The evolution of T20 cricket keeps challenging Test cricket every second year. But there are few cricketers who put their heart and soul into this format. They are the ones who play a brand of cricket that excites the fans. The earlier generation featured stars like Viv Richards, Virender Sehwag, and Matthew Hayden who played aggressive cricket. They took on the game right from ball one. Here in this article, we talk about the Most Exciting Test Cricketers.
We look at the top 10 a Most Exciting Test Cricketers:
#10 Rohit Sharma
He is easily one of the most gifted cricketers of all time. But it took a really long time for Rohit Sharma to come to terms with his Test game. In 2019, Rohit Sharma took the challenge of opening the batting in Tests as a last roll of the dice to salvage his career. Sharma since then has been sensational. He shreds the bowling attack once settled. Sharma is one of the few batsmen currently who can post a triple century when on-song.
#9 Ben Stokes
The new Test captain of England, Ben Stokes is one of the finest cricketers of this generation. He arguably played the knock of last decade against arch-rivals, Australia at Leeds in 2019. Stokes in his short stint as captain has already shown how his team is going to play Test cricket from now on. The world can’t wait to see what’s in store!
#8 Kagiso Rabada
He is South Africa’s bowling spearhead. Nobody has a lower average than Kagiso Rabada in the list of bowlers who have picked over 200 wickets. He has taken the baton from Dale Steyn to deliver goods for his country. His smooth yet repeatable bowling action makes him a sight to watch.
#7 David Warner
He along with Rohit Sharma are the only two openers (currently) who have translated their white-ball success onto the longer format. David Warner has even scored a triple century. He is one of those batsmen who took the T20I route to Tests. Warner is a sheer entertainer who has ensured that Test cricket keeps ticking.
#6 Ravichandran Ashwin
The modern-day scientist as he is fondly called, Ravichandran Ashwin is unlike any other contemporary cricketer. He thinks about the game 24*7. Ashwin comes up with new tricks every series. He is someone who loves to stay one step ahead of his opponents always. Ashwin is the leading wicket-taker among active spinners in Tests. No spinner in the modern game evokes such polarising reactions as Ashwin.
#5 Jasprit Bumrah
His induction into Test cricket is a stuff of legends. The Indian team management had carefully planned, plotted, and executed Jasprit Bumrah’s entry into Test cricket. Right since his debut in 2018, Bumrah has taken rapid strides as a Test bowler. He is someone who brings his white-ball expertise to the core at the Test level.
#4 Jonny Bairstow
He has touched new heights as a Test batter this year. Jonny Bairstow pommeled a century in the Ashes. But his critics wrote it off stating it is a one-off. Jonny Bairstow in the series against New Zealand has put on a show. His spectacular centuries in successive innings has thrown open limitless possibilities.
#3 Pat Cummins
He is the quintessential play-tough but play-it-fair cricketer. Pat Cummins is the world’s leading Test cricketer. He is the number one ranked bowler who sits at a fair distance from his peers. Cummins runs in hard, day in and day out. He has been the biggest reason for Australia’s resurgence in Tests. Cummins is a wonderful ambassador of the game.
#2 Virat Kohli
He is someone who has kept the flames off Test cricket burning bright. Virat Kohli turbocharged India’s success in the longest format. He has passionately led the plea for the success of Test cricket. Kohli’s numbers might have dipped in recent years but he continues to champion Test cricket’s cause in every which way.
#1 Rishabh Pant
If there was someone who could take the baton from Kohli to keep Test cricket alive, it has to be Rishabh Pant. In his brief career so far, Pant has shown he has what it takes to make people watch Test cricket. His exploits at the Oval, Sydney, Gabba, Ahmedabad, and Johannesburg were nothing short of breathtaking. Cricketing experts across the world believe that when Pant comes in to bat, people watch Test cricket. He is absolute box-office!