Cricket Australia posted on X their Test playing XI for the year 2024, and to everybody’s surprise, only two of the Australian red ball team players made it to the playing XI. Josh Hazlewood and Alex Carey were added to the list, but what amazed everybody was the selection of their captain. It was not Pat Cummins, Steve Smith, or Travis Head; Indian speedster Jasprit Bumrah was named captain.
Also Read: Bumrah, Root, Mendis, Or Brook? Who Will Claim The ICC Men’s Test Cricketer Of The Year?
What a year from this XI including Jasprit Bumrah who leads the side 🙌
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 31, 2024
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Yashasvi Jaiswal made it to the Playing XI
Along with Bumrah, young Indian opener Yashasvi Jaiswal made it to the playing XI. India’s bright young batting star was only 22 for all but four days of 2024 but played with the composure and class of a veteran. Jaiswal’s back-to-back double centuries in February ensured a home Test series win for India over England, while the left-hander’s stunning 161 in Perth was also decisive. His runs tally is the most by an Indian opener in a calendar year and his 36 sixes is a new worldwide benchmark for a calendar year.
Well Deserved Captaincy
One of the greatest calendar years by a bowler ever; not since Dale Steyn’s 74-wicket 2008 has a pace bowler been as prolific and not since Imran Khan’s 1982 (62 victims at 13.29) has one taken them at a better rate. Bumrah has torched Australia amid the greatest tours by a visiting team of all-time, but he also cleaned up England with 19 poles in four Tests on unhelpful home surfaces as every other seamer went around the park. As the only member of this side to have skippered their team in 2024 (leading India to victory in Perth) Bumrah also gets the captaincy reins – a job he could well see more of in future.
Also Read: IND vs AUS 4th Test: Australia Decimated India At MCG And Takes Lead Of 2-1 In The Series
Playing XI
Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Rachin Ravindra, Harry Brook, Kamindu Mendis, Alex Carey, Matt Henry, Jasprit Bumrah (C), Josh Hazelwood, Keshav Maharaj.
