The year 2023 is coming to an end. The last 12 months have witnessed plenty of action. If we talk about Test cricket, Australia won five and lost four games heading into the Boxing Day Test. Their Ashes rivals England won four and lost three. India had a mixed year, winning three Tests and losing two matches. New Zealand won four and lost two, Pakistan won two and lost one, South Africa lost two and drew one while Sri Lanka won two and lost four. West Indies continued their struggle in international cricket, winning one losing three while one match ended in a tie. On that note let’s look at the Test team of 2023.
OPENERS: USMAN KHAWAJA AND ZAK CRAWLEY
Australia’s Usman Khawaja and England’s Zak Crawley would open the innings for the Test team of 2023. Khawaja had a wonderful year again in red-ball cricket, amassing 1210 runs in 24 innings at an average of 52.60 with three hundreds and six fifties. He began the year with 195* against South Africa in Sydney, scored 180 against India in Ahmedabad, and 141 versus England in Birmingham.
25-year-old Crawley wasn’t as consistent but did play some hugely defining knocks. In 15 innings, he scored 606 runs at an average of 43.28 with one hundred and three fifties. He scored a superb 189 off 182 balls, smacking 21 fours and three sixes to set up England’s win in the Ashes Test in Manchester. Crawley ended 2023 in Tests with another aggressive 73 off 76 at The Oval.
MIDDLE-ORDER: JOE ROOT, KANE WILLIAMSON (CAPTAIN), TRAVIS HEAD, JONNY BAIRSTOW (WK)
This story is from the December 30, 2023 edition of Cricket Today.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the December 30, 2023 edition of Cricket Today.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Sanju Samson: A Compelling Contender For India's T20 World Cup Squad
In the high-stakes arena of T20 cricket, where every run and every wicket can alter the course of a match, the quest for the ideal squad becomes paramount for Team India as they gear up for the T20 World Cup. Amidst the plethora of talented cricketers vying...
Is Virat Kohli Really One Of The Greatest In IPL History?
In the electrifying world of the Indian Premier League (IPL), few names shine as brightly as that of Virat Kohli. A colossus of contemporary cricket, Kohli's feats on the field have etched his name into the annals of the sport's history. Yet, amidst...
TIGER WOODS HAS NOT GIVEN UP HOPE OF ADDING ANOTHER MASTERS GREEN JACKET
Tiger Woods still thinks he can win another Masters. Recent evidence would suggest that might be a steeper climb than walking up to the 18th green at Augusta National. Never mind he is 48 and has had more surgeries than his 15 major titles...
KORDA WINS 4th STRAIGHT LPGA TOUR START, BEATING MAGUIRE IN T-MOBILE MATCH PLAY
Nelly Korda is on a roll not seen on the LPGA Tour in 16 years. She won four of the first seven holes, largely making the rest of the final in the T-Mobile Match Play a formality in beating Leona Maguire 4 and 3 at Shadow Creek...
SAUDI ARABIA WILL HOST THE WOMEN'S TENNIS WTA FINALS FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS
Saudi Arabia will host the WTA Finals as part of a three-year deal announced Thursday by the women's professional tennis tour that will increase the prize money for this November's...
NOVAK DJOKOVIC ECLIPSES ROGER FEDERER'S RECORD FOR OLDEST MAN RANKED NO. 1 IN TENNIS
Novak Djokovic has surpassed another tennis record once held by Roger Federer, becoming the oldest man to be ranked No. 1 in the ATP Tour's computerized rankings...
BATTERS WITH THE MOST SIXES IN T20 CRICKET
Mumbai Indians legend Rohit Sharma hammered a sparkling century in Match 29 of the Indian Premier League against the Chennai Super Kings. However, his knock of 105* from 63 balls wasn't enough, as the Super Kings won by 20 runs. CSK posted 206/4...
7 FIELDERS WITH THE MOST CATCHES IN IPL HISTORY
Virat Kohli entered the record books in the Indian Premier League. This time, it was for his fielding effort. Kohli, one of the best fielders in the game, is now the player with the most catches in the cash-rich league as a non-wicket-keeper or an outfielder...
FOUR BEST PERFORMING UNCAPPED PLAYERS SO FAR IN IPL 2024
Every year, the grand spectacle of the Indian Premier League (IPL) sets the stage for young talents to find their spotlight as they strive to prove their mettle amidst roaring crowds. Uncapped players...
NEW YEAR, SAME RCB: UNPACKING ROYAL CHALLENGERS BENGALURU'S STRUGGLES IN IPL 2024
As another year of the IPL dawns, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) fans again find themselves in a disheartening predicament: their beloved team languishing at the bottom of the points table. Despite the annual surge of excitement and hope during preseason...