ICC announce Test Team of the Year with Virat Kohli as captain

International Cricket Council (ICC) announced its annual awards for the calendar year 2019 on Wednesday and it also includes the announcement of the ICC ‘Test Team of the Year.’ Indian captain Virat Kohli has been named as the captain of the side for his terrific leadership in the longer format of the game last year.

A total of two players from India, five from Australia, three from New Zealand and one from England completes the Test team of the Year. Indian opener Mayank Agarwal has been picked as the opener of the side with New Zealand batsman Tom Latham as his opening partner.

Agarwal played consistent cricket in the longer format of the game right throughout the year as he scored  754 runs in 11 innings at an average of 68.54 with the help of two hundred, three half-centuries and a double-ton. On the other hand, Latham scored 601 runs in 12 innings at an average of 50.08 with three hundred in his account.

Australia’s Marnus Labuschagne was the find of the year. He was just a player who was sitting on the bench of Australia’s Test side. He came in as a concussion substitute of Steve Smith in one of the Ashes Test against England and the rest was all history. He scored 1000+ runs in 2019- 1104 runs at an average of 64.94 with three hundred and seven half-centuries.

Steve Smith included in the side without a shadow of a doubt. He was on fire for Australia in the year 2019 and one of the key reasons for being able to retain the Ashes. He scored 774 runs in 4 Tests at an average of 110, occupies the 4th spot while Virat Kohli, who not only scored 612 runs at an average of 68 with two half-centuries and as many three-figure scores

The all-rounder spot was no brainer and it was just reserved for the English all-rounder Ben Stokes, who is also named the ICC Cricketer of the Year. New Zealand’s BJ Watling has been named as the wicket-keeper of the side while Australia’s Nathan Lyon (43 wickets) has been elected as the sole spinner for the side, while the pace bowling unit comprises of Pat Cummins (59 wickets), the ever-so-relentless Neil Wagner (43) and Mitchell Starc (42 wickets).

ICC TEST TEAM OF THE YEAR:

Mayank Agarwal, Tom Latham, Marnus Labuschagne, Virat Kohli (c), Steven Smith, Ben Stokes, BJ Watling, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Neil Wagner, Nathan Lyon