Cricket in 2018: Best Test XI of the year

It was a glorious year for Test cricket in 2018. With even contests between the bat and the ball, and with most of the games yielding results, Test cricket was surely at its best. A few games even left the fans on the edge of their seats with the pendulum swinging either way with every ball that was bowled. A few of the cricketers enjoyed the challenge at hand, punched above their weights and were brilliant throughout the year. They brought out some of the finest performances that the fans will remember for a long, long time. Here is an eleven formed out of some of the exquisite Test performers of 2018. Here is the best Test XI of 2018: 1. Dimuth Karunaratne (Sri Lanka) Dimuth Karunaratne of Sri Lanka. (Photo Source: Francois Nel/Getty Images) The Sri Lanka opener, Dimuth Karunaratne was one of the most consistent performers in 2018. The 30-year-old made his Test debut back in 2012. But, he wasn’t really able to perform on a steady basis and thus there were a few halts in between. However, the last two years were career-defining ones for him. He scored 1,031 runs in 2017 in 13 games. Karunaratne carried that confidence forward and improved his game in 2018. Even though the numbers aren’t that high, he improved upon both his average and strike rate. In 9 games, the left-hander scored 743 runs at an average of 46 and struck seven fifties and one hundred in the year. 2. Tom Latham (New Zealand) Tom Latham. (Photo by Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images) Tom Latham will have 2018 etched in his memory forever. He was always regarded as a talented batsman. But, Latham failed to deliver long-lasting and impactful performances. Though, last year, he has completely turned things around and made the opening slot his own with some solid shows. The wicket-keeper batsman registered the highest score for the year 2018 and carried his bat with an unbeaten 264. In only three innings against Sri Lanka, he scored 450 runs at an average of 225. Overall, he scored 658 runs at an average of 60. 3. Kusal Mendis (Sri Lanka) Kusal Mendis of Sri Lanka. (Photo Source: Twitter) Kusal Mendis is slowly evolving into being an extremely important member for Sri Lanka across all the three formats. He has got a great technique to be one of the finest Sri Lankan cricketers and showed glimpses of what he is capable of in the last few years. Kusal is one of the two batsmen who scored more than 1,000 runs in Tests in 2018. He finished the year with 1,023 runs in 12 matches (23 innings) at an average of 46.50. He raced his way through to three Test centuries in the year complemented by four half-centuries. Mendis registered the highest score of 196 in 2018. 4. Virat Kohli (c) (India) Virat Kohli Pink gloves. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images) Virat Kohli was yet again the leader of the highest run-scorer chart in Test cricket for the year 2018. The Indian captain has been impeccable with his consistency and is scoring runs all across the globe irrespective of the conditions. He also took over the ICC Number 1 Test batsman rank from the former Australian skipper Steve Smith last year. In 13 games, the 30-year-old scored 1,322 runs at a great average of 55. Also, he played 11 of these games away from home in conditions where the Indian batsmen usually find it tough. Kohli registered five centuries in the year and will also lead this Test XI. 5. Henry Nicholls (New Zealand) New-Zealand-batsman-Henry-Nicholls. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) New Zealand’s Henry Nicholls will come in to bat at number five in this line-up. He was almost as good as Tom Latham was and helped New Zealand add some valuable runs to their total coming into bat down the order. The 27-year-old has got a great temperament and can bat for long hours. Also, Nicholls broke into the top-ten in the ICC Test batsman ranking and is currently ranked 7th. In 7 games, the wicket-keeper batsman 658 runs at an average of over 73. He hit three centuries and three half-centuries in the year with the highest score of 162 not out. No other batsman who scored over 300 Test runs in the year had his average anywhere close to the one of Nicholls. 6. Jos Buttler (wk) (England) Jos Buttler. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images) With some gobsmacking performances in the IPL for the Rajasthan Royals, Jos Buttler made his come back into the Test arena in 2018. Straightaway, the wicket-keeper batsman managed to create an impact and successfully carried his limited-overs form into Test cricket. Furthermore, he was even promoted as England’s Test vice-captain. Buttler was amongst the top-five leading run-scorers of the year with 760 runs in 10 matches at an average close to 45. He scored his runs at a strike rate of 68 which is quite incredible. Buttler will keep wickets in this Best Test XI. 7. Jason Holder (WIndies) Jason Holder. (Photo Source: Twitter) The Windies skipper Jason Holder was easily one of the best all-rounders in 2018. While most of his teammates struggled, Holder truly punched above his weight and did almost everything he was capable of. In fact, he exceeded the expectations at times and played a crucial role in whatever success the Windies had in 2018. Almost all the bowlers who picked more than 30 Test wickets bowled over 200 overs with some of them even crossing 300 overs. Holder bowled just 150.1 overs (the least amongst the bowlers with more than 30 Test wickets) and accounted for 33 scalps in 6 Tests. With the willow in hand, he scored 336 runs at an average of 37. 8. Pat Cummins (Australia) Pat Cummins. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images) Pat Cummins had a terrific run in 2018. He evolved as the most important member of the side after the sandpaper gate. The pacer took the ownership of the side, bowled brilliantly and even contributed massively with the bat down the order. Cummins bowled the second-fewest overs amongst the bowlers who picked up more than 40 Test wickets in 2018. In 8 Tests that he played, the pacer accounted for 44 wickets including two five-wicket hauls. He averaged just 19.97 which is again the lowest for bowlers with more than 40 wickets. He scored 251 runs with the bat including the highest score of 63 at Melbourne against India. 9. Nathan Lyon (Australia) Nathan Lyon talks to Cheteshwar Pujara. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images) Nathan Lyon bowled the highest number of overs in 2018 and one of those bowlers who worked extremely hard. With just his classical off-spin, he was able to trap the batsmen and was an absolute delight to watch. He picked the highest number of wickets for a spinner with the next being Bangladesh’s Taijul Islam. The 31-year-old featured in 10 Tests and picked up 49 wickets to finish as the third highest wicket-taker of the year. His average, at 34, was slightly on the higher side. Lyon picked up two five-wicket hauls and was consistently amongst the wickets in all the games. 10. Kagiso Rabada (South Africa) Kagiso Rabada of South Africa. (Photo by Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images/Getty Images) The South African sensational pacer Kagiso Rabada finished the year as the highest wicket-taker in Tests. The pacer was immaculate with his lines and lengths. He bowled hit good speeds and often hurried the batsmen. In 10 games, Rabada picked up 52 wickets at an average of 20.07 which is quite commendable. His strike rate of 38.2 was among the best in the year and he accounted for two five-wicket hauls. Also, he registered a 10-wicket haul in one of the games returning with the figures of 11/158. 11. Jasprit Bumrah (India) Jasprit Bumrah. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images) Jasprit Bumrah was the best find for India in the year in the longest format of the game. A majority of India’s success this year can be attributed to the pacers and Bumrah was the most successful of all. He adapted to the conditions within no time and proved that he is an extremely quick learner. The 25-year-old finished as the highest wicket-taker for India with 48 wickets in 9 games. He averaged 21.02 and was the fourth-highest wicket-taker overall. Bumrah was Virat Kohli’s go-to man whenever there was a dangerous partnership that was building. Get the latest Cricket News and all the Cricket in 2018 articles, Match Predictions, Fantasy Cricket Tips and lots more on CricTracker.com.

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Cricket in 2018: Best Test XI of the year

A few of the cricketers enjoyed the challenge at hand, punched above their weights and were brilliant throughout the year.

9. Nathan Lyon (Australia)

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