Test Team of the Year: Who makes the cut in our 2020 XI?

With the year almost over, we've taken a look at some of the top performers in Test cricket over the past 12 months...

Dom Sibley (England) – 9 matches, 615 runs, batting average 47.30

Dom Sibley experienced the feeling of scoring a Test century for the first time in 2020 in the Test against South Africa at Newlands, making 133 not out.

This was catalyst for Sibley, who went on to score another hundred against West Indies in Manchester and finished the year with 615 runs, averaging a more than useful 47.30.

After a solid start to his Test career, England fans will be hoping that he can have a long spell at the top of the order and win more matches for his country; with Tests against Sri Lanka, India and Australia coming up in the next 12 months, he’ll be relishing the opportunity.

Shan Masood (Pakistan) – 5 matches, 289 runs, batting average 41.28

Like Sibley, Shan Masood scored two centuries, including 156 on Pakistan’s tour of England.

Despite only playing a few Tests in 2020 - though he is currently midway through a series against New Zealand, Masood enjoyed a fine year at the top of the order. He was magnificent in making a hundred against England at Emirates Old Trafford.

Zak Crawley (England) – 7 matches, 580 runs, batting average 52.70

Zak Crawley had a magnificent first summer for England – a start that dreams are made of. His most impressive knock was one for the ages: he became the third-youngest scorer of a double hundred in Test history. The innings - of 267 - was the second-highest maiden ton by an Englishman.

_{Zak Crawley celebrates his double century against Pakistan}

Kane Williamson (New Zealand) – 4 matches, 477 runs, batting average 95.40

Kane Williamson is a special talent. His year has ended on a high – he became a father again, made the ICC’s Test Team of the Decade and added a second century of the year against Pakistan last week.

251 against West Indies and that hundred against Pakistan mean that he goes into 2021 with his New Zealand side well placed to push for a spot in the final of the ICC’s World Test Championship final in England next summer.

Marnus Labuschagne (Australia) – 3 matches, 403 runs, batting average 67.16

Channelling his inner Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne has had a stellar year.

He has spent a lot of time with Smith and we’ve seen a lot of idiosyncrasies creep into his game – extravagant leaves and screams of ‘no run’ to name a couple. His most impressive knock was his 215 against New Zealand in the New Year Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground. 

Ben Stokes (England) – 7 matches, 641 runs, batting average 58.27, 19 wickets, bowling average 18.73

After helping his side win the World Cup and following up with his Ashes heroics in 2019, Ben Stokes has been working his magic again in 2020.

Despite spells away from the game for personal reasons, Stokes has arguably been England’s best cricketer of the past 12 months. His year started by hitting 72 in the second innings during the New Year Test against South Africa at Newlands, before blowing West Indies away at Emirates Old Trafford with a magnificent 176.

Tim Paine (Australia) – 3 matches, 121 runs, batting average 60.50

It has been a relatively quiet year for wicketkeepers around the world, but Tim Paine has led Australia well.

Taking his team to victory in the day-night Test earlier in December was a highlight – masterminding the collapse of India where they were skittled for 36, handing Australia a victory in the opening Test of the series, having earlier hit a crucial half century.

_{Tim Paine bats for Australia} 

Stuart Broad (England) – 8 matches, 38 wickets, bowling average 14.76

Stuart Broad may not have won BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year, but he’s made our Team of the Year...

Broad took 38 wickets in 2020, including 26 during the home summer - not bad going considering he was left out for the first Test against West Indies in Southampton. That fired him up for all that followed: he would also go on to pass 500 Test wickets.

Kyle Jamieson (New Zealand) – 5 matches, 23 wickets, bowling average 14.17

Given the long period without cricket, Kyle Jamieson impressed during his first year on the international stage.

The tall seamer has added to an already-terrific bowling attack, while adding some handy lower order batting for good measure.

Nathan Lyon (Australia) – 3 matches, 14 wickets, bowling average 18.42

It was a quiet year for Nathan Lyon, but with very little cricket, he can be excused. Fourteen wickets at a touch under 20 is a decent return in this, the strangest of years. He is approaching the milestone of 400 Test scalps.

Tim Southee (New Zealand) – 5 matches, 28 wickets, bowling average 17.07

Second only to Stuart Broad, Tim Southee had an excellent year, taking 28 wickets.

Like Williamson, Southee has been a key part in the Blackcaps’ success in the World Test Championship; he, Jamieson, Trent Boult and Neil Wagner are a formidable force.

*All stats correct at the time of writing

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