International Cricket Council (ICC) has revealed the four nominees for the Men's Test Cricketer of the Year 2024 award. The list is full of superstars who will vie for the coveted award. The nominees are India's pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, England's batting maestro Joe Root, Sri Lanka's star Kamindu Mendis, and England's batting sensation Harry Brook. It will be a tough competition between Bumrah and Root, who have enjoyed a stunning year and are in line to win ICC Test Cricketer of the Year award.
India's Jasprit Bumrah
India's pace juggernaut Bumrah emerges as a strong contender for the ICC Test Cricketer of the Year award. In 2024, he consistently delivered exceptional performances for Team India, serving as the backbone of their bowling attack in the challenging Test format. The 31-year-old has bagged a 71 wickets in just 13 Tests, maintaining an outstanding average of 14.92 which makes him the serious contender for the coveted award.
One of Bumrah's most memorable performances came during the first Test of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Perth. Leading the team as captain, he delivering a match-winning performance with a five-wicket haul, contributing to India's victory. He is also the leading wicket taker in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy with 30 scalps under his belt in a total of four innings.
England's Joe Root
Joe Root too has enjoyed a year to remember in 2024 as he has so far amassed 1556 runs in 17 matches boasting a commendable average of 56. This tally ranks as the second-highest for Root in a calendar year, surpassed only by his 1708 runs achieved in 2021. Notably, 2024 marked the fifth instance of Root surpassing the 1000-run milestone in Test cricket within a single year. Root's 2024 campaign was highlighted by a combination of explosive centuries and crucial half-centuries. His standout performance came during the Test against Pakistan in Multan, where he achieved a career-best score of 262 runs which marked his sixth double century in Test cricket, placing him alongside legendary like Ricky Ponting and Sachin Tendulkar in the elite group of batsmen with the most double hundreds.
England's Harry Brook
The third name in the list is England's batting sensation Harry Brook Test who will give tough competition to other three for the ICC's Men Test Cricketer of the year. In 12 Test matches he played in 2024, Brook has accumulated 1100 runs at an average of 55. His remarkable performance against Pakistan stands out where he scored a breathtaking 317 runs off just 322 deliveries, riding on 29 fours and three sixes which helped England secure an innings and 47-run victory.
Sri Lanka's Kamindu Mendis
Sri Lanka's Kamindu Mendis is fourth in the list who played an instrumental role in Sri Lanka's Test success throughout 2024. In the nine Test matches he has played in 2024, Mendis amassed 1049 runs at an exceptional average of 74.92. Moreover, Mendis achieved a big milestone by becoming the joint-third quickest batter to reach 1000 Test runs. He achieved this feat in a remarkable 13 innings, equaling the legendary Sir Don Bradman's record. Mendis' most impressive performances were witnessed during the Test series against New Zealand. He emerged as the leading run-scorer in the series riding on two centuries. His best performance came in Galle, where he remained unbeaten on 182 runs off just 250 deliveries.