2019 in review: 3 players who announced their arrival in international cricket this year

#2 Mayank Agarwal (India)

Mayank Agarwal

Mayank Agarwal is a classic example of a player coming through the system and carrying forward his domestic form to the international arena. The Karnataka batsman scored mountains of runs at the first class level, thereby barging through the doors of national selection.

Many cricketers dream about playing in a Boxing Day Test, which is one of the greatest events in the sporting calendar, and Agarwal got to make his debut there last year. He announced his arrival with a classy 76, and then went on to show the world that that wasn’t a flash in the pan with another half-century at Sydney.

The right-hander hasn’t looked back since. Agarwal is India’s No. 1 Test opener right now.

He enhanced his reputation with a maiden Test hundred against South Africa in October at home. A month later, he scored his maiden double ton against Bangladesh.

One of the reasons for India’s not so impressive performance abroad over the years has been the lack of quality openers, and they finally seem to have found the solution in Agarwal.