New Delhi :
2024 noticed a few of the best and fascinating cricket being performed on the sphere. Whereas new rivalries developed, the older ones continued to prosper with a new-found depth. On one aspect, sport’s greats retired, a brand new technology can also be slowly taking form. This yr noticed India finish their 11-year-long ICC title drought and safe the T20 World Cup title win. England, New Zealand and Australia additionally registered some necessary wins all year long. All this whereas, a few of the world’s finest cricketers enthralled the crowds, grew to become thorn within the eyes of their rivals and broke a number of data on the way in which to victory.
Listed here are the perfect cricketers of 2024:
Joe Root (England)
Largely a one-format participant these days, Root was in monstrous type in Exams this yr, main the run-charts with 1,556 runs at a mean of 55.57 and a strike price of over 63 in 17 matches, with six tons and 5 fifties in 31 innings and finest rating of 262.
Root broke two large Check data this yr, changing into England’s highest century-maker (36) and Check run-getter (12,972 runs), going previous legendary Alastair Prepare dinner and touching the 20,000 run mark in worldwide cricket, being the primary England participant to take action.
Additionally, he’s chasing Sachin Tendulkar’s report of highest Check runs (15,921) and is the fifth-highest run-getter this yr.
Yashasvi Jaiswal (India)
In 2024, Jaiswal scored 1,478 runs in 15 matches at a mean of 54.74, with three centuries (two double tons) and 11 fifties in 29 innings, with the perfect rating of 214. His two double centuries in opposition to England within the dwelling sequence earlier this yr, which noticed him rating 712 runs in 5 matches was an enormous standout. Nonetheless, his adaptation to Australian situations is simply as gorgeous, having scored 359 runs in eight innings at a mean of 51.50, with a masterclass 161 at Perth and preventing knocks of 82 and 84 at Melbourne being standouts.
Jaiswal’s run tally is the best by an Indian opener throughout a calendar yr and his 36 sixes throughout this yr can also be a world report, having overwhelmed legends Virender Sehwag and Brendon McCullum in these facets respectively. His solely low was a combined IPL 2024 season, with 435 runs at a mean of 31 with only one century and fifty in 15 innings.
Together with his 293 runs in eight T20Is at a mean of 41.85 and two fifties, Jaiswal top-scored for India in worldwide cricket this yr and was general second, with 1,771 runs in 23 matches and 37 innings at a mean of 52.08, with three tons and 11 fifties.
Jasprit Bumrah (India)
Mohammed Siraj’s post-match interview after T20 WC closing saying ‘I solely imagine on Jassi bhai, sport changer participant he’s’ in his damaged English summarises the nation’s love affair with the tempo spearhead and the way necessary he was to their fortunes. Be it his 19 wickets throughout England’s dwelling sequence on largely unhelpful surfaces at a mean of 16.89 in 4 matches, his ‘Participant of the Match’ profitable T20 WC title-capturing efficiency with 15 essential scalps at a mean of 8.26 or his workhorse, once-in-a-generation run in ongoing BGT with 30 wickets in 4 matches at a mean of 12.83 and three five-wicket hauls, Bumrah is nation’s latest and rightfully deserving cricketing darling, having captured the minds and hearts of a batting-obsessed nation and making quick bowling, yorkers and swing, cool amongst lots.
Bumrah is the leading-wicket-taker in worldwide cricket this yr, with 86 wickets in 21 matches at a mean of 13.76, with 4 four-wicket hauls and 5 five-wicket hauls and finest figures of 6/45. Additionally in a disappointing IPL 2024 for five-time champions Mumbai Indians (MI), he topped the charts with 20 scalps in 13 matches at a mean of 16.80 and one fifer.
Travis Head (India)
Nominated for the ICC Cricketer of the 12 months award, Head continued his all-format dominance this yr. On a couple of event, he troubled the Indian cricket workforce and England, displaying a desire for bullying the blue-coloured groups. Whereas they typically obtained the higher of him generally, he gained the bigger battle in favour of his workforce.
He was Australia’s high run-getter this yr, scoring 1,399 runs in 29 matches and 35 innings at a mean of 42.39. He scored 4 centuries and 5 fifties, with finest rating of 154*.
In 9 Exams, he made 608 runs in 15 innings at a mean of 40.53, with three centuries and a fifty, with finest rating of 152. His centuries in opposition to India at Adelaide and Brisbane stand out essentially the most. In 5 ODIs, he made 252 runs at a mean of 63.00, with a century and finest rating of 154* in opposition to arch-rivals England.
Travis had an unimaginable yr in T20Is, scoring 539 runs in 15 innings at a mean of 38.50, with a strike price of 178.04 and 4 half-centuries. His finest rating was 80. He grew to become the top-ranked T20I batter and in addition emerged because the third-highest run-getter within the T20 WC with 255 runs at a mean of 42.50, the strike price of 158.38, with two half-centuries and the perfect knock of 76 in opposition to India.
The Indian Premier League (IPL) was the place Head made a game-changing affect, breaking quite a few batting data with opening companion Abhishek Sharma for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). He emerged because the fourth-highest run-getter there with 567 runs in 15 matches at a mean of 40.50, with a strike price of 191.55, a century and 4 fifties.
Shreyas Iyer (India)
Compelled out of the Board of Management for Cricket in India (BCCI) because of alleged lack of red-ball cricket dedication and dedication, Iyer had a fairytale ending to 2024, profitable 4 trophies, together with forty second Ranji Trophy title, Irani Cup, Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy with Mumbai and IPL 2024 with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), with latter two as captain.
Not solely Iyer thrived as captain, he was additionally in high type as a batter throughout all codecs, apart from a quick dry run with India in England Exams and Sri Lanka ODIs. In 44 matches throughout all codecs, Iyer made 1,841 runs at a mean of 43.83, with 4 centuries and 7 fifties and the perfect rating of 233. Additionally, he secured a deal of Rs 26.75 crores with Punjab Kings (PBKS), changing into the second-most costly participant within the league.
Gus Atkinson (England)
Although Gus Atkinson obtained some white-ball expertise final yr final yr forward of the ICC Cricket World Cup in India, the younger pacer actually arrived this yr when he was included within the West Indies sequence.
The house sequence in opposition to West Indies was the farewell sequence for legendary James Anderson, who retired after the primary Check at Lords’ bringing his profession to full circle. In a passing of contact efficiency, Atkinson took the baton from the 42-year-old, taking 12 wickets in his debut Check, taking not one, however two five-wicket hauls in a Check innings at Lord’s, a ten-wicket match haul. Later, throughout the Sri Lanka sequence, he scored an attacking 118 in 115 balls, with 14 fours and 4 sixes, changing into the a part of elite firm to take a five-wicket haul, ten-wicket haul and a century at Lord’s.
Later, throughout the New Zealand sequence away from dwelling, a hat-trick made him the quickest participant to safe a five-wicket haul, ten-fer, century and hat-trick in Exams in simply 10 Exams.
Now in 11 Exams this yr, Atkinson took 52 wickets at a mean of twenty-two.15, with finest figures of seven/45. He secured three five-wicket hauls and one ten-fer. With the bat, he has made 352 runs in 16 innings, averaging 23.46, with a century to his identify. His strike price is 79.10.
Matt Henry (New Zealand)
The Kiwi pacer was a workhorse this yr for his aspect, taking 48 scalps in 9 Exams at a mean of 18.58, with 4 five-wicket hauls and finest figures of seven/67 in an innings. He was his aspect’s main Check wicket-taker and general fourth. His standout spell was 5/15 in opposition to India at Bengaluru to skittle them out for simply 46, setting the tone for a landmark sequence win. His finest figures of seven/67 got here in opposition to the Aussies, although in a shedding trigger.
In 16 matches this yr, together with 11 wickets in seven T20Is, Henry took 59 wickets in 16 matches averaging 18.98, with three five-wicket hauls. He was Kiwis’ highest wicket-taker this yr and general fourth.
Arshdeep Singh (India)
The younger left-arm pacer continues to do wonders for India within the T20I format, topping their wicket-charts with 36 scalps in 18 matches at a mean of 13.50 and finest figures of 4/9. This additionally included a superb efficiency in India’s T20 WC marketing campaign, taking joint-highest wickets with 17 scalps at a mean of 12.64 and finest figures of 4/9. Together with two ODI scalps in two matches, he took 38 scalps in 20 matches at a mean of 15.55.
Ravindra Jadeja (India)
Jadeja as an all-rounder could make it to any aspect as a specialist batter or bowler and he proves this level even in his mid 30s. In 20 worldwide matches this yr, he has made 562 runs at a mean of 26.76, with a century and three fifties in 23 innings. His finest rating is 112.
In 20 worldwide matches, he additionally took 49 wickets at a mean of 25.95, with three five-wicket hauls and a 10-wicket haul, with finest figures of 5/41.
He additionally retired from T20Is after capturing the T20 WC with India, scoring 35 runs in 5 innings and getting only one wicket in eight matches.
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