lyon (43 wickets) has been elected as the sole spinner for the side, while the pace bowling unit comprises of Pat Cummins (59 wickets), the ever-so-relentless Neil Wagner (43) and Mitchell Starc (42 wickets).
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