Test Team of year 2017 - Prediction
Every cricketers dream is to play at least a single test match. This year test cricket undergoes many changes to improve its standard most important one is ICC introduced 4 day test match. South Africa and Zimbabwe playing in that historical match from Dec 26th onward. Till December 25th 45 test matches has played this year. Here is the list of Test Team of the year based on their spectacular performance. This is just only a prediction ICC may announce the official one later.
1. Dean Elgar (South Africa)
Without any option we choose him for the opening slot. The South African opener has scored 1097 runs with an average of 54.85 in just 11 matches. He has scored 5 centuries and 4 half-centuries in this calendar year. Out of this he missed his maiden double century by 1 run short against Bangladesh. Moreover he received Man of the series award two times this year.
2. David Warner (Australia)
Opening slot wont be complete without adding David Warner this year. This Australian south paw has scored 911 runs with an average of 47.94 from 11 matches. He has scored 4 centuries and 3 half-centuries this year. Even his strike rate is also good maintaining as 68.03. Two guys give a close competition to him for this spot Lokesh Rahul and Murali Vijay. Murali Vijay average is 52.00 which is more than Warner but he has played only 6 matches this year so we didn't consider him. Rahul has scored 9 fifties this year with 7 consecutive half centuries but Warner scored more runs than him with better strike rate. So we choose Warner for this spot.
3. Cheteshwar Pujara (India)
Pujara alias Mini wall (junior Dravid), we cant explain better than this word about him. He is the perfect replacement for legendary test batsman Rahul Dravid. Without any argument we entered his name for this one down slot. He is the second leading run scorer in this year next to Steve Smith. He has scored 1140 runs with an average of 67.05 in 11 matches. Has scored 4 hundreds and 5 fifties. He scored a double century against Kangaroos at Ranchi this year. For the past few years his consistency makes him as the best test batsman in the world.
4. Virat Kohli (India)
There is no more surprise for all after seeing Virat name in this list. The Indian captain finishes this year with incredible records. He has scored 1059 runs with an humongous average of 75.64 in 10 matches. Has scored 5 hundreds and 1 fifty. Out of these 3 are double centuries including back to back double centuries 213 and 243 against the Srilankans. More than a batsman he finishes this year as a successful captain too. His team gains the No 1 spot in test rankings. So we choose him as the Dream Test Team captain. Next year will be crucial for him and his team they having lot of series in overseas. I hope this guy will hoist their flag in overseas too.
5. Steve Smith ( Australia)
Started his career as a bowler in Australian team with good fielding skills. Slowly moved as top order batsman and now he became the leading runs scorer in test this year. He is also the ICC No 1 ranking test batsman now. This Australian captain has scored 1203 runs with an average of 70.76 in 11 matches this year. He smashed 5 hundreds and 3 fifties as of now counting with the Boxing day test. His best is 239 against England that also in Ashes as a captain. When compared to Kohli his skills are a bit ahead. But in captaincy Kohli has overtaken him. So we offered him as the Dream Test Team Vice-captain.
6. Mushfiqur Rahim (Bangladesh)
This will be the biggest surprise for all. The Former Bangladesh captain booked this spot as a Wicket Keeper Batsman. He has played 8 test matches this year and scored 766 runs with an average of 54.71 with 2 centuries and 3 half centuries. One of the century he knocked against India and another against the Kiwis. He has got out in single digit only once this year. As a Wicket keeper he achieved 12 Catches and 2 Stumping. Retirement of MS Dhoni makes him as the best wicket keeper batsman of 2017 Test Team. When compared to him other wicket keeper batsmen like Saha and De cock were lagging a bit due to their lack of consistency.
7. Ravichandran Ashwin (India)
We don't need any extra batsman when we have Kohli and Smith in the squad. But more than a bowler ashwin can shine also as a tail end batsman but not this year. His Bowling average makes to shut the mouth of everyone those who told him to retire. He has taken 56 wickets with an average of 27.58 from 11 matches. He makes many variations in the ball at the time of delivery which makes the batsman to confuse. In every series he is trying new variations in his length and delivery which makes him as a successful spinner. He is so called as the best spinner of the current generation. Surely he can book a best spinner spot in cricket history next to murali, warne and kumble, If he achieve big things in overseas particularly in England, Australia and South African pitch.
8. Nathan Lyon (Australia)
Nathan Lyon is the leading wicket taker of this year with 61 wickets from 11 matches with an average of 23.26 and his best is 8 for 50 against India. Ravindra jadeja and Yasir shah were very close to him in term of consistency but as a leading wicket taker he pushed them back and booked this spinner position. He picked 5 wickets 5 times and one time 10 wickets this year. Still boxing day test left in this year he may cross 70 wickets too.
9. James Anderson (England)
Jimmy the only england bowler who controlled the aussie batmen in the first three test match of ashes. The entire cricket world looking forward for his retirement but his accuracy makes everyone to kept quite. He has taken 54 wickets with an average of 17.05 from 11 matches. He has taken 5 wickets 4 times this year. His performance against South Africa and West Indies made us to pick him as a top bowler of this test team. His best was 7 for 42 in this year against West Indies. We are expecting he can reach 600 wickets before retiring.
10. Neil Wagner (New Zealand)
Finally a Kiwi player in this list. With an extra ordinary performance in this year Wagner becomes the most wanted bowler. He has taken 47 wickets with an average of 25.47 from just 7 matches. His best is 7 for 39 against the team West Indies. As of now he played 34 test matches but didn't finish any of them without taking any wickets. He picked wickets for every 46 balls this year.
May starc bowled the ball of the century but this guy booked his spot comfortably.
11. Kagiso Rabada (South Africa)
Most of the team are happy while facing South Africa this year in tests because of the absence of Dale Steyn. But they didn't expect Rabada will fill the space created by steyn. For every 39 balls he took a wicket. Nobody can stop his pace. This young pacer has taken 57 wickets with an average of 20.28 from 11 matches. His best is 6 for 55 against against Srilanka. Still the 4day test match against Zimbabwe not over. He may cross Lyon by the end of this match.
If you have any concern with this test team Please feel free to share your comments in the comment box.
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