Daryl Mitchell, Travis Head and Ollie Pope

<p>Since 2022, cricket freaks are witnessing some amazing batting performances from some top-quality batters in the Test format of the game. The longest form of the sport is all about technique, temperament, patience, and character, and many of the batters from across teams displayed the same in the year gone by and did justice to the Test format of the sport.</p>
<p>Donning white jerseys, these batters bagged a lot of appreciation for their top-notch batting performances in 2022 as they not only excelled at the crease but also emtertained avid cricket followers of the format. On the list of top Test batters in the last one and a half years, most players are from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-news/ecb-release-venue-list-for-home-summer-till-2031-ageas-bowl-to-host-its-first-ashes-test-in-2027/" title="Australia" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Australia</strong></a> and England and this fact clearly indicates that both nations are playing quality Test cricket in recent times.</p>
<h3>Here are the rankings of the top 10 Test batters since 2022</h3>
<h3>10. Travis Head</h3>
<figure class="image" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1686559177934_Travis-Head.jpeg" alt="Travis Head" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img>
<figcaption data-gramm="false">Travis Head. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption>
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<p>Travis Head has done his job excellently in Australia's Test squad since 2022. During his team’s tour of Pakistan and Sri Lanka, he failed to be among the runs but in his team’s 2-0 victory against the West Indies in December, he performed well and became the second-leading run-getter in the tournament, with 312 runs in three innings of two Tests.</p>
<p>The left-handed batter looked decent with his bat against the visitors South Africa again, amassing 213 runs with three half-centuries in four innings of three Tests. Head became the fourth leading run-scorer for the Aussies in the year 2022, scoring 655 runs with a couple of tons and three fifties in 15 innings of 10 matches.</p>
<p>In 2023, <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-news/well-who-picked-that-ball-that-did-nothing-josh-hazlewood-discusses-art-of-picking-best-cherry-for-his-team-ahead-of-ashes-2023/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Australia</strong></a> struggled against India in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2022-23 but Head’s batting numbers were decent in the tournament. Scoring 235 runs in six innings of three Tests, the 29-year-old became the sixth leading run-scorer in the competition. In the World Test Championship (WTC) final, his powerful knock of 163 in the first innings played a vital role in his team’s emphatic 209-run victory over India.&nbsp;</p>
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<h3>9. Daryl Mitchell</h3>
<figure class="image" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/featureimage/Daryl-Mitchell-in-Test.jpg" alt="Daryl Mitchell in Test" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img>
<figcaption data-gramm="false">Daryl Mitchell in Test (Photo Source: Twitter/Blackcaps)</figcaption>
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<p>Daryl Mitchell became the most successful New Zealand Test batter of 2022. Notching up 683 runs in 11 innings of seven matches in the calendar year, he proved his mettle. In June 2022, the Kiwi team toured England for a three-match Test series. The tournament turned out to be a nightmare for the Kiwis as the hosts whitewashed them with their spunky performances.</p>
<p>However, one thing that went the right way for New Zealand was their middle-order Test batter Mitchell exuding confidence with his bat and ending up as the leading run-scorer with 538 runs in six innings of three matches. However, after the impressive Test series in England, Mitchell looked ineffective against Babar Azam and his men in Pakistan.</p>
<p>But during England’s tour of New Zealand in February 2023, the Black Caps levelled the two-match series by defeating the visitors in the second Test by a tiny margin of one run. In New Zealand’s crucial victory, Mitchell anchored the team with his 54-run innings.</p>
<p>After the England series, Tim Southee and his men defeated Sri Lanka in a two-match Test competition at home, and this time again, Mitchell played his part magnificently, scoring 200 runs in three innings of two Tests.</p>
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<h3>8. Ollie Pope</h3>
<figure class="image" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1686046043579_Ollie-Pope.jpeg" alt="Ollie Pope" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img>
<figcaption data-gramm="false">Ollie Pope. (Photo Source: Philip Brown/Popperfoto/Popperfoto via Getty Images)</figcaption>
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<p>Ollie Pope is a part of England’s Test team since 2018 and in these five years, he has proven himself as a top-order batter for the English side. 2022 was the best year for Pope as he accumulated 713 runs with a couple of hundreds and five fifties in 20 innings of 11 matches.</p>
<p>During New Zealand’s tour of <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-news/go-into-combat-mode-and-attack-kevin-pietersen-reflects-on-englands-possible-approach-ahead-of-ashes/" title="England" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>England</strong></a> in June 2022, Pope looked spectacular with his bat, scoring 267 runs in six innings of three Tests. In the second Test at Trent Bridge, Nottingham, Pope played a 145-run knock in the first innings and powered England to a five-wicket triumph.</p>
<p>Pope looked incredible in the South Africa Test series at home as well. Racking up 179 runs in five innings of three matches, he became the leading run-scorer in the tournament in England’s 2-1 victory over the Proteas in September 2022.</p>
<p>In December 2022, England played their first Test on Pakistan soil for the first time in 17 years. At the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, the visitors kicked off their campaign positively with their emphatic 74-run win. In England’s comfortable victory, Ollie Pope’s 108-run innings played an important part.&nbsp;</p>
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<h3>7. Ben Stokes</h3>
<figure class="image" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1662368153610_Ben-Stokes.jpeg" alt="Ben Stokes" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img>
<figcaption data-gramm="false">Ben Stokes (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption>
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<p>After Joe Root’s resignation from England’s Test captaincy, the England Cricket Board (ECB) handed the crucial responsibility to<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-news/stokes-sent-me-a-message-saying-ashes-i-responded-with-lol-moeen-ali-reveals-short-retirement-conversation-with-ben-stokes-ahead-of-ashes-2023/" title=" Ben Stokes " target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Ben Stokes</strong></a> in May 2022. So far, Stokes has done an impressive job as a skipper as he has led the team from the front. Spearheading England for the first time as a full-time Test captain in June 2022, Stokes looked decent as a batter with his 194 runs in five innings of three Tests against New Zealand.</p>
<p>In August-September 2022, South Africa clashed with England in a three-match Test series in the latter’s backyard. The first Test went in the visitors’ favour but in the second Test, the English side made a comeback with an innings and 85-run win over the Proteas at the Old Trafford. In the enormous triumph, Stokes chipped in with his sensational 103-run knock in the first innings and four wickets in a match.</p>
<p>The England Test captain became the third-leading run-scorer of 2022 for his side, scoring 870 runs with a couple of tons and four half-centuries in 26 innings of 15 Tests.</p>
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<h3>6. Steve Smith</h3>
<figure class="image" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1685953011221_Steve-Smith.jpeg" alt="Steve Smith" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img>
<figcaption data-gramm="false">Steve Smith. (Photo Source: Alex Davidson/Getty Images)</figcaption>
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<p>For Australia’s middle-order batter<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-press-release/steve-smith-travis-head-join-marnus-labuschagne-to-make-rare-1-2-3-in-mens-test-player-rankings/" title=" Steve Smith" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Steve Smith</strong></a>, 2022 was an incredible year as the veteran played a lot of match-winning knocks for his team. Chalking up 876 runs in 18 innings of 11 Tests, he ended up as the sixth leading run-scorer in the calendar year. In the fourth Test of the Ashes 2021-22 at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), Smith played a 67-run knock in the first innings and started his year with confidence.</p>
<p>In March 2022, Australia clinched a 1-0 victory over Pakistan in their backyard in a three-match Test series. During the series, Smith produced some impactful knocks from his bat. His 59 run-innings in the first innings of the final Test at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, strengthened Australia to bag a fabulous 115-run victory.</p>
<p>The right-handed Aussie delivered a notable performance in July 2022. In the second Test against Sri Lanka at the Galle International Stadium, he played a 145-run knock in the first innings. However, his amazing knock went in vain as the island nation emerged victorious in the end. This year, the 34-year-old played a key role in Australia’s one-sided 209-run win over India in the World Test Championship (WTC) final 2023, with his extraordinary knock of 121 in the first innings.</p>
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<h3>5. Marnus Labuschagne</h3>
<figure class="image" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1670500483055_Marnus-Labuschagne.jpeg" alt="Marnus Labuschagne" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img>
<figcaption data-gramm="false">Marnus Labuschagne. (Photo Source: WILLIAM WEST/AFP via Getty Images)</figcaption>
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<p><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-press-release/steve-smith-travis-head-join-marnus-labuschagne-to-make-rare-1-2-3-in-mens-test-player-rankings/" title="Marnus Labuschagne" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Marnus Labuschagne</strong></a> became the fifth-highest run-scorer of the year 2022 in Tests. Smashing 957 runs in 19 innings of 11 Tests, he played his role exceptionally as a top-order batter. In July 2022, Labuschagne scored his maiden ton in a sub-continent country in the second Test of Sri Lanka versus Australia at the Galle International Stadium. &nbsp;</p>
<p>In November-December, Australia hosted the West Indies for a two-match Test series. Riding on the remarkable batting numbers of their top-order batter, the Aussies whitewashed the Windies. Scoring 502 runs with three centuries in four innings of two Tests, he became the batter with the most runs in the tournament.&nbsp;</p>
<p>After the West Indies, the South African team came to Australia for a three-match Test series. In the initial two games, Labuschagne struggled to be at his best against the quality bowling unit of South Africa, but in the final Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), he exhibited confidence with his 79-run knock in the first innings.</p>
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<h3>4. Babar Azam</h3>
<figure class="image" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1672047799643_Babar-Azam-ton.jpeg" alt="Babar Azam" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img>
<figcaption data-gramm="false">Babar Azam (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption>
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<p><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-news/cs-squad-2023-player-list-complete-colombo-strikers-cs-squad-and-players-list-for-lpl-2023/" title="Babar Azam" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Babar Azam</strong></a> became the most successful Test batter of 2022 with 1184 runs in 17 innings of nine matches. In the last three Test series held in Pakistan, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) came under fierce criticism for preparing flat pitches. Noting the fact, the Pakistan skipper’s performance often becomes a point of debate as his impressive batting figures came while Pakistan played their most Test matches in the calendar year at their home.&nbsp;</p>
<p>However, the fact cannot be ignored that the veteran scored big runs against the quality bowling unit of Australia, England, and New Zealand. In the series against Australia, Babar displayed his impressive side with the bat, ending up as the third leading run-scorer with 390 runs in five innings in three matches.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The right-handed batter continued his form in the next series in Sri Lanka. Against the island nation, he accumulated 271 runs in four innings of two Tests and became the joint-leading run-getter in the tournament with Sri Lanka’s Dinesh Chandimal. Hosting England in December, Pakistan got whitewashed in a three-match Test competition but the 28-year-old performed brilliantly, scoring 348 runs in six innings of three Tests.&nbsp;</p>
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<h3>3. Jonny Bairstow</h3>
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<figcaption data-gramm="false">Jonny Bairstow (Photo Source: Twitter/Yorkshire CCC)</figcaption>
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<p>After 2016, 2022 became another memorable year for England’s star player Jonny Bairstow. Notching up 1061 runs with six tons in 19 innings of 10 matches, he became the fourth-most successful Test batter of 2022. In the fourth Test of the Ashes 2021-22, Bairstow scored his second Test ton in Australia to help his team avoid a loss against the hosts.</p>
<p>In March 2022, England visited the West Indies for a three-match Test series but came back home empty-handed. However, Bairstow looked solid with his bat during their disappointing campaign, scoring 226 runs in six innings of three Tests. However, the right-handed batter's best came in home conditions in June when he helped his side to whitewash New Zealand with his sensational batting efforts.</p>
<p>Chipping in with 394 runs in six innings of three Tests, Bairstow played a key role in the Kiwi team’s humiliation at the hands of the hosts. Following the conclusion of the New Zealand series, the Indian team visited England for the 5th Test of the 2021 Pataudi Trophy which couldn’t be conducted in 2021 due to COVID-19.</p>
<p>In the final Test, the English side went through many ups and downs but eventually, the match went in England’s favour due to his match-winning knocks of 106 and 114.</p>
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<h3>2. Usman Khawaja</h3>
<figure class="image" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1673159619671_Usman-Khawaja.jpeg" alt="Usman Khawaja" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img>
<figcaption data-gramm="false">Usman Khawaja. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption>
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<p>Usman Khawaja became the most successful Test batter of 2022 for Australia. Piling up 1080 runs in 20 innings of 11 Tests, he also became the third-leading run-getter of the previous year. In March 2022, Australia visited Pakistan after almost 19 years for a three-match Test series, three One-Day Internationals (ODIs), and a T20 International (T20I).</p>
<p>Throughout the Test series, Khawaja played aggressive cricket and became the leading run-scorer with 496 runs in five innings of three Tests. In the final Test of the series, the southpaw scored 91 and 104 in his team’s colossal 115-run win. For his blockbuster batting performance in the competition, he also received the Player of the Series award.</p>
<p>The Aussie veteran proved his potential again in the Test series against South Africa in January 2023 at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). During South Africa’s tour of Australia in 2022-23, the 36-year-old scored 195 runs in the first innings of the third Test and became the Player of the Match.</p>
<p>In the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2022-23, Khawaja again proved himself with his fine batting performances. With the help of the opener's 60-run knock in the first innings of the third Test, the Aussies bagged a nine-wicket victory.</p>
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<h3>1. Joe Root</h3>
<figure class="image" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1677216062392_Joe-Root-vs-NZ.jpeg" alt="Joe Root vs NZ" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img>
<figcaption data-gramm="false">Joe Root vs NZ. (Photo by Philip Brown/Popperfoto/Popperfoto via Getty Images)</figcaption>
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<p>In 2022, Joe Root continued his remarkable form in the oldest format of the sport. Chalking up 1098 runs with five tons and two fifties in 27 innings of 15 Tests, he became the second most successful batter of 2022. During England’s tour of the West Indies in March 2022, Root bolstered England’s batting line-up with his disciplined batting.</p>
<p>Amassing 289 runs in six innings of three games, the veteran displayed his efficiency with his bat in his team’s 0-1 defeat. However, his best came against New Zealand in June, when he came heavily on the Kiwi bowlers and played some swashbuckling innings to help his team hammer the visitors by 3-0. Scoring 396 runs with a fifty and two centuries in six innings of three Tests, he ended up as the second-highest run-scorer in the series.</p>
<p>The England batting stalwart again hit the headlines for his unbeaten knock of 142 against India in the fifth Test of the Pataudi Trophy 2021-22. Root’s outstanding batting effort in the game helped England to level the series. This year, the England legend produced some incredible knocks from his bat during England’s visit to New Zealand in February. Smashing 319 runs in four innings of two Tests, he became the second-leading run-getter in the competition.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Since 2022, cricket freaks are witnessing some amazing batting performances from some top-quality batters in the Test format of the game. The longest form of the sport is all about technique, temperament, patience, and character, and many of the batters from across teams displayed the same in the year gone by and did justice to the Test format of the sport.</p>
<p>Donning white jerseys, these batters bagged a lot of appreciation for their top-notch batting performances in 2022 as they not only excelled at the crease but also emtertained avid cricket followers of the format. On the list of top Test batters in the last one and a half years, most players are from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-news/ecb-release-venue-list-for-home-summer-till-2031-ageas-bowl-to-host-its-first-ashes-test-in-2027/" title="Australia" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Australia</strong></a> and England and this fact clearly indicates that both nations are playing quality Test cricket in recent times.</p>
<h3>Here are the rankings of the top 10 Test batters since 2022</h3>
<h3>10. Travis Head</h3>
<figure class="image"><img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1686559177934_Travis-Head.jpeg" alt="Travis Head" loading="lazy">
<figcaption data-gramm="false" wt-ignore-input="true">Travis Head. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption>
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<p>Travis Head has done his job excellently in Australia's Test squad since 2022. During his team’s tour of Pakistan and Sri Lanka, he failed to be among the runs but in his team’s 2-0 victory against the West Indies in December, he performed well and became the second-leading run-getter in the tournament, with 312 runs in three innings of two Tests.</p>
<p>The left-handed batter looked decent with his bat against the visitors South Africa again, amassing 213 runs with three half-centuries in four innings of three Tests. Head became the fourth leading run-scorer for the Aussies in the year 2022, scoring 655 runs with a couple of tons and three fifties in 15 innings of 10 matches.</p>
<p>In 2023, <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-news/well-who-picked-that-ball-that-did-nothing-josh-hazlewood-discusses-art-of-picking-best-cherry-for-his-team-ahead-of-ashes-2023/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Australia</strong></a> struggled against India in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2022-23 but Head’s batting numbers were decent in the tournament. Scoring 235 runs in six innings of three Tests, the 29-year-old became the sixth leading run-scorer in the competition. In the World Test Championship (WTC) final, his powerful knock of 163 in the first innings played a vital role in his team’s emphatic 209-run victory over India.&nbsp;</p>
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<h3>9. Daryl Mitchell</h3>
<figure class="image"><img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/featureimage/Daryl-Mitchell-in-Test.jpg" alt="Daryl Mitchell in Test" loading="lazy">
<figcaption data-gramm="false" wt-ignore-input="true">Daryl Mitchell in Test (Photo Source: Twitter/Blackcaps)</figcaption>
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<p>Daryl Mitchell became the most successful New Zealand Test batter of 2022. Notching up 683 runs in 11 innings of seven matches in the calendar year, he proved his mettle. In June 2022, the Kiwi team toured England for a three-match Test series. The tournament turned out to be a nightmare for the Kiwis as the hosts whitewashed them with their spunky performances.</p>
<p>However, one thing that went the right way for New Zealand was their middle-order Test batter Mitchell exuding confidence with his bat and ending up as the leading run-scorer with 538 runs in six innings of three matches. However, after the impressive Test series in England, Mitchell looked ineffective against Babar Azam and his men in Pakistan.</p>
<p>But during England’s tour of New Zealand in February 2023, the Black Caps levelled the two-match series by defeating the visitors in the second Test by a tiny margin of one run. In New Zealand’s crucial victory, Mitchell anchored the team with his 54-run innings.</p>
<p>After the England series, Tim Southee and his men defeated Sri Lanka in a two-match Test competition at home, and this time again, Mitchell played his part magnificently, scoring 200 runs in three innings of two Tests.</p>
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<h3>8. Ollie Pope</h3>
<figure class="image"><img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1686046043579_Ollie-Pope.jpeg" alt="Ollie Pope" loading="lazy">
<figcaption data-gramm="false" wt-ignore-input="true">Ollie Pope. (Photo Source: Philip Brown/Popperfoto/Popperfoto via Getty Images)</figcaption>
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<p>Ollie Pope is a part of England’s Test team since 2018 and in these five years, he has proven himself as a top-order batter for the English side. 2022 was the best year for Pope as he accumulated 713 runs with a couple of hundreds and five fifties in 20 innings of 11 matches.</p>
<p>During New Zealand’s tour of <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-news/go-into-combat-mode-and-attack-kevin-pietersen-reflects-on-englands-possible-approach-ahead-of-ashes/" title="England" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>England</strong></a> in June 2022, Pope looked spectacular with his bat, scoring 267 runs in six innings of three Tests. In the second Test at Trent Bridge, Nottingham, Pope played a 145-run knock in the first innings and powered England to a five-wicket triumph.</p>
<p>Pope looked incredible in the South Africa Test series at home as well. Racking up 179 runs in five innings of three matches, he became the leading run-scorer in the tournament in England’s 2-1 victory over the Proteas in September 2022.</p>
<p>In December 2022, England played their first Test on Pakistan soil for the first time in 17 years. At the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, the visitors kicked off their campaign positively with their emphatic 74-run win. In England’s comfortable victory, Ollie Pope’s 108-run innings played an important part.&nbsp;</p>
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<h3>7. Ben Stokes</h3>
<figure class="image"><img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1662368153610_Ben-Stokes.jpeg" alt="Ben Stokes" loading="lazy">
<figcaption data-gramm="false" wt-ignore-input="true">Ben Stokes (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption>
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<p>After Joe Root’s resignation from England’s Test captaincy, the England Cricket Board (ECB) handed the crucial responsibility to<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-news/stokes-sent-me-a-message-saying-ashes-i-responded-with-lol-moeen-ali-reveals-short-retirement-conversation-with-ben-stokes-ahead-of-ashes-2023/" title=" Ben Stokes " target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Ben Stokes</strong></a> in May 2022. So far, Stokes has done an impressive job as a skipper as he has led the team from the front. Spearheading England for the first time as a full-time Test captain in June 2022, Stokes looked decent as a batter with his 194 runs in five innings of three Tests against New Zealand.</p>
<p>In August-September 2022, South Africa clashed with England in a three-match Test series in the latter’s backyard. The first Test went in the visitors’ favour but in the second Test, the English side made a comeback with an innings and 85-run win over the Proteas at the Old Trafford. In the enormous triumph, Stokes chipped in with his sensational 103-run knock in the first innings and four wickets in a match.</p>
<p>The England Test captain became the third-leading run-scorer of 2022 for his side, scoring 870 runs with a couple of tons and four half-centuries in 26 innings of 15 Tests.</p>
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<h3>6. Steve Smith</h3>
<figure class="image"><img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1685953011221_Steve-Smith.jpeg" alt="Steve Smith" loading="lazy">
<figcaption data-gramm="false" wt-ignore-input="true">Steve Smith. (Photo Source: Alex Davidson/Getty Images)</figcaption>
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<p>For Australia’s middle-order batter<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-press-release/steve-smith-travis-head-join-marnus-labuschagne-to-make-rare-1-2-3-in-mens-test-player-rankings/" title=" Steve Smith" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Steve Smith</strong></a>, 2022 was an incredible year as the veteran played a lot of match-winning knocks for his team. Chalking up 876 runs in 18 innings of 11 Tests, he ended up as the sixth leading run-scorer in the calendar year. In the fourth Test of the Ashes 2021-22 at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), Smith played a 67-run knock in the first innings and started his year with confidence.</p>
<p>In March 2022, Australia clinched a 1-0 victory over Pakistan in their backyard in a three-match Test series. During the series, Smith produced some impactful knocks from his bat. His 59 run-innings in the first innings of the final Test at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, strengthened Australia to bag a fabulous 115-run victory.</p>
<p>The right-handed Aussie delivered a notable performance in July 2022. In the second Test against Sri Lanka at the Galle International Stadium, he played a 145-run knock in the first innings. However, his amazing knock went in vain as the island nation emerged victorious in the end. This year, the 34-year-old played a key role in Australia’s one-sided 209-run win over India in the World Test Championship (WTC) final 2023, with his extraordinary knock of 121 in the first innings.</p>
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<h3>5. Marnus Labuschagne</h3>
<figure class="image"><img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1670500483055_Marnus-Labuschagne.jpeg" alt="Marnus Labuschagne" loading="lazy">
<figcaption data-gramm="false" wt-ignore-input="true">Marnus Labuschagne. (Photo Source: WILLIAM WEST/AFP via Getty Images)</figcaption>
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<p><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-press-release/steve-smith-travis-head-join-marnus-labuschagne-to-make-rare-1-2-3-in-mens-test-player-rankings/" title="Marnus Labuschagne" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Marnus Labuschagne</strong></a> became the fifth-highest run-scorer of the year 2022 in Tests. Smashing 957 runs in 19 innings of 11 Tests, he played his role exceptionally as a top-order batter. In July 2022, Labuschagne scored his maiden ton in a sub-continent country in the second Test of Sri Lanka versus Australia at the Galle International Stadium. &nbsp;</p>
<p>In November-December, Australia hosted the West Indies for a two-match Test series. Riding on the remarkable batting numbers of their top-order batter, the Aussies whitewashed the Windies. Scoring 502 runs with three centuries in four innings of two Tests, he became the batter with the most runs in the tournament.&nbsp;</p>
<p>After the West Indies, the South African team came to Australia for a three-match Test series. In the initial two games, Labuschagne struggled to be at his best against the quality bowling unit of South Africa, but in the final Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), he exhibited confidence with his 79-run knock in the first innings.</p>
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<h3>4. Babar Azam</h3>
<figure class="image"><img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1672047799643_Babar-Azam-ton.jpeg" alt="Babar Azam" loading="lazy">
<figcaption data-gramm="false" wt-ignore-input="true">Babar Azam (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption>
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<p><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-news/cs-squad-2023-player-list-complete-colombo-strikers-cs-squad-and-players-list-for-lpl-2023/" title="Babar Azam" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Babar Azam</strong></a> became the most successful Test batter of 2022 with 1184 runs in 17 innings of nine matches. In the last three Test series held in Pakistan, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) came under fierce criticism for preparing flat pitches. Noting the fact, the Pakistan skipper’s performance often becomes a point of debate as his impressive batting figures came while Pakistan played their most Test matches in the calendar year at their home.&nbsp;</p>
<p>However, the fact cannot be ignored that the veteran scored big runs against the quality bowling unit of Australia, England, and New Zealand. In the series against Australia, Babar displayed his impressive side with the bat, ending up as the third leading run-scorer with 390 runs in five innings in three matches.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The right-handed batter continued his form in the next series in Sri Lanka. Against the island nation, he accumulated 271 runs in four innings of two Tests and became the joint-leading run-getter in the tournament with Sri Lanka’s Dinesh Chandimal. Hosting England in December, Pakistan got whitewashed in a three-match Test competition but the 28-year-old performed brilliantly, scoring 348 runs in six innings of three Tests.&nbsp;</p>
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<h3>3. Jonny Bairstow</h3>
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<figcaption data-gramm="false" wt-ignore-input="true">Jonny Bairstow (Photo Source: Twitter/Yorkshire CCC)</figcaption>
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<p>After 2016, 2022 became another memorable year for England’s star player Jonny Bairstow. Notching up 1061 runs with six tons in 19 innings of 10 matches, he became the fourth-most successful Test batter of 2022. In the fourth Test of the Ashes 2021-22, Bairstow scored his second Test ton in Australia to help his team avoid a loss against the hosts.</p>
<p>In March 2022, England visited the West Indies for a three-match Test series but came back home empty-handed. However, Bairstow looked solid with his bat during their disappointing campaign, scoring 226 runs in six innings of three Tests. However, the right-handed batter's best came in home conditions in June when he helped his side to whitewash New Zealand with his sensational batting efforts.</p>
<p>Chipping in with 394 runs in six innings of three Tests, Bairstow played a key role in the Kiwi team’s humiliation at the hands of the hosts. Following the conclusion of the New Zealand series, the Indian team visited England for the 5th Test of the 2021 Pataudi Trophy which couldn’t be conducted in 2021 due to COVID-19.</p>
<p>In the final Test, the English side went through many ups and downs but eventually, the match went in England’s favour due to his match-winning knocks of 106 and 114.</p>
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<h3>2. Usman Khawaja</h3>
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<figcaption data-gramm="false" wt-ignore-input="true">Usman Khawaja. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption>
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<p>Usman Khawaja became the most successful Test batter of 2022 for Australia. Piling up 1080 runs in 20 innings of 11 Tests, he also became the third-leading run-getter of the previous year. In March 2022, Australia visited Pakistan after almost 19 years for a three-match Test series, three One-Day Internationals (ODIs), and a T20 International (T20I).</p>
<p>Throughout the Test series, Khawaja played aggressive cricket and became the leading run-scorer with 496 runs in five innings of three Tests. In the final Test of the series, the southpaw scored 91 and 104 in his team’s colossal 115-run win. For his blockbuster batting performance in the competition, he also received the Player of the Series award.</p>
<p>The Aussie veteran proved his potential again in the Test series against South Africa in January 2023 at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). During South Africa’s tour of Australia in 2022-23, the 36-year-old scored 195 runs in the first innings of the third Test and became the Player of the Match.</p>
<p>In the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2022-23, Khawaja again proved himself with his fine batting performances. With the help of the opener's 60-run knock in the first innings of the third Test, the Aussies bagged a nine-wicket victory.</p>
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<h3>1. Joe Root</h3>
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<figcaption data-gramm="false" wt-ignore-input="true">Joe Root vs NZ. (Photo by Philip Brown/Popperfoto/Popperfoto via Getty Images)</figcaption>
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<p>In 2022, Joe Root continued his remarkable form in the oldest format of the sport. Chalking up 1098 runs with five tons and two fifties in 27 innings of 15 Tests, he became the second most successful batter of 2022. During England’s tour of the West Indies in March 2022, Root bolstered England’s batting line-up with his disciplined batting.</p>
<p>Amassing 289 runs in six innings of three games, the veteran displayed his efficiency with his bat in his team’s 0-1 defeat. However, his best came against New Zealand in June, when he came heavily on the Kiwi bowlers and played some swashbuckling innings to help his team hammer the visitors by 3-0. Scoring 396 runs with a fifty and two centuries in six innings of three Tests, he ended up as the second-highest run-scorer in the series.</p>
<p>The England batting stalwart again hit the headlines for his unbeaten knock of 142 against India in the fifth Test of the Pataudi Trophy 2021-22. Root’s outstanding batting effort in the game helped England to level the series. This year, the England legend produced some incredible knocks from his bat during England’s visit to New Zealand in February. Smashing 319 runs in four innings of two Tests, he became the second-leading run-getter in the competition.&nbsp;</p>

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