The Best of 2017: Best Test XI of the year

Test cricket is the best form of cricket. It is always said that Test cricket is the purest form of the game and rightly so. It is the format that tests your game at all levels and asks for a strong character to sustain in the Test arena. You don’t just need a good technique but also a strong mental ability to be a good Test player. There have been some wonderful players over the years and some cricketers recently have redefined Test cricket. May it be aggressive Warner and flourishing Smith or consistent Virat and patient Pujara; cricket fans have witnessed some fantastic performances in the year 2017. It has been a year of some astonishing Test cricket throughout the world. That said, we have put together a team of cricketers who have outperformed every other player in the world of Test cricket. Here are the players who made the cut. #1 David Warner (Australia) David Warner of Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images) David Warner came in as a specialist limited-overs cricketer. His story is a great inspiration for all the struggling cricketers. He made it big into Test cricket by playing his natural game and not altering it even a bit. He is very experienced now and is just better. 2017 was also very good for Warner. The southpaw scored 997 runs during this year. He played 10 Test matches and was on the travel most of the time. They travelled to almost all parts of the world including the Indian subcontinent and Warner still managed to carve an average of 49.85. He is one of top six batsmen in the world currently as far as Test cricket is concerned. Warner scored four centuries and four half-centuries during this year. #2 Kane Williamson (New Zealand) Kane Williamson of New Zealand. (Photo by Dianne Manson/Getty Images) Kane Williamson is New Zealand’s best cricketer. He is often overshadowed by the Kohli’s and the Smith’s but he still manages to grab the spotlight now and then. Williamson is also the captain of New Zealand and that doesn’t take away much from his batting. Kane is still 27 and is one of the top four batters in the world of Test. Williamson has scored 566 runs in 10 innings. He has scored three centuries and two very good half centuries. A player with masterful hands and brilliant technique, Williamson is a treat to watch. He averaged over 60 this year as his 2017 was very successful. #3 Steve Smith (Australia) Steve Smith of Australia bats. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images) Steve Smith has been the best Test batsman in the world right now. There is no one arguing that. Coming at number three, he has conquered the world with his unorthodox technique and unblemished mentality. Smith has won over every bowler this year and has been hammering England in the Ashes currently. He has scored 1305 runs at an average of 76.76 in this year. He has been scoring over a thousand runs in a calendar year for four years in a row. This man has demolished many records this year. He has scored six centuries in 2017 and registered his highest ever score in Test cricket of 239 against England earlier in this month. #4 Virat Kohli (C) (India) Virat Kohli. (Photo Source: Twitter) Virat Kohli has no comparison when it comes to all the three formats but in Tests, he just lags behind his Australian counterpart. However, he has successfully managed to get his team to the number one spot with an invincible home season. That said, he has still won the hearts with his relentless scoring of runs in Test cricket. He has scored 1059 runs in this calendar year. He also averages a staggering 75 runs per match. The Indian skipper stands at second in the ICC Test Rankings just behind Steve Smith. His record as a captain in Tests also earns him a captain’s hat in this world XI of best Test players from 2017. #5 Cheteshwar Pujara (India) Cheteshwar Pujara. (Photo Source: Twitter) Cheteshwar Pujara has scored 1140 runs with no more cricket to play in 2017. Smith will surpass him in the upcoming boxing day Test but his 2017 was better than most of the batters in the world. He has outperformed almost every batter as his hardworking nature has earned him a place in this team. Pujara has played a great hand in India’s rise to the top. He has scored those thousand odd runs at an average of 67 which is fantastic for a batter who has played more than 10 Tests in a calendar year. His form has been pivotal in India’s success in the home season. Pujara’s 1140 runs is ranked among the best calendar year an Indian player ever had. #6 Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh) Bangladeshi cricketer Shakib Al Hasan. (Photo by MUNIR UZ ZAMAN/AFP/Getty Images) Shakib Al Hasan is the number one all-rounder in the world. He is the only player in the Bangladesh side that can walk into any side in the world. His form in 2017 has also been fantastic, with both bat and ball. His game management is better than many in world cricket and that makes him cut into this side as an all-rounder. Shakib has scored 665 runs in this year. Those runs have been scored at a rate of 47.50 per match. He has played 7 Test matches and for a player to score those many runs and still manage to take 29 wickets is fantastic. He has been outstanding for Bangladesh over the years and still is their most talented players. #7 Jonny Bairstow (wk) (England) Jonny Bairstow of England. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images) Jonny Bairstow struggled a bit with his form earlier in the year. However, he has fought back with some fantastic cricket for England. He has been in and out of the team but has now cemented his place with some amazing batting display. His recent Ashes inning and that partnership with Dawid Malan will be remembered by the fans for a long time. Bairstow, being a wicket-keeper, has been performing very well for. He has scored 652 runs this year at an average of 34.31. His highest of 119 came against Australia in the recent 3rd Test of the Ashes. He has scored a century and three half-centuries in 2017, which has earned him a place in our Best Test XI. #8 Ravichandran Ashwin (India) Ravichandran Ashwin. (Photo Source: Twitter) Ashwin has been phenomenal for India in the Test cricket. He is the highest wicket-taker in 2017 and has surpassed his counterpart Jadeja by two wickets. His wicket-taking ability has helped India win many matches and climb to the number one spot in Tests. Ashwin has taken 56 wickets in 2017. He has taken those wickets at an average of 29 balls per wicket and a strike rate of 59. He is fourth in the ICC Test rankings and also holds the same position in the all-rounders’ rankings as well. Ashwin is one of the best spinners of this generation as he recently went past 300 wicket mark. #9 Ravindra Jadeja (India) Ravindra Jadeja. (Photo Source: Twitter) Jadeja, the mister consistent of India, is very important to Indian cricket’s success over the years. He and his partner in crime, Ashwin have been demolishing every opposition that has come their way. This partnership is incomplete without Jadeja as both of them have picked up 110 wickets in 2017. Jadeja accounts for 54 wickets of those 110 and then becomes the third best bowler in the world. His batting record is also better than most as he stands proudly at the second position in the ICC all-rounders ranking. His average of 27 balls per wicket is fantastic as well. #10 James Anderson (England) James Anderson. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images) James Anderson is England’s, main man. He has taken wickets for fun this year. His new ball balling has been stupendous. More than anything else, he has provided England with some great starts in the recent years. His 2017 was one of the best in his career as he went past 500 Test wickets and climbed to number one Test bowler. He has taken 55 Test wickets in 2017. And averages only 17.58 balls per wicket. His pace and swing are absolutely unplayable. His economy is just 2.34 during the whole year and doesn’t climb much when it comes to his career statistics. England’s only positive in this year’s Ashes has been this man and their main inspiration as well. #11 Kagiso Rabada (South Africa) Kagiso Rabada of the Proteas. (Photo by Lee Warren/Gallo Images/Getty Images) Kagiso Rabada, only 22-years-old, is conquering the world already. He was fantastic for South Africa in New Zealand and even better at home. His form with the ball is amazing and his statistics will make your jaw drop. For a 22-year-old to be at the second position in the ICC rankings is more than commendable. He has taken 54 Test wickets this year. His average is 20.96 balls per wicket. He has taken three five-fors this year and is already at 102 wickets at such a young age. Rabada has filled in for Dale Steyn just fine as his stats surpass the veteran fast bowler at his peak. His performances have caught the eye of the cricketing fraternity.

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The Best of 2017: Best Test XI of the year

We have put together a team of cricketers who have outperformed every other cricketer in the world of Test cricket.

#7 Jonny Bairstow (wk) (England)

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