2017 ICC Awards: Steve Smith named Test Cricketer of the Year

International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the Australian skipper Steve Smith as the Test Cricketer of the Year 2017. He was expected to bag this award after putting on some tremendous performances in whites while leading the team. The way he has transformed himself into one of the best cricketers going around is really impeccable and is being already considered as the legend in the format.

Smith recently won the prestigious Ashes series and regained the urn as Australia demolished England by 4-0 at home. With the bat in hand, he was in great touch amassing runs at will and at one stage was even compared to the incomparable Don Bradman, for a good reason. The 28-year-old added a monumental 687 runs to his tally as all his 8 innings were absolutely chanceless knock in the middle. An average of 137.40 is unreal in the five-match very scarcely achieved by any batsman in the history of the game.

He trumped the likes of Ravichandran Ashwin and Cheteshwar Pujara on his way to becoming the best Test Cricketer of the year 2017.

Smith – Best Test cricketer ever?

Much like his Indian counterpart in ODIs, Steve Smith is the being touted as the best ever Test player already. Though his technique might seem different to many, he has been churning a lot of runs predominantly scoring on the leg-side. No one will ever question him as long as he is ruling the bowlers whenever he comes out to bat on the 22 yards. The achievements during the period 21 September 2016 to 31 December 2017 were considered by the world cricketing body.

Smith scored 1,875 runs at an average of 78.12 in 16 Tests with eight centuries to go with five half-centuries during this period. He was awarded the best Test cricketer in 2015 as well. Australians have dominated this format by managing to hold on to it on four of the last five occasions.

Smith currently boasts an average of 63.75 in 61 Tests which is second best of all-time only behind the all-time great Sir Don Bradman. He has been ruling the rankings in the longest format of the game from last two years with none of the batsmen being able to surpass him.

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