2017 ICC awards: Five contenders for Test Cricketer of the Year award

Amidst the perennial argument over the health of Test cricket, when furrowed eyebrows keep questioning the existence of perhaps the most beautiful format of sport, the year 2017 has reminded everyone around about the mysterious enigma of Tests, all over again.

And this has to do a lot with the players who play the game. These artists have reinstated our faith in Test cricket and in this slider we will take a look at five of these champions who have done wonders in whites.

The International Cricket Council is set to announce the winners of 2017 ICC awards soon and winning the Test cricketer of the year is perhaps the most coveted award.

The period of consideration for the prestigious award is from September 2016 to December 2017.

#5 Dean Elgar

The 30-year old South African opener has enjoyed a stellar run in 2017 and has been one of the lynchpins of the Protea batting line-up.

He might not have the most aesthetic batting technique, he might not possess a wide array of strokes, but he does have a bullish attitude. He is a street fighter and this virtue needs to be conjured up in Test cricket.

In the 20 innings, he has played in 11 matches this year, the left-hander has scored 1,097 runs at an average of 54.85.

His highest score of 199 came against a hapless Bangladesh bowling attack in Potchefstroom, but in many ways, this innings was a reward for his fighting instincts in England just before this series, where he scored 291 runs in four matches, which included a century and a couple of half-centuries.