The conclusion of the Boxing Day Tests marks the end of the 2023 Test season, comprising 34 matches and culminating in Australia’s triumph as the World Test Champions for the 2021–2023 cycle. Cricket Australia (CA) revealed their Test Team of the Year on the year’s final day, including players from six different nations. Surprisingly, the lineup features solely two Australians and two Indians, both teams that contested the WTC Final. What’s particularly unexpected is the absence of Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, and Rohit Sharma, despite their renowned prowess, from the chosen Test XI. Two Indians have featured in the eleven who have stood out against their opponents every time they took the red ball in their hand.
Cricket Australia’s Test team of the year
Usman Khawaja (Australia)
Dimuth Karunaratne (Sri Lanka)
Kane Williamson (New Zealand)
Joe Root (England)
Harry Brook (England)
Lorcan Tucker (wk) (Ireland)
Ravindra Jadeja (India)
Ravichandran Ashwin (India)
Pat Cummins (c) (Australia)
Kagiso Rabada (South Africa)
Stuart Broad (England)
Our Test Team of the Year for 2023, as picked by @LouisDBCameron
Read his reasoning here: https://t.co/6GJfzc6BkA pic.twitter.com/oHqVATeSsy
---Advertisement---— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 31, 2023
In Cricket Australia’s Test team of the year, the top six batters represent five different nations. However, the surprising addition is Lorcan Tucker of Ireland, despite Alex Carey, Tom Blundell, and Mushfiqur Rahim having scored more runs than him.
Among the remaining five spots, Nathan Lyon, the off-spinner who finished the year as the leading wicket-taker in Test cricket, had a chance to secure a place. However, he found himself placed lower in priority, with Ashwin selected ahead of him.
Also Read:Sunil Gavaskar Critiques Shubman Gill’s Approach Against South Africa