Test cricket of 2023 is over, and it’s time to pick the best XI now. The schedule of 2023 stated that Test cricket would end on December 30, but Australia and South Africa defeated Pakistan and India in the Boxing Day Test matches early to bring an early end to the longest format of the game in 2023.
There were some magnificent performances from batters and bowlers in red-ball cricket this year. Australia became the WTC champions for the first time. Without further ado, let’s have a look at the best Test XI of the year 2023.
Openers of Best Test XI in 2023 – Usman Khawaja and Dimuth Karunaratne
The left-handed duo of Australia’s Usman Khawaja and Sri Lanka’s Dimuth Karunaratne will open the batting for this team. Khawaja was the highest run-scorer in Test cricket this year. He scored 1,210 runs in 13 matches and played a big role in his team’s success. Karunaratne amassed 608 runs in six games at an average of 60.8.
Middle Order – Joe Root, Virat Kohli, Travis Head, Harry Brook and Mushfiqur Rahim (wk)
The middle-order of this team consists of Fab 4 members Joe Root and Virat Kohli. Root was the top run-scorer for England with 787 runs in eight Tests, while Kohli was the highest run-scorer for India with 671 runs in eight Tests. Travis Head stole the show by smashing a swashbuckling ton in the WTC Final.
Harry Brook impressed the cricket fans with his attacking approach in Test cricket and scored 701 runs at a strike rate of more than 90. Bangladesh’s veteran Mushfiqur Rahim will keep the wickets for this side. Rahim aggregated 355 runs in four Tests at an average of more than 50.
Bowlers – Ravichandran Ashwin, Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc and Kagiso Rabada
Ravichandran Ashwin will lead the spin attack of this team. Ashwin was the top wicket-taker for India with 41 wickets in just seven Tests. His bowling average was less than 20.
Pat Cummins will lead this team. Cummins bagged 42 wickets in 11 Tests and won the WTC as captain. His compatriot Mitchell Starc and South African speedster Kagiso Rabada complete the team. Starc took 38 wickets in nine Tests, while Rabada got to play only four Tests, but he scalped 20 wickets.
