Sportskeeda Cricket Awards 2018: Test Batsman of the Year

2018 was another memorable year with regard to the Test Cricket, as we witnessed some exciting action in the ultimate format of the game. The batsman from almost all Test playing nations weaved magic with their willows this year.

The highest Test score was registered by New Zealand's Tom Latham, who smashed 264*(489 balls) against Sri Lanka at Wellington in December. Meanwhile, three Australian batsmen- Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft made the headlines this year for their alleged involvement in the Sandpaper gate (Ball-tampering) scandal during the Test series against South Africa for which they received a one-year ban from the game.

From the young Indian batsman Prithvi Shaw to the experienced Aaron Finch, several batsmen made their Test debuts this year. As we bid goodbye to 2018, let us look at three batsmen who stood out from the rest with their exemplary display of batting and thereby making our list for the top Test batsman of the Year.

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3) Joe Root

Joe Root

One of the most elegant stroke-makers of the modern era, Root is an automatic contender for any annual awards presented to the batsmen. 2018 has been another memorable year for the English Test skipper, who scored 948 runs in 24 innings at an average of 53.19 thereby finishing as the third highest run-getter of 2018.

He registered six half-centuries and two centuries this year with his highest score being 125. Under Joe Root, England won the highly-anticipated five-match Test series against India 4-1.

The Yorkshire man amassed 319 runs in nine innings in that victorious series against the number-one ranked Test side in the world. Root led England to a 3-0 whitewash in the Test series against Sri Lanka last month. It was the Three Lions' first ever Test series win in Sri Lanka since 2001 and their first overseas (three-Test series) whitewash since 1963.

England will be hoping that their skipper's purple patch continues in 2019 as well, as the all-important Ashes Test series begins on August first at Edgbaston. Root occupies the third spot in our top three choices for the '2018 Test batsman of the Year'.

2) Kusal Mendis

Kusal Mendis

The Sri Lankan wicket-keeper batsman has had a splendid 2018 in the whites, having amassed 1023 runs in 23 innings at an average of 46.50. Mendis, who finished as the second highest run-getter this year registered four half-centuries and three centuries with his highest score being 196 (third highest overall this year) against Bangladesh at Chittagong. Since making his Test debut in October 2015, the Moratuwa-born batsman's rise has been meteoric.

Mendis finished 2018 on a bright note scoring a magnificent 141* in the drawn first Test against hosts New Zealand at Wellington and followed it up with 67 in the recently concluded Boxing Day Test at Christchurch which the visitors lost by a massive margin of 423 runs.

At just 23, the Lankan batsman has a lot of exciting days ahead and is surely one of the batsmen to watch out for in the future. Kusal deserves to be in the top three for his consistency and phenomenal run with the bat throughout this year!

1) Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli

Undoubtedly, the Indian skipper is the number one choice for the 'Test batsman of the Year 2018'. Kohli amassed 1322 runs in 24 innings at an average of 54.33 and finished the year as the highest run-getter in Tests.

This included five half-centuries and five centuries with his highest score being 153. In a year where India had three crucial away Test series, the skipper proved why he is the best in the business by stamping his authority.

Kohli excelled with the bat in the tough conditions of South Africa and England, finishing as the leading run-scorer in the crucial Test series against the Proteas and English amassing 286 (six innings) and 593 runs (ten innings) respectively.

The 2017 ICC Cricketer of the year continued his splendid run against Australia, scoring a valiant 123 on a greenish top at Perth and a vital 82 in the victorious Boxing Day Test. Overall, it's been another splendid year for Captain Kohli who has dominated with the willow in the ultimate format of the game.