Harsha Bhogle names his Test XI of 2019

There is no secret that the Indian Test team had a year to remember in 2019. They started off the year by winning their first ever Test series in Australia, and then went on to humble West Indies, South Africa and Bangladesh at home. The Virat Kohli-led Team India currently head the World Test Championships table with 360 points, having won all seven games in the event this far. Australia had 256 points and are second in the list.

With most fans and experts bringing their Team of the Year to the table, journalist Harsha Bhogle too quipped in with his Test Team of 2019, that sees three Indians in the side.

Mayank Agarwal has been chosen as the opener along with Rohit Sharma. While Mayank solidified his spot at the top with 754 runs in eight games this year with the help of three tons (including a double hundred), Rohit, who opened against South Africa, got off to a great start in his debut Test as opener by smashing two hundreds in the first Test. He carried on and made 212 in the very next Test and ended the year with 556 runs in just 5 Tests at a whopping average of 92.66. Mohammad Shami is the third Indian in the list.

The Indian pacer has increased his game up a few notches and has been a sight to witness, swinging the new and the old ball with elan. He finished 2019 with 33 wickets at an average of 16.66 with best figures of 5 for 35.

The other players picked up by Bhogle include Tom Latham of New Zealand, who scored 601 runs this year along with Marnus Labuschagne (1104 runs). Ben Stokes (807 runs and 22 wickets) was the all-rounder due to his impact in the recent Ashes. BJ Watling, who managed 559 runs in 2019, was the wicket-keeper in the side.

Nathan Lyon with 45 scalps, Mitchell Starc (42 wickets), Neil Wagner with 43 wickets and Pat Cummins with 59 were the bowlers in the side along with Shami.

Harsha Bhogle’s Test XI of 2019:
Mayank Agarwal, Rohit Sharma, Tom Latham, Marnus Labuschagne, Ben Stokes, BJ Watling, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc, Neil Wagner, Pat Cummins, Mohammed Shami