Delhi: It is not easy to choose the best playing eleven of the year 2024 because if many veterans flopped, then many veteran and young players also performed better with bat and ball. An interesting thing is that no one team was dominant during the year and every team was capable of defeating any other team. That is why apart from the names that have been selected, there are also contenders. So let’s make the playing eleven:
1. Yashasvi Jaiswal (15 Tests, 1478 runs at 54+ average): During India’s tour of England, Jaiswal established himself as one of the most talented batsmen of the next generation of Test cricket and further strengthened his claim with 161 against Australia in Perth. Back-to-back 200 in Vizag and Rajkot and probably the only one that everyone will pick in their playing XI. One of the very few successes of India in the first 4 Tests in Australia.
2. Ben Duckett (17 Tests, 1149 runs at 37+ average): In this difficult year for openers, apart from Jaiswal, he is the only opener who could score 1000 runs in a year or came close to this record. He scored a strong 100 in England’s losing Tests against India in Rajkot and Pakistan in Multan and became a ‘senior’ member of the England team.
Batsman:
3. Joe Root (15 Tests, 1556 runs at 55+ average and also 11 wickets): Many experts call him the best batsman of today. Showed amazing form. In India, he was infamous for being out while attempting a reverse scoop and despite having Bumrah in the attack, he played an innings of 122 off 274 balls in the next Test. Made 6 scores of 100 against 5 different teams in 4 different countries and two 100s against Sri Lanka at Lord’s and career top score of 262 against Pakistan.
4. Harry Brook (12 Tests, 1100 runs at an average of 55): Joe Root calls him ‘the best player in the world right now’ and hence all eyes are on the series against India and Australia next year. 317 in Multan in which it seemed he performed better than his talent. Also remained on top in ICC Test batting rankings. Gave up the temptation of playing IPL and scored 4 scores of 100 in Tests.
5. Kamindu Mendis (9 Tests, 1049 runs at 74+ average and 3 wickets): He was a special link in improving Sri Lanka’s record. Back-to-back scores of 102 and 92* against Bangladesh, 113, 74 and 64 in consecutive Tests on the England tour, two 100s against New Zealand, one of which was 182*. Also useful spin bowling with both hands. 5 scores of 100 in the year. So what else is needed?
6. Travis Head (9 Tests, 608 runs at 40 average and 3 wickets): 100 against India at Gabba gave it the name ‘a headache for India’. The interesting thing is that they often failed and in 11 out of 15 innings, when the score was less than 30, any attack died. Scores like 0, 0 and 1 against West Indies and New Zealand, 119 against West Indies and 89, 140 and 152 against India, which changed the equation of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
wicket keeper :
7. Kyle Warren (384 runs at 34+ average in 8 Tests, 24 catches, 3 stumpings): South Africa’s Kyle Varenne also scored 100 against Sri Lanka at St George’s Park. A special ‘find’ of the year for him and one of the biggest inspirations for the team to play in the WTC final. His match-winning 114 at Mirpur against Bangladesh was said to be the best 100 of his career.
Bowler:
8. Ravindra Jadeja (12 Tests, 527 runs at 32 average and 48 wickets at 24 average): One of the seniors of Team India, who became the number 1 spinner of the team after Ashwin retired at the end of the year. When runs were not scored, he took wickets and when wickets were not taken, he scored runs. His 100 and 7 wickets in 6 hours were equally responsible for England’s big defeat in Rajkot, his record of 10-120 against New Zealand and his valuable 77 runs to save the follow-on against Australia were the special events of the year.
9. Gus Atkinson (11 Tests, 52 wickets at 22 average and 352 runs at 23 average): The hat-trick against New Zealand was a highlight of the year. Everything was achieved so quickly that today no one even remembers that in 2023, there was a time when he was not even included in the England playing team. 50 test wickets in a year is no mean feat. 12 wickets against West Indies, 100 against Sri Lanka and a hat-trick against New Zealand were in the headlines.
10. Matt Henry (9 Tests, 48 wickets at 19 average): After many years, he was considered the most special in New Zealand’s attack. At the age of 33, and after a domestic performance, he took 17 wickets at an average of 15 in 2 Tests against Australia and was named Player of the Series despite New Zealand’s defeat. 13 wickets at just 12 average against India with one performance being 5-15. In India, Henry performed better than the Indian fast bowlers.
11. Jasprit Bumrah (13 Tests, 71 wickets at 14+ average): Top cricketers in the world today: Records of 6-61 against South Africa in Cape Town, 6-76 against Australia in Brisbane, 6-45 against England in Vizag. Everyone was so upset that now the issue of their action was raised. Seeing the bowling he is bowling in Australia, Australians are also counting him as one of the top fast bowlers of all time.
Note : All records are till India’s Melbourne Test 2024.