ICC Men’s Test Team of the Year 2024 Announced: No Pakistani or South African Players Included

The ICC has unveiled its Men’s Test Team of the Year 2024, led by Australia’s Pat Cummins. Despite featuring some of the best-performing players from around the world, the lineup noticeably excludes any representation from Pakistan or South Africa, signaling struggles in the Test format for both nations over the past year.

Key Exclusions

Surprisingly, no players from South Africa, who reached the ICC Men’s Test Championship final, or Pakistan made the cut. The omission of global stars like Babar Azam, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma further highlights the challenges faced by some of the sport’s biggest names in adapting to the demands of Test cricket in 2024.

Notable Performers in the Lineup

• Yashasvi Jaiswal (India): With a stellar 1,478 runs in 29 innings, Jaiswal cemented his place as one of the most exciting young openers.
• Ben Duckett (England): Scoring 1,149 runs in 32 innings, Duckett’s adaptability and consistency stood out.
• Joe Root (England): Root once again proved his class, racking up over 1,500 runs in 31 innings and continuing to anchor England’s batting lineup.
• Kane Williamson (New Zealand): Despite a tough year for New Zealand, Williamson’s 1,013 runs in 18 innings were crucial to his team’s performances.
• Harry Brook (England): Brook dazzled with his aggressive batting, scoring 1,100 runs in just 20 innings.

Star All-Rounders and Bowlers

• Ravindra Jadeja (India): Jadeja’s 48 wickets and 527 runs in 12 matches underline his incredible all-round impact.
• Pat Cummins (Australia, Captain): Cummins took 37 wickets in 9 matches while contributing 306 runs, leading his team to dominance.
• Jasprit Bumrah (India): Bumrah’s phenomenal 71 wickets in 13 matches made him the year’s standout bowler.
• Matt Henry (New Zealand): With 48 wickets in 9 matches, Henry’s precision proved instrumental for New Zealand.

Complete ICC Men’s Test Team of the Year 2024

1. Yashasvi Jaiswal (India)
2. Ben Duckett (England)
3. Kane Williamson (New Zealand)
4. Joe Root (England)
5. Harry Brook (England)
6. Kamindu Mendis (Sri Lanka)
7. Jamie Smith (wk, England)
8. Ravindra Jadeja (India)
9. Pat Cummins (c, Australia)
10. Matt Henry (New Zealand)
11. Jasprit Bumrah (India)

Reflection on Pakistan and South Africa

The exclusion of Pakistani and South African players is a wake-up call for both teams to improve their Test performances. While Pakistan struggled to gain momentum throughout the year, South Africa’s omission is surprising, considering their qualification for the Test Championship final.

This year’s lineup underscores the dominance of England, India, and New Zealand, whose players consistently delivered standout performances across formats.