Analysis: ICC Test team of the year 2016

At the end of the year, it is only fitting that the ICC (International Cricket Council) announces the best Test match team in the year. While the Indians conclude the year with the world number one ranking in their pocket, there have been several performances and more importantly, individual performances in recent times with the bat as far as the Test scenario is concerned. Some of the most terrific individual performances have come from players in the Test format. However, as the ICC has a reputation of selecting players based on the consistency of players, as they have done in this edition of the off Test team if the year.

Some of the most terrific individual performances have come from players in the Test format. However, as the ICC has a reputation of selecting players based on the consistency of players, as they have done in this edition of the off Test team if the year.

David Warner (Australia)

When David Warner came to the scene all those who said that he would not make it big being a limited-overs specialist. However, at the moment, the 28-year-old southpaw has had an impressive 2016. The Australians have not had the best of seasons this time around with losses against Sri Lanka and South Africa, but the form of Warner has been quite constant right through.

This form has seen him smash 4949 runs in 58 Tests thus far. Moreover, his character has been front and center with his performances given the fact that he had been performing for the Sissies thus far. The 2016 season has seen Warner smash 604 runs in 10 Tests at an average of 35, a record that includes one ton and two half-centuries.

Alastair Cook (England) (captain)

At the moment, everyone’s calling for Alastair Fool’s year following some terrible performances as both batsman and skipper of the England side. The southpaw however, has gone on to surpass Steve Waugh’s record and crossed 11,000 Test runs. This also sees Cook on the brink of securing some impressive records to his name. However, in spite of the records, the 31-year old is expected to step down from the captaincy spot in the next few months, to say the least.

Cook has been named as the skipper of the ICC Test in 2016. This year has seen Cook smash 1270 runs in 17 Tests, something that makes him the third highest run-getter in Test matches behind his fellow countrymen Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow. He has two centuries and seven half-centuries to his name.

Kane Williamson (New Zealand)

Once again a surprising choice of player made by the council is New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson. The 26-year-old has had a tough start to his captaincy with mixed results. Perhaps the loss at the hands of the South Africans and the Indians is something that has seen his captaincy been brought into question.

However, he has also impressed with his solidity with the bat as he smashed a ton against the Indians in their own backyard. The New Zealand skipper has 723 runs to his name in 10 Tests at a healthy average of 47. His solitary century came in India when he smashed 118 and also boasts of 6 half-centuries as well.

Joe Root (England)

Similar to the Messi-Ronaldo fight in the La Liga at the moment, it seems quite clear that the Root-Kohli rivalry is something that is making waves in the cricketing universe at the moment. However, this season has seen the ICC go ahead with Joe Root for this edition of the ICC Test team of the year. Root has been in impressive form in recent times with impressive knocks in India, a tour that saw him smash upwards of 500 runs in the subcontinent.

He also smashed an impressive double century against Pakistan in the Test series earlier this year. Moreover, with Cook being uncertain for captaincy, it seems clear that Mr. Root is next in line. Root concludes the year as the highest run-getter in Tests with 1477 runs to his name, 7 runs ahead of his compatriot Jonny Bairstow. This also includes three centuries including that impressive 254 against Pakistan earlier this year.

Adam Voges (Australia)

Apart from the fact that the 37-year old had an impressive average which can be seen almost as Bradman-esque, the fact if the matter remained that Voges has had a pretty ordinary year, to say the least.

The bad form against South Africa eventually saw the old guard removed and brought in favor of Peter Handscomb and Mix Maddinson. Needless to say, Voges is surely a surprising, to say the least. He has 457 runs in 8 matches played this year and boasts of a century and three half-centuries as well.

Jonny Bairstow (England) (wicketkeeper)

The England wicketkeeper-batsman has been the best Test player of the year 2016 beyond a shout of a doubt. With 1470 runs to his name, Bairstow has had an unprecedented run of Tests with some impressive consistency as well. Once again, on the Indian tour, Bairstow was impressive with both bat and the gloves as he ended up as one of the top run-getters for the Brits on the Indian tour.

He was also impressive in the series against Pakistan earlier this year. While he concluded as the second highest run-getter in Tests, his 70 dismissals saw him conclude the wicketkeeping scene at the top of the tree as well.

Ben Stokes (England)

Ben Stokes has had an impressive run of form in recent times in spite of the fact that he has been on the receiving end of certain disciplinary measures in the past. However, despite all this as well as the injuries, Stokes has been rather impressive with both bat and ball especially in his comeback tour against the Indians in the subcontinent wherein he was clearly the difference for both sides. In spite of missing out on the 1000 Test run mark, Stokes has impressed with 33 wickets as well in what has been an injury-hit season.

R Ashwin (India)

30 wickets in the West Indies, 25 odd wickets against the Kiwis and 30 more wickets against the England siDe have all culminated Ravi Ashwin’s place in the ICC Test XI for the year. However, it is Ashwin’s batting that has taken the cake in recent times given the fact that the has impressed with some impressive batsmanship in both the West Indies and in the subcontinent.

Needless to say, Ashwin certainly justifies his place in the side. Ashwin concludes the year at 72 wickets, a country mile ahead of Rangana Herath at 54 wickets as well as 604 runs to his name, something that sees him head the pile for all-rounders as well.

Rangana Herath (Sri Lanka)

Rangana Herath has impressed with some decent bowling. Moreover, the fact of the matter remains that he has abilities that are certainly supernatural to synthesizer. At the age of 39, Herath has impressed one and all with some impressive bowling as well as some Gary Sobers-esque batsmanship as well. Moreover, he also took over as captain in recent times against Zimbabwe. Herath has 54 wickets to his name in 2016.

Mitchell Starc (Australia)

Mitchell Starc has been one of the standout performers for the Aussies in the 2016 edition of the cricketing season. In spite of the Australians conceding the world number one spot and being on the receiving end of a few results against Sri Lanka and South Africa, the fact of the matter remains that Starc has been one who has managed to impress with some solid performances.

The fact that he picked upwards of 50 wickets this season is evidence enough that the 27-year old southpaw is clearly one of those who has nailed down a place starting XI for the Aussies. The fatigue and the injuries well and truly took its toll as Starc played just the seven Tests that saw him pick 45 wickets.

Dale Steyn (South Africa)

33-year old Dale Steyn is one of those players who has been impressive of late for the South Africans. However, with his age as well as his diminishing pace, the South African speedster has fallen off the pace and has been relegated to the sidelines on more than one occasion. Evidence of this was found in Adelaide when Steyn suffered an unexpected shoulder injury, something that has troubled him in recent times. However, the fact that he finds himself in the ICC World XI for the year 2016 is hardly surprising as he is perhaps one of the few bowlers who can achieve genuine reverse swing in dry conditions as well. Once again, similar to Starc, Steyn played just the three Tests and picked 11 wickets in what can be viewed as a strong performance.

However, the fact that he finds himself in the ICC World XI for the year 2016 is hardly surprising as he is perhaps one of the few bowlers who can achieve genuine reverse swing in dry conditions as well. Once again, similar to Starc, Steyn played just the three Tests and picked 11 wickets in what can be viewed as a strong performance.