Bumrah had a sensational year for India in red-ball cricket picking up 71 wickets from 13 Tests at an unbelievable average of 14.92. He has taken 15 wickets in the T20I format too. The pacer has been terrific for India in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar series, picking up 30 wickets.

Root, Brook and Mendis have also been incredible in the longest format of the game this year, scoring 1556, 1100 and 1049 runs respectively.

However, 1 name missing from the nomination list was that of India’s Yashasvi Jaiswal, who was the second-highest scorer in Test cricket this year with 1478 runs. The left-handed batter remained in fine form throughout the year and played some memorable knocks in the longest format, but still wasn’t nominated for the award.

Bumrah’s name has also been shortlisted for the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy alongside Root, Brook and Australia’s Travis Head.

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In 23 Tests against India, Smith has scored 11 centuries and five half-centuries. Compared to others, Joe Root has 10 centuries and 11 half-centuries in 30 matches against India. Smith reached his century mark in 167 balls, including 2 sixes and 9 fours. This century is his overall 34th Test century, putting him in the same group as Sunil Gavaskar, Mahela Jayawardene, Brian Lara, and Younis Khan on players with 34 Test centuries.

Players with most Test centuries against India:

Steve Smith – 11
Joe Root – 10
Ricky Ponting – 8
Vivian Richards- 8

Smith reached his second consecutive century in the series, and skipper Pat Cummins’s knock of 49 runs made sure that the team crossed 400 runs. The Australian team was at 454.7 when it was lunch break. Even after the lunch, Indian bowlers could not manage to bowl out the tail. The hosts ended their innings with 474 on the board.

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“I think they (Kohli and Smith) will have slipped down the ranks on current form because you know you’ve got the likes of Root taking off, there’s Williamson doing well, Harry Brook has come onto the scene, you know there are a lot of other young players pushing but these are class players,” Shastri told The ICC Review.

Despite both Kohli and Smith going through a rough patch this year in Test cricket, Shastri believes that in a situation like this, the duo will be hungrier than ever.

“In a situation like this, you know they’ll be dangerous because they’ll be hungry,” Shastri said.

Shastri highlighted Smith’s resilience, referring to his determined innings at the Gabba against India, where the Australian maestro scored his 33rd Test century.

“What’s needed you saw from Smith. It might have been a struggle early on but he was prepared to play the waiting game and be disciplined,” Shastri said.

The former India cricketer also showed faith in Kohli who he believes has the ability to regain his peak form.

“I think the same with Virat. If Virat gets over that first 30, 40 minutes, with serious application and discipline, I don’t think he’s (out of form), none of these guys are out of form,” Shastri said.

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Root, who turns 34 later this month, is set to finish 2024 as the No. 1 ranked Test batter in the world, after racking up 1556 runs at a stellar average of 55.57, including 6 centuries in the format.

The batter last featured for the Three Lions in the one-day format during their disastrous 2023 ODI World Cup campaign where he scored 276 runs at an average of 30.66 in the team’s group-stage exit from the tournament.

On the other hand, star all-rounder Ben Stokes wasn’t able to find a place in the squad following a hamstring injury that he sustained during England’s defeat to New Zealand in the third and final Test of the series.

Other notable players who were snubbed from England’s Champions Trophy team are all-rounder Sam Curran and left-arm pacer Reece Topley, both of whom have a lot of experience when it comes to international cricket.

It will be interesting to see if this England side, guided by coach Brendon McCullum will be able to emerge as one of the contenders for the Champions Trophy.

England’s ODI squad for Champions Trophy: Jos Buttler (C), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Jamie Smith, Liam Livingstone, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Saqib Mahmood, Phil Salt, Mark Wood

England have also chosen the same side for their upcoming ODI series against India which is set to begin from February next year. The Three Lions have made only 1 change in their ODI squad for the 5-match T20I series against the Men in Blue which will commence from January 22.

They have opted to go for leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed in place of Root, who doesn’t participate in T20Is for England.

England T20I squad for tour of India: Jos Buttler (capt), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Jamie Smith, Liam Livingstone, Adil Rashid, Saqib Mahmood, Phil Salt, Mark Wood

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Root is completely in his form, especially in the longest format of the game. Considering his current form, fans and former cricketers are debating whether the England star will score more Test runs than Sachin. Root only needs 2,949 runs in order to reach the highest run-total of 15,921 runs in Test cricket.

Former England cricketers have wondered the longevity of Root’s career, and the possibility of surpassing Sachin’s immaculate career-total.
James Foster put emphasis on the possibility of Root surpassing Sachin, along with admitting to the fact that he has a high chance of posting himself as the leading run-scorer in the format.

“Joe is a world-class player. Joe continues to keep evolving his game. He has played so much cricket, but he is still very hungry. He just loves it. Anyone with that ability and quality who still has the hunger to perform and play cricket. He has probably got a very good chance,” Foster told ANI.

Root recently appeared for England in the Test series against New Zealand. He scored 218 runs in the series, averaging at 43.60 in three matches. He ended the series and became the leading run-scorer against New Zealand.

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1. Virat Kohli (India) – 81 centuries

The India star batter has been giving terrific performances for the Men in Blue for many many years now. So far, Kohli has scored 50 tons in one-day internationals, 30 tons in Test cricket and a single ton in T20Is.

2. Joe Root (England) – 52 centuries

The England batter has been particularly sensational in the red-ball format in recent years, scoring centuries for fun in the format. Root has so far scored 36 tons in Test cricket and 16 tons in ODIs. He hasn’t scored any century in the T20I format.

3. Rohit Sharma (India) – 48 centuries

The Indian skipper in the Test and ODI format has scored some brilliant centuries all across the 3 formats. Rohit has been most prolific in ODIs, scoring 31 tons so far. In Tests, he has scored 12 tons while the remaining 5 have come in the T20I format.

4. Kane Williamson (New Zealand) – 45 centuries

The former New Zealand skipper has especially been exceptional for the Black Caps in the longest format. Williamson has so far scored an impressive 33 tons in red-ball cricket while rest of the 12 tons have come in ODIs. He has not scored any century in T20Is as of now.

5. Steve Smith (Australia) – 44 centuries

The Australia batter has especially been dominant in red-ball cricket, playing some absolutely sensational knocks in the format. Smith has so far scored 32 tons in Test cricket while rest of the 12 have come in the one-day format. He is yet to score a century in T20Is.

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As they were on their way to chase a massive target of 648, England team was bowled out for 234 as they were lacking the support of their captain Ben Stokes, who was facing an injury.

England was 18/2 at the start of Day 4. Jacob Bethell and Joe Root registered an 104- run partnership for third wicket. Mitchell Santner broke this partnership with Root’s wicket. Recently-crowned No.1 Test batter Harry Brook also got dismissed for a single-digit score.

Tim Southee also got the key wicket of Bethell who was aiming to secure his maiden Test century. He daprted after scoring 76 runs in 96 balls. Gus Atkinson was aiming to score quickly, while Ollie Pope dcided to stick with the traditional approach.

Pope got knocked out by Matt Henry, where he had scored 17 runs off 36 balls. Before giving up to the bowling of Santner, Atkinson had hit seven fours and a six in his 41-ball 43.

The left-arm spinner had gotten rid of Brydon Carse and Matthew Potts as Rngland got bowled out for 234 in 47.2 overs. Stokes was a player who did not come out to bat, as he had succumbed to an injury during the play on Day 3.

After this match, even though New Zealand recorded their joint-biggest victory by runs in Test cricket, England has come out as the winner of the series by 2-1.

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Though Root also scored a tremendous century in the second innings of the same match, Brook was able to pip him by a point on the rankings. The latter topped the Test batter list with 898 rating points while the former finished with 897 rating points.

Brook’s form this year in Test cricket has been nothing short of exceptional as he is among the 3 players that have scored over 1000 runs in the format this year alongside Root and India’s Yashasvi Jaiswal.

With 4 centuries scored so far this year in red-ball cricket, Brook is the player with the third-most centuries in the longest format this year behind Root (6 tons) and Sri Lanka’s Kamindu Mendis (5 tons).

Meanwhile, Indian players faced a massive decline in the Test batter rankings. This comes following Australia’s dominant 10-icket victory over the Men in Blu where the India batters massively underperformed.

Star batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli both went down in the rankings. The former lost 5 places and dropped to the 31st spot while the latter lost 6 places and went down to the 20th spot. Shubman Gill also lost 5 places and dropped to the 17th spot while Rishabh Pant lost 3 places and dropped to the 9th spot. There was no change in Jaiswal’s ranking and he remained on the 4th spot.

Elsewhere in the ranking, Australia’s Travis Head jumped to the 5th spot following a brilliant century against India while South Afrca’s Temba Bavuma gained 3 places and reached the 7th spot in the ranking following the Proteas’ series whitewash over Sri Lanka.

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Atherton didn’t hesitate one bit before naming Root as the current best player in the world ahead of the likes of Virat Kohli, Steven Smith and Kane Williamson.

“He is right now, unquestionably. Nineteen Test hundreds since 2021, that’s 10 more than the next best [Kane Williamson]. It’s an incredible run of form. He is playing quite beautifully and at his absolute best,” Atherton told Sky Sports News.

Another England batter who has been making waves in Test cricket as of late is Harry Brook. The batter recently rose to the number 2 spot in the Test batter rankings. In England’s ongoing Test series against New Zealand, Brook already has 2 centuries to his name from two Tests and has struck 349 runs with a sensational average of 116.33.

Despite Brook’s sensational performances with the bat in red-ball cricket, Root still holds the best spot for Atherton.

“The runs here were on the back of that hundred from Brook and earlier efforts from Jacob Bethell (96) and Ben Duckett (92), so they weren’t the toughest runs he’ll ever score, but you’ve still got to go out and get them – and Joe does that day in, day out. He’s incredibly consistent,” Atherton said.

“He is an unbelievable player. There are other very exciting young players in the team, like Brook and Bethell, but Root is still England’s best,” Atherton added.

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Harry Brook has been a massive player in Test cricket, and he had established as one of the main players for England. His massive performance in New Zealand series had a key impact in England’s 2-0 victory. Whenever England has needed him, he has come up and given out match-winning performances.

Joe Root has declared Harry Brook as the best batter in the world at the moment. He put emphasis on Harry’s exceptional challenging batting style.

“If you asked me, Brooky is by far and away the best player in the world at the minute. He has such an all-round game: he can absorb pressure, he can apply it, he can whack you over your head for six, he can scoop you over his head for six, he can smack spin, he can smack seam. He’s so hard to bowl to,” Root said.

Root accepted that he has been waiting Harry to show his phenomenal form, but also acknowledges the talent of the young player. Root has even expressed how he admires Brook and wants to play alongside him.

“I’m trying to catch him, but he’s too good, isn’t he? He’s got another hundred this week and he’s one of the best players, if not the best player, to have ever played the game. It’s mega to play with him and he’s awesome to watch,” Root concluded.

Harry Brook has already secured 2280 runs to his name in 23 Test matches at an impressive average of 61.62, which is the third-highest average in history of Test cricket.

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