It has been an intriguing twelve months for Test cricket. Amid fears for the health and longevity of the game’s premier format, 2011 churned up some of the most exciting and hotly contested cricket in recent years. England destroyed almost everyone in their path on the way to becoming world number one, Australia and South Africa shared the spoils in perhaps the greatest two match series ever, Sri Lanka won their first Test in South Africa, and India and the West Indies helped record only the second ever scores level draw in the history of Test match cricket. And that really is just the beginning.
In and amongst such drama though was of course plenty of individual brilliance and with the 2012 now finally underway it seems only appropriate to indulge my inner schoolboy and compile my ultimate Test XI for 2011.
Are you in agreement?
Alastair Cook 927 runs at 84.27. Without a doubt the stand out batsman of 2011, Alastair Cook has gone from strength to strength since his extraordinary end to 2010. He began the year by adding a magnificent 189 in the final Ashes Test in Sydney to take his series total to a mammoth 766 runs before notching up a further 390 runs in three Tests against Sri Lanka including two centuries and a 96. If that was not enough, Cook rounded off his landmark year by crafting a career best 296 against India as he helped England ascend to number one in the world.
Rahul Dravid 1145 runs at 57.25. One of only two batsmen to score over 1000 runs in 2011 Dravid succeeded where many of his Indian colleagues failed. A match-winning century against the West Indies in Jamaica in June was only to be outdone by three back-to-the-wall hundreds in England as he proved himself to be a class above the rest of India’s old boys.
Hashim Amla 423 runs at 47.00. A curious choice perhaps with the likes of Jacques Kallis and Sachin Tendulkar not included despite boasting more prolific records, but Amla’s performances, especially against Australia, earn him a deserved place. A 195 run partnership with captain Graeme Smith in the first Test in Cape Town proved his calmness under pressure after both teams had been dismissed for less than 100 runs in previous innings, and despite losing the second Test in Johannesburg Amla’s five and a half hour 105 in the second innings ensured that the match went down to the wire. A man for the big occasion no doubt.
Kumar Sangakkara 1034 runs at 49.23. The number one Test match batsman according to the ICC Test rankings and the second most prolific run-getter in 2011 Kumar Sangakkara continued to demonstrate his class against the world’s best. Sri Lanka plied their trade against stiff opposition in 2011, travelling to England and South Africa as well hosting Australia and playing Pakistan in the UAE. However, despite only one Test victory all year Sangakkara emerged as imperious as ever bagging three hundreds and a double ton to help his team remain competitive throughout.
Ian Bell 950 runs at 118.75. Rid of his boyish insecurities Ian Bell has flourished into a Test match batsman of unrivalled class. Always stylish but not always prolific, Bell’s hunger for runs has made him into a seriously effective cricketer. A maiden Ashes hundred at Sydney was followed by two unbeaten centuries against Sri Lanka, before a gorgeous 159 against world champions India at Trent Bridge. His defining innings though came in the final Test of the summer. Batting at number three in place of the injured Jonathan Trott, Bell scored a magisterial 235 to help England complete another innings victory and seal a 4-0 series whitewash. Sheer class!
Darren Bravo 949 runs at 49.94. Lofty comparisons with cousin Brian Lara are perhaps a little premature, but there is no doubting that if the West Indies are to return as a genuine force in world cricket then the continued success of Darren Bravo is paramount. Having to wait nine Test matches before recording his first century Bravo eventually reached three figures in style bagging a greedy 195 against Bangladesh this October. Two further centuries quickly followed against India, his total haul of 214 in Mumbai proving pivotal in a famous score draw.
Matt Prior 519 runs at 64.87, 34 catches, two stumpings. It has been a career-defining couple of years for Matt Prior who, provided Sangakkara doesn’t decide to re-don the gloves, now stands as arguably the world’s best keeper-batsman. Batting at number seven, Prior’s selfless attitude to batting and willingness to marshal an admittedly very capable tail has made him an indispensable part of the England set up. A century in all three of England’s Test series in 2011 only represents a fraction of his contribution.
Stuart Broad 33 wickets at 22.30, 239 runs at 39.83. Having missed most of England’s tour of Australia through injury and with the emergence of Tim Bresnan and Chris Tremlett as his replacements during that victorious Ashes campaign there was at least a smidgen of pressure on Stuart Broad to hit his straps in 2011, and that he did. In four Tests against India Broad averaged over 60 with the bat as well as taking mammoth 25 wickets at an average of just 13.84.
Dale Steyn 28 wickets at 19.57. Still undoubtedly the world’s most consistent and potent fast bowler, Dale Steyn had yet another year to remember in 2011. Steyn took five wickets or more in all five of South Africa’s Test matches last year, which included bouts with India, Australia and Sri Lanka. His battle with Sachin Tendulkar in Cape Town perhaps the year’s greatest cricketing confrontation.
Saeed Ajmal 50 wickets at 23.86. The leading wicket taker in 2011 Saeed Ajmal helped Pakistan complete a year of much-needed consolidation after continued controversy throughout 2010. His best haul of 11 wickets came in a losing cause against the West Indies, but he went on to lead the attack and help his team to victories over Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Sterner tests await in 2012, however with an as-yet unseen “mystery ball” ready to be unleashed the world’s top teams will have to treat him with respect.
James Anderson 35 wickets at 24.85. Now officially the spearhead of the England attack, James Anderson hardly bowled a bad ball in 2011. Seven wickets at Sydney capped off an exceptional Ashes series for The Burnley Express, and after a steady couple of outings against Sri Lanka Anderson once again turned on the magic taking 21 wickets against India in four Tests and terrorising Sachin Tendulkar with a master class in swing bowling.
