India’s premier fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah has been nominated for the ICC Test Cricketer of the Year award alongside England’s Joe Root, Harry Brook, and Sri Lanka’s Kamindu Mendis.
Bumrah was the standout bowler in Test cricket in 2024, claiming 71 wickets in 13 matches at an exceptional average of 14.92 and a strike rate of 30.16, the best figures for any bowler in the format this year.
The pacer also excelled in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy, taking 30 wickets in just four matches in Australia.
“After recovering from a recurring back injury in 2023, Bumrah made a stunning return to Test cricket in 2024, dominating the bowling charts,” the ICC stated.
“Across 13 Tests, he achieved his best annual tally of 71 wickets, more than any other bowler this year. Whether in pace-friendly conditions in South Africa and Australia or on less conducive tracks at home, Bumrah was equally effective,” the ICC added.
The ICC highlighted Bumrah’s match-winning spells in Perth, where he led India to a 295-run victory, as one of his most iconic performances.
England’s Joe Root, meanwhile, emerged as the top batter in 2024, amassing 1,556 runs in 17 Tests at an average of 55.57.
The 34-year-old surpassed 1,000 runs in a calendar year for the fifth time in his career, scoring six centuries and five half-centuries.
“Root’s 1,556 runs this year are his second-best annual tally, following his 1,708 runs in 2021. His six hundred and five fifties made him a consistent performer at home and abroad,” the ICC remarked.
Root’s career-best 262 against Pakistan in Multan, his sixth double-century was singled out as one of his finest knocks.
England’s Harry Brook was also shortlisted, having scored 1,100 runs in 12 Tests at an average of 55.00, including four centuries and three fifties.
Brook ranked fourth among the year’s top run-scorers, following Root, India’s Yashasvi Jaiswal (1,478 runs at 54.74), and England’s Ben Duckett (1,149 runs at 37.06).
“Brook epitomized England’s aggressive batting approach, with 723 of his runs scored away from home in six matches,” the ICC noted.
His “blistering” 317 off 322 balls was highlighted as one of his standout performances.
Sri Lanka’s Kamindu Mendis earned his nomination with 1,049 runs from nine Tests at a remarkable average of 74.92, becoming the joint-third quickest to reach 1,000 Test runs, matching Sir Don Bradman’s 13-innings milestone.
“Mendis averaged higher than any batter who played more than two Tests this year. His contributions were pivotal in Sri Lanka’s quest for their maiden ICC World Test Championship Final berth,” the ICC stated.
His twin centuries against New Zealand at home, which made him the fifth-highest run-scorer in 2024, were described as his most “memorable performance.”
