Sportskeeda's Test XI of 2017

The end of the year has arrived and it is time to acknowledge exceptional performances in Test cricket from 11 of the most consistent cricketers.

Sportskeeda consolidates this into a Test XI for 2017, a line-up featuring Steven Smith as captain and two all-rounders in Ben Stokes and Ravindra Jadeja.

Here goes the playing XI of 2017:

Openers

Dean Elgar - 1,128 runs at 53.71

He took his time to settle into South Africa's premier opener's role after the departure of Graeme Smith, but once he did, Dean Elgar ensured stability at the top. Elgar got a hundred against virtually every opposition that South Africa faced in 2017, whether at home or away. He hit a century each against Sri Lanka, New Zealand, England and two against Bangladesh – he got 31 in his only innings against Zimbabwe – and in total, raked up a massive 1,128 runs at 53.71 with five centuries and four half-centuries.

David Warner - 997 runs at 49.85

David Warner began, and ended, the year with a century at home. His 113 against Pakistan at Sydney before lunch on the first day set the tone for the rest of the year, where he ended up averaging just short of 50. Consecutive centuries on the spin-friendly surfaces of Bangladesh reminded us of his ability to play in unfriendly conditions, though one of them went in vain. With sporadic half-centuries and a Boxing Day ton against England, Warner accumulated 997 runs including four fifties and centuries each in 2017.

Middle-order

Cheteshwar Pujara - 1,140 runs at 67.06

Cheteshwar Pujara made 202 against Australia, an innings where he faced the most balls by an Indian in Tests

Indian cricket's immovable rock Cheteshwar Pujara was in tremendous touch throughout the year, having started off with two half-centuries against Bangladesh. Then came a rescuing knock of 92 against Australia at Bengaluru, and what followed was a marathon effort of 202 at Ranchi, in the process facing the most number of balls in a Test innings for India. Home and away hundreds against Sri Lanka meant he had a total of four centuries to show, to go with five half-centuries. With a staggering average of 67.06, Pujara ground out 1,140 Test runs.

Steven Smith (c) - 1,305 runs at 76.76

Australia's captain led from the front in a year which he opened with three centuries in India – one of them was on a raging turner at Pune – and closed with three more against England at home. A mountain of runs meant he amassed as many as 1,305 of them at a bewildering average of 76.76 to end with the most runs this year. Three of his six centuries were unbeaten and came in varying conditions in India and Australia, including one which saved the Melbourne Test in the Ashes. A career-best of 239 was a part of 2017, the fourth successive year in which he piled up over 1000 Test runs.

Virat Kohli - 1,059 runs at 75.64

Yet another captain to have shown the way with the bat, Virat Kohli shattered multiple records in a fruitful year where India won all the Test series they took part in. Five centuries comprised three double tons – two of them were in consecutive innings against Sri Lanka – making him the captain with most double centuries in history, with a total of six. Though he missed out against Australia at home, he more than made up for it by averaging 75-plus for the second year running. In total, he compiled 1,059 runs with triple-figures in three successive innings, including 610 runs in a three-match series, the most by an Indian.

Wriddhiman Saha - 423 runs at 42.30 and 34 catches & 3 stumpings

A quiet contributor, Wriddhiman Saha was Test cricket's most successful wicket-keeper batsman in 2017. An unbeaten 106 against Bangladesh and then a dogged 117 against Australia at Ranchi ensured India put up big totals to frustrate the opposition. Often under-rated, the 33-year-old hit important lower-order runs in the company of the tail twice against Australia – innings of 20* and 31 helped India earn a slight advantage over the visiting team – and made 67 in Colombo. To go with 423 runs at 42.30, Saha also snared 34 catches and effected 3 stumpings.

All-rounders

Ben Stokes - 527 runs at 43.92 and 16 wickets at 31.31

In a successful year, Stokes bagged career-best figures of 6/22 with the ball whilst also amassing over 500 runs with the bat

Controversy apart, Ben Stokes was also in the news for an impressive all-round display which featured two mature centuries in bowler-friendly conditions at home. Add to that four crucial half-centuries, and Stokes' average soared to 43. With the ball, he tasted further glory in a year when he achieved his best bowling figures of 6/22 on a seamer's paradise at Lord's. Thrice he accounted for the opposition captain Faf du Plessis out of the seven wickets he took against South Africa, and his withdrawal from the Ashes owing to the brawl in Bristol left England to rue what might have been had he made it to the field.

Ravindra Jadeja - 328 runs at 41.00 and 54 wickets at 23.06

Surprisingly for most, Ravindra Jadeja outshone his spin twin Ravichandran Ashwin by hitting useful runs as well as picking up a bagful of wickets. An all-round show against Bangladesh preceded a six-wicket haul against Australia at Bengaluru, helping India come from behind to win the Test. Nine wickets and a fifty at Ranchi in the following game nearly gave India the victory before more runs and wickets in the year ensured a total of 54 wickets at just 23.06 and 328 runs at 41, a better performance than Ashwin in both departments.

Spinner

Nathan Lyon - 63 wickets at 23.56

Nathan Lyon bagged a total of 41 wickets across six Tests in India and Bangladesh

Neither Ravichandran Ashwin nor Rangana Herath managed as many Test wickets this year as the rapidly rising Nathan Lyon. Having thoroughly learnt from his previous experiences in Asia, Lyon astonished India and Bangladesh on turning tracks with a total of five five-fors, including his best haul of 8/50 on a first day Bengaluru pitch. With 19 wickets against India in four matches and 22 against Bangladesh in two games, it was a huge achievement for a spinner criticized for failing to adapt to those surfaces early in his career. Averaging just 23.56, Lyon also bowled excellently in the Ashes at home.

Pacers

Kagiso Rabada - 57 wickets at 20.28

Kagiso Rabada found success at home as well as in Tests in New Zealand and England

For Kagiso Rabada, 2017 started by trouncing Sri Lanka and concluded by routing Bangladesh and Zimbabwe. In a remarkable, young career so far, Rabada has taken giant strides particularly considering the continued absence of Dale Steyn. Pace, swing and accuracy brought him as many as 57 wickets in 11 games with three five-fors and one ten-wicket match-haul. Success in New Zealand and England added a feather to his cap, having already found glory at home in a career barely three years old. Figures of 6/55 at Cape Town, and 5/33 and 5/30 at Bloemfontein stood out alongside hauls of 4/122 and 4/91, among others, in away conditions.

James Anderson - 55 wickets at 17.58

Despite a body tiring and slowing down with age, James Anderson ruled all opponents he faced, including Australia in their own den. Before playing a Test in 2017, Anderson had 467 wickets, but at the end of the year, has 522 to show against his name. He swung the new ball brilliantly and reversed the old one well to bag four five-wicket hauls – one each against South Africa and Australia, and two versus West Indies. The first from his country to pass 500 Test wickets, Anderson ripped apart West Indies at Lord's with career-best figures of 7/42; under lights at Adelaide, he made the pink ball talk with 5/43. A measly average of 17.58 meant he enjoyed a stupendous 2017.