Japrit Bumrah Nominated for ICC Test Cricketer of the Year Award: India’s top fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah was on Monday nominated for the International Cricket Council (ICC) Cricketer of the Year award while he is also in the running for the Test Cricketer of the Year award. Bumrah, who troubled the host team’s batsmen in the ongoing five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, has been defeated by England’s star batsmen Joe Root and Harry Brook for the Best Cricketer Award, named after the great West Indies all-rounder Sir Garfield Sobers. And has been named along with Travis Head of Australia. Bumrah, Root, Brook and Sri Lanka’s Kamindu Mendis, who performed brilliantly in the year 2024, have also been nominated for the Best Test Cricketer of the Year award.
Bumrah has been the best bowler in Test cricket in 2024. He has taken 71 wickets in 13 matches at an average of 14.92 and strike rate of 30.16, which is the best performance of any bowler in the traditional format. This right-arm fast bowler has also performed brilliantly in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy and is the best bowler of the series with 30 wickets in four Test matches. ICC said on its website, “Bumrah, who returned to Test cricket after recovering from a back injury in 2023, dominated the bowling in 2024.
In 13 Test matches in the calendar year, Bumrah gave his best performance so far, taking 71 wickets and was the most successful bowler in this format. ICC said, “Regardless of the favorable conditions for fast bowlers in South Africa and Australia. or difficult conditions for fast bowlers at home, Bumrah performed impressively throughout the year. However, this fast bowler gave his best performance during India’s tour of Australia.
The ICC considered Bumrah’s match-changing spell in Perth as one of his most memorable performances along with his brilliant performance in the T20 World Cup, which helped India win by 295 runs. The ICC said, “Bumrah took 15 wickets in eight matches, including two wickets in the final against South Africa, which kept India unbeaten in the 2024 T20 World Cup.” Head was named the highest run-scorer in the T20 World Cup and in Tests. Nominated for his outstanding performance for Australia.
ICC said, “Showing his aggressive batting style, this left-handed player scored runs at a fast pace in the shortest format and was among the leading run-scorers in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.” In Test cricket, the head is playing an important role in Australia’s attempt to defend the ICC World Test Championship title. England’s top batsman Root was the most influential batsman this year, scoring 1,556 runs in 17 Test matches at an average of 55.57. 34-year-old Root crossed the mark of one thousand runs in a calendar year for the fifth time in his career, during which he scored six centuries and five half-centuries.
The ICC recalled Root’s career-best innings of 262 runs against Pakistan in Multan, which was also his sixth double century in Tests and one of his best innings. Root’s compatriot Brook also managed to make it to the list of four players named as the best in Test cricket after scoring 1,100 runs in 12 Tests at an average of 55.00. Brook scored four centuries and three half-centuries during this period and is fourth in the list of highest run scorers in 2024. More runs have been scored by Root than India’s Yashasvi Jaiswal (1,478 runs at an average of 54.74) and England’s Ben Duckett (1,149 runs at an average of 37.06).
Sri Lanka’s Mendis, who scored 1,049 runs in nine tests at an average of 74.92, is also included in this list. During this period, Mendis also remained at joint third place in the list of fastest scorer of 1000 Test runs. He equaled the great batsman Sir Don Bradman in achieving this feat in 13 innings. The ICC said, “Mendis scored at a higher average than any batsman who played more than two Tests in a calendar year – an impressive average of 74.92 in nine matches.” Mendis’ double century against New Zealand at home was recognized by the ICC. Said to be his most memorable performance. He finished fifth in the list of players with the most runs in 2024.
