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The nominations for the ICC Men’s Test Cricketer of the Year 2023 have been announced, featuring an impressive quartet of talents. Ravichandran Ashwin, the veteran Indian off-spinner, is in contention for the award after a stellar performance in 2023, previously winning it in 2016 and securing a nomination in 2021. His remarkable year saw him claim 41 wickets across seven matches, despite being excluded from India’s squad for the World Test Championship final against Australia at The Oval in June.
Ashwin’s standout display during the 2023 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where he grabbed 25 wickets in four matches, not only aided India in retaining the esteemed title but also elevated him to become India’s highest wicket-taker against Australia in Test cricket, surpassing Anil Kumble’s record of 111 scalps with a total of 114 wickets. His exceptional all-round contribution, including scoring 86 runs with the bat in a low-scoring series, earned him the Player of the Series award, shared alongside Ravindra Jadeja.
Meanwhile, Travis Head, the Australian left-handed batter, showcased a prolific year in Test cricket, amassing 919 runs in 12 matches. Head’s remarkable performances included a crucial 163-run innings during Australia’s first innings in the WTC final and consistent displays in the Border-Gavaskar series. Despite being surprisingly omitted from the opening Test in Nagpur, Head stood out as one of the few Australian batters to cross the 200-run mark in the challenging series.
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Usman Khawaja, another left-handed batsman from Australia, continued his upward trajectory, earning a second consecutive Test Cricketer of the Year nomination after a stellar comeback in 2022. His year kicked off with a spectacular unbeaten 195 against South Africa, followed by impressive displays in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and the Ashes, where he amassed 496 runs. Khawaja finished the year as the only player to breach the 1000-run milestone in Tests, accumulating a grand total of 1210 runs.
Joe Root, England’s premier batter eyeing his second ICC Men’s Test Cricketer of the Year award after winning it in 2021, showcased his excellence with the bat, securing three fifty-plus scores against New Zealand and a magnificent unbeaten 153 in a thrilling Test match. Root’s impactful performances continued throughout the year, notably contributing in the Ashes series where he concluded with an unbeaten 118 in the opening Test and two crucial half-centuries in the final matches, aiding England to draw the series 2-2. Additionally, Root exhibited his bowling prowess, claiming eight wickets in 2023.
The winner of the ICC Men’s Test Cricketer of the Year 2023 will be unveiled at the ICC Awards ceremony, recognizing the outstanding contributions of these remarkable cricketers to the Test format during the year.
-IANS
