Cricket Australia announces Test XI of the year 2023
Cricket Australia recently announced their combination of eleven players who performed exceptionally in red-ball cricket throughout 2023. Pat Cummins, who led Australia to the World Test Championship earlier in June, has been named the XI’s captain. Irish stumper-batter Lorcan Tucker has been nominated for donning the wicketkeeping gloves for his outstanding showing in 2023. Former England pacer Stuart Broad, who retired after The Ashes, has also managed to secure a spot.
Speaking of the batting unit, southpaws Usman Khawaja and Dimuth Karunaratne are announced as the opening duo. While Khawaja’s batting average remained at 52.60 at the end of 2023, Karunaratne made 608 runs at an average of 60.80, and thus, their spots were justified. At 3, New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson has been named for his 696 runs in seven games during the year.
The middle-order has been taken care of by Englishmen Joe Root and Harry Brook, who truly stood by England’s Bazball playing technique, scoring more than 1,500 runs between them including eleven half-centuries and three tons. Next up is the wicketkeeper-batter from Ireland, Lorcan Tucker, who featured in four matches while scoring 351 runs at an average close to 44.
The lower-middle order includes Indian all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin. Jadeja scored 281 runs and took 33 wickets in the year, while Ashwin took 41 wickets at an impressive average of 17.10. Pat Cummins has donned the captain’s hat. Notably, Cummins has had an unforgettable time in England with the WTC Final triumph and the Ashes win over The Three Lions.
Ace pacer Kagiso Rabada, who played just four matches in 2023, but impressed with 20 wickets at an average similar to Ashwin’s was named to lead the pace attack. Additionally, England’s Broad, who retired from internationals after the successful Ashes tour, as well as a good Test against Ireland, taking 38 wickets at 26.28 was also given the final spot in the Best XI of 2023 by cricket.com.au.
Cricket Australia’s Best Test XI of 2023: Usman Khawaja, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kane Williamson, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Lorcan Tucker (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Pat Cummins (c), Kagiso Rabada, Stuart Broad
