Left Arm Around

After Boxing Day classics on opposite ends of the globe, another year of Test match cricket ended on an incredible, edge-of-your-seat high. Here’s a breakdown of why 2024 was one of the best on record- despite many doubts about the future of the longest format.

January

The year began in dominant fashion for Australia when they completed a comprehensive 3-0 series whitewash against Pakistan, winning the final Test in Sydney by eight wickets. After following this up with a 10 wicket thrashing of West Indies in the pink-ball Test at Adelaide, the tourists shocked the world with an astonishing eight-run triumph at the Gabba- Australia’s ‘fortress’. Shamar Joseph burst onto the scene with a remarkable spell of 7-68 to give West Indies their first victory down under since 1997. A year prior to the series Joseph hadn’t even played first-class cricket!

India ended their two-Test tour of South Africa with an astonishing seven wicket triumph at Newlands in Cape Town. The hosts were dismissed for only 55 in the first-innings courtesy of the brilliant Mohammad Siraj (6-15). India chased an easy target of 80 inside 12 overs to finish the shortest Test in terms of balls bowled (642). A quite staggering watch where wickets seem to tumble every other ball.

The opening month of the year culminated in England’s remarkable heist of Hyderabad on their five-Test tour of India.

With a deficit of 190 runs on first-innings, England’s hopes of victory were as unlikely as you can imagine. In steps Surrey’s Ollie Pope who produced a magnificent 196 from a perilous position at 163-5 to give England a total of 420. There were also useful cameos from Ben Foakes, Rehan Ahmed and Tom Hartley.

India remained slight favourites for victory in their pursuit of 231, but the Three Lions had other ideas. Debutant Tom Hartley starred with a brilliant 7/62 from 26.2 overs to give England a 28-run win. His haul was the best by ANY Test debutant in over a decade, an achievement all the more impressive given the punishment he sustained from Yashasvi Jaiswal in the first innings.

February

Sadly for England, their luck in India ran out quickly as they sustained heavy defeats in Visakhapatnam, Rajkot and Ranchi. Yashasvi Jaiswal showcased his talent with magnificent double tons in both Vizag and Rajkot, while Jasprit Bumrah snaffled 19 wickets in four Tests across the series. There were positives for England in the form of Ben Duckett at Rajkot and Joe Root at Ranchi, not to mention the performances of debutant spinners Tom Hartley and Shoaib Bashir. They were simply not good enough for long enough periods of time to challenge a formidable India.

Elsewhere in New Zealand, the Kiwis completed a comfortable 2-0 series whitewash over South Africa with wins at Mount Manganui and Hamilton. The series generated great controversy when the Proteas opted to selected a severely weakened squad because of the ongoing SA20 competition- a sign of the growing rise of the T20 landscape.

Talismanic batter Kane Williamson hit three centuries in four innings, scoring 403 runs at an average of 134. Rising star Rachin Ravindra struck a stunning 240 at the Bay Oval to record his maiden Test century.

March

Australia continued their incredible record against Trans-Tasman rivals New Zealand with a 2-0 win away from home. The Aussies have not lost a series against the Black Caps since 1990.

In the first Test at Wellington, Cameron Green struck a brilliant 174 not-out to drag Australia to 383 all-out in the first-innings. They were at once stage 211-7. Nathan Lyon then bowled them to a comprehensive 172-run victory with match-figures of 10/108- the first ten-wicket haul by a spinner in the country since 2006.

While the first instalment proved dominance, the second was a contest that ebbed and flowed. Chasing 80-5 in pursuit of 279, Australia were staring down the barrel of a dramatic defeat as the Kiwi pacers ran amok.

But after a stunning partnership between Mitchell Marsh (80) and Alex Carey (98*), they clawed themselves to within touching distance of the finishing line.

Ben Sears removed Marsh and Starc in consecutive balls, however Carey and captain Pat Cummins ensured the drama stopped there to secure a three-wicket win.

England finished their tour of India with yet another awful defeat, losing by an innings and 64 runs in Dharamshala.

James Anderson became the first pace bowler to take 700 wickets in Tests.

Sri Lanka secured an impressive 328-run win over Bangladesh in the first Test in Sylhet.

Both captain Dhananjaya De Silva and Kamindu Mendis scored twin centuries across the match.

Mendis’ feat was the first instance of a batter number seven or lower to score two hundreds in the same Test.

April

Sri Lanka ended their tour of Bangladesh with another win in Chattogram, this time by 192 runs.

Kamindu Mendis continued his wonderful start to Tests with a MOM performance, crunching an unbeaten 92 and taking 3/32 in the fourth innings.

July

The longest format finally returned after a busy schedule of white-ball cricket, including the T20 World Cup in June.

England hosted West Indies for three Tests- all of which they won by huge margins.

Surrey’s Gus Atkinson announced himself with 12 wickets on debut at Lord’s, while the great Jimmy Anderson bowed out of the international arena in the same match. He ended with 704 wickets in a sparkling 188-Test career.

Kavem Hodge was a shining light for the tourists, striking 120 in the second Test at Trent Bridge.

August

South Africa’s two-Test tour of the Windies began with a rain-affected draw in Port-of-Spain, however the final match provided plenty of drama.

After a low-scoring affair in the first innings, where the Proteas struck 160 and WI only 144, the hosts were then set 263 to win the series.

Despite lower-order resistance from keeper Joshua Da Silva and spinners Gudakesh Motie and Jomel Warrican, they fell 40 runs short.

Keshav Maharaj and Kagiso Rabada took three wickets, while Dane Piedt and Wiaan Mulder took two apiece.

Over in Pakistan, Bangladesh stunned the hosts with a brilliant ten-wicket victory in Rawalpindi.

After conceding 448 in the first dig, the Tigers responded in perfect fashion with 565 of their own- much of which can be credited to Mushfiqur Rahim.

His knock of 191 was his 11th Test century since his debut in May 2005.

They then rolled Pakistan out for 146, giving them a measly target of 30 to chase.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz starred with a spell of 4/21.

Sri Lanka’s tour of England began with a hard-fought five wicket loss at Old Trafford.

Kamindu Mendis hit yet another ton, but Jamie Smith stole the headlines.

He first hit a fine 111, before his counter-attacking 39 in the fourth innings saw England over the line. The 24-year-old proved why he’s so highly rated.

September

Bangladesh proved their win in Rawalpindi was no fluke with a six-wicket victory at the same venue, continuing Pakistan’s dreadful run in home Tests.

England also secured a series win over Sri Lanka at Lord’s, winning by 190 runs.

Joe Root overtook his old teammate Alastair Cook with the most Test hundreds by an England player, reaching the landmark with twin centuries (143 & 103).

Gus Atkinson hit a stunning 118 from number 8 to write his name on the honours board once again.

However, England would not complete a perfect home summer and win six from six.

Capitalising on a sloppy and arguably complacent England performance at the Oval, Sri Lanka chased 219 for the loss of only two wickets.

Pathum Nissanka hit a glorious 127 not out to go alongside 64 in the first innings. What most stood out was the intent and range of stroke play Nissanka displayed.

The Sri Lankans carried this momentum into their home series against New Zealand, winning 2-0.

Although the first Test ebbed and flowed, the Black Caps were then blown away in an embarrassing innings defeat at Galle.

India won 2-0 at home to Bangladesh with victories in Chennai and Kanpur.

Ravichandran Ashwin shone with bat and ball, taking 11 wickets and hitting his sixth Test century.

October

This month began with a record-breaking first Test match at Multan.

Despite hitting a mammoth 556 in the first innings, Pakistan suffered a humiliating innings defeat at the hands of England- largely thanks to Joe Root and Harry Brook.

The Yorkshire pair combined for a stand of 454 in a total of 823, a record England partnership for any wicket.

Brook clubbed 317, while Root’s 262 was enough to see him overtake Alastair Cook as England’s highest ever Test run-scorer. A pitch flat as a pancake, but a match you daren’t take your eyes off.

England headed into the final two Tests heavy favourites, yet the spin duo of Noman Ali and Sajid Khan soon brought them back down to earth.

The pair took a staggering 39 of the 40 England wickets to tumble, earning them a 2-1 series win. A comeback that will be studied.

Ben Stokes‘ side were simply unable to cope with the alien spin-friendly surfaces prepared in Multan and Rawalpindi.

Elsewhere in India, New Zealand shocked the world.

They won the first Test in Bangalore after dismissing India for just 46, before clinching a historic series win by 113 runs in Pune. Mitchell Santner’s haul of 13/157 was pivotal.

November

A historic series whitewash for the Black Caps was confirmed when they beat India in a dramatic third Test at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Set only 146 for a consolation victory, India wilted to 121 all-out- despite a quickfire 64 from Rishabh Pant.

Ajaz Patel took 11/160 as India were whitewashed in a three-match series at home for the FIRST time.

South Africa continued their fine year with a crushing 2-0 series whitewash in Bangladesh. Scoring 575 in the first innings, courtesy of Tony De Zorzi, Tristan Stubbs and Wiaan Mulder tons, the Proteas dismissed the hosts for 159 and 143 to win by an innings and 273 runs. A statement victory against a Bangladesh side that rarely loses at home.

They then continued this momentum into the first Test against Sri Lanka in Durban, winning by 233 runs.

Marco Jansen starred with career-best figures of 7/13 as the visitors were dismissed for only 42 in the first innings.

India won the much-anticipated first Border-Gavaskar trophy Test in Perth after knocking the Aussies over for 104 and plundering a huge second innings total.

Jasprit Bumrah (5/30) took yet another Test fifer to continue his love affair down under, before Jaiswal (161) and Kohli (100*) struck fine hundreds to ram home the advantage.

Australia were bowled out for 238 in their near-impossible chase of 534.

December

England ended their topsy-turvy, inconsistent year of Test cricket with a first series win in New Zealand since 2008.

They won the first two games in Wellington and Christchurch by huge margins, with the likes of Harry Brook, Jacob Bethell and Bryson Carse impressing, but one could suggest they became reckless or complacent.

Tim Southee’s international career ended on a high with a recording 423-run triumph at his home ground in Hamilton.

Elsewhere, South Africa clinched the series over Sri Lanka in Gqeberha and Australia fought back to take charge against India.

Thrashing India to make it 1-1 in Adelaide, Australia then dominated the majority of proceedings in Brisbane. Rain disruptions and a stubborn Indian lower order meant the game finished a draw.

With the fourth Test at the MCG peetering towards a draw, Pat Cummins’ side battled relentlessly to take the final seven Indian wickets during the final session in Melbourne. The best efforts of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant couldn’t stop a 184-run Australia victory.

Steve Smith marked his return to form with his second century in as many Tests, his 11th against India.

Another Boxing Day classic coincided with the MCG Test in Cape Town.

Slipping to 99-8 in pursuit of 148 to win against Pakistan, it seemed like South Africa were dead and buried as Mohammad Abbas ran riot.

However, Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen confirmed their place in a first WTC final in a dramatic two-wicket victory at Newlands. Nerves of steel from the fast-bowling pair with the tourists smelling blood.

And who said Test cricket was dying?

Bring on 2025… more excitement awaits.