The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced the nominees for the 2024 ICC Test Cricketer of the Year on Monday (December 30). India's Jasprit Bumrah, England's Joe Root, Sri Lanka's Kamindu Mendis and England's Harry Brook are the four players who will be in contention for the award.
The top contender for the ICC Test Cricketer of the Year is England national cricket team batsman Joe Root. The leading batsman hasn't put a foot wrong in Tests this year as he has become the leading run-getter for his team in the longest format of the game along with being the highest century batsman for the team.
Joe Root slammed 1556 runs at an average of around 56 in 2024
In the 17 Tests played in 2024, Joe Root slammed 1556 runs at an average of around 56. This is the second highest number for him in Tests in a year after 1708 runs in 2021. It was , also Root's fifth instance. scored over 1000 tests in a calendar year.
Joe Root also hit Test hundreds to go along with five half-centuries. His memorable performance came during the Test against the Pakistan national cricket team in Multan. The leading batsman scored a career-best 262 and it was his sixth double hundred, joining the likes of Ricky Ponting and Sachin Tendulkar in the most double tons.
Jasprit Bumrah is the second nominee for the ICC Test Cricketer of the Year
The second nominee for the ICC Cricketer of the Year is Jasprit Bumrah. The fast bowler has been nothing short of exceptional for the Indian national cricket team as he single-handedly carried the Indian bowling line-up in the longest format of the game in 2024.
Jasprit Bumrah has picked 71 wickets from 13 Tests at an average of 14.92 which speaks volumes for his effort. He ended 2024 as the greatest Test player and given the kind of impact he had, it won't be a surprise if he ends up winning the ICC Test Cricketer of the Year 2024.
Jasprit Bumrah's memorable performance came in the first Test of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Perth. He led the team in that game and led from the front. He took a five-wicket haul in the match and helped the team win. He is also the leading wicket-taker in the ongoing series with 30 scalps to his name.
Kamindu Mendis, Harry Brook nominated for ICC Test Cricketer of the Year
Sri Lanka national cricket team batsman Kamindu Mendis was the main reason behind his team's success in Tests in 2024. The batsman played 9 matches and ended up scoring 1049 runs at an average of 74.92. He also became the third fastest to score 1000 Test runs – equaling Sir Don Bradman's mark of 13 innings to reach the milestone.
Kamindu Mendis' best performances came in the Test series against the New Zealand national cricket team. He was the leading run-getter in the series as he scored two centuries, his best effort being an unbeaten 182 off 250 deliveries in Galle.
Harry Brook is the fourth name on the ICC Cricketer of the Year list. The England national cricket team batsman has kept his team out of trouble almost all the time in 2024. In the 12 games he has played, he has scored 1100 runs at an average of 55.
His memorable performance came against Pakistan where he scored 317 off 322 deliveries to go with 29 fours and three sixes. His heroics helped the England national cricket team win the game by an innings and 47 runs.
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