Top 3 Batsmen with most Test runs in 2019 

The past year saw batsmen put in quite a few special performances in Test cricket. Kusal Perera's tour de force of 153 runs against South Africa at Durban and Ben Stokes' knock of 135 against Australia in the Headingley Ashes Test were easily the best knocks of the year.

India's Mayank Agarwal was able to grab his opportunity in the Test fold and Rohit Sharma took to the Test opening role like a duck to water. On the other hand, Steve Smith made a roaring comeback to the red-ball version of the game as he smashed 774 runs in the Ashes series. Australia found another solid batsman in Marnus Labuschagne, who has shown the skills to be the former Australian captain's successor.

David Warner also got back into form after a mundane Ashes series as he plundered an unbeaten knock of 335 runs against Pakistan.

Quite fairly, it was the batsmen who ruled the roost in white-ball cricket, getting a tremendous amount of runs and showcasing once again why many are calling cricket a 'batsman's game' these days.

On that note, we take a look at three batsmen who scored the most runs in Test cricket in 2019.

#3 Joe Root - 851 runs

England Test captain Joe Root wasn't at his absolute best but managed to make it to the top run-scorers list for the past year. He played 12 Test matches in 2019 in which the right-hander scored 851 runs at an average of 37, notching up two centuries and four fifties in the process.

Also see – BBL Most Runs

The 28-year-old scored 325 runs against Australia in the Ashes at an average of 32.5. It's worth mentioning here that all four of his half-centuries for the past year were recorded in the famed England-Australia series.

Root's best knock of the year came against New Zealand in the second Test match at Hamilton where he scored a fine 226. However, New Zealand was able to escape with a draw in that match and scooped up the series 1-0.

#2 Steve Smith - 965 runs

Steve Smith

Australia's former skipper Steve Smith was able to hit the ground running in Test cricket following his comeback after completing his one-year ban. Smith had an Ashes to remember this year as he batted magnificently, finishing as the Man of the Series.

The right-hander amassed 774 runs in seven Ashes innings at a stunning average of 110.57. Smith scored three half-centuries and as many centuries in the series, which also included a double hundred.

The 30-year-old ended the year with 965 runs to his name at a fine average of 74.23, which is also the most for any batsman who played more than five Test matches in 2019.

Smith was once again able to prove his mettle in the Test fold as he continued with his amazing performances in the longest format of the game. It seemed as if the year-long ban had had no effect on him!

#1 Marnus Labuschagne - 1104 runs

Marnus Labuschagne

Australian batsman Marnus Labuschagne got the opportunity to turn out for his national team when Steve Smith suffered a concussion after being hit by a Jofra Archer bouncer. Coming in as the first-ever concussion substitute in the game, the 25-year-old grabbed the opportunity with both hands. And what a year he's had since then!

Labuschagne accumulated 1104 runs in 11 Test matches at an average of 64.94 with the help of seven fifties and three centuries. The right-hander remained the solitary batsman of the year who was able to surpass the 1000-run mark in the multi-day format.

Labuschagne also impressed in the all-important Ashes as he scored 353 runs in seven innings at an impressive average of 50.43 with four consecutive half-centuries.

The young lad, who's also a handy leg-spinner, has surely been the breakthrough performer of the year. Maybe Australia needs to send a thank-you note to Archer!