It has been an exciting summer of Test cricket action Australiawith more to come as a highlight of what’s underway Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 arrives in Sydney. In the midst of that, Cricket Australia has now announced its 2024 Test squad with a significant representation of cricketers from outside Australia.
Six Nations players named in Cricket Australia’s 2024 team of the year
Cricket Australia has fielded cricketers from 6 cricket playing nations including England, New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka, India and Australia. Interestingly, England get the most slots with 3 English batsmen Ben Duckett, Joe Root and Harry Brook who features in Cricket Australia’s extraordinary XI.
Sri Lanka and South Africa have one appearance each in the form of middle-order batters Kaminda Mendis and the feeling of spinning Keshav Maharaj from two nations respectively. Shot for the goalkeeper Alex Carey and pacer Josh Hazelwood are two Australians who won a place in the team.
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Two Indian stars feature in the Test XI
The two Indians featured in Cricket Australia’s XI are opening batsmen Yashasvi Jaiswal and pacer Jasprit Bumrah. Additionally, Bumrah was also appointed as the team captain. The 31-year-old captained the Indian team in the first Test match of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. Perth which India won by 295 runs.
Jaiswal was the highlight of the match, playing a knock of 161 runs in the second innings. Australia have bounced back from that Test match with wins in the day-night clash in Adelaide and the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne, but Jaiswal and Bumrah have consistently troubled the Aussies in the series.
Bumrah is the leading wicket-taker in the series with 30 wickets and a best bowling figure of 6/76. Jaiswal, on the other hand, is the second highest run-scorer in the series Travis Head. Mladic has so far scored a total of 359 runs in the series with a batting average of 51.28.
The best cricket team of the year 2024 in Australia
Butters: Yashasvi Jaiswal (IND), Ben Duckett (ENG), Joe Root (ENG), Rachin Ravindra (NZ), Harry Brook (ENG), Kamindu Mendis (SL)
Gatekeeper: Alex Carey (AUS)
Bowlers: Matt Henry (NZ), Josh Hazelwood (AUS), Jasprit Bumrah (IND), Keshav Maharaj (SA)
Also WATCH: Yashasvi Jaiswal reverses Mitchell Starc’s bail ritual to protect Rishabh Pant’s wicket on Day 5 of MCG Test
