5 cricketers who had an impactful Test debut in 2018
The year 2018 has witnessed many exciting Test encounters. India's tour of South Africa, England, and the ongoing Test series against Australia are some of the exciting Test series of 2018 that involved India.
Also, Pakistan and New Zealand recently concluded a closely fought Test series. England and Pakistan played exciting cricket in the first half of the English summer and the two-match series was drawn 1-1.
Sri Lanka managed to hold on to a draw in the first Test of the ongoing Test series against New Zealand. West Indies thrashed Bangladesh at home whereas they were on the receiving end when they toured Bangladesh recently.
All in all Test cricket has seen it all this year. The year has also been special for some cricketers who made their Test debut and contributed to the success of the team. Here is a look at five such cricketers who had an impactful year in Test cricket during the past 12 months.
#5 Ben Foakes
The 25-year-old Foakes was termed as the best wicketkeeper in the world by his coach at Surrey Alec Stewart and he lived up to the expectations of Stewart and impressed one and all with his keeping skills as well his batting.
An injury to regular keeper Bairstow led to the inclusion of Foakes in the playing 11 against Sri Lanka at Galle in the first Test. The keeper played a brilliant innings of 107 in the first innings of the Galle Test as he guided England to a respectable total of 342 in their first innings. He followed up the century with an impressive 37 in the second innings and was responsible for England's victory in the Test.
He was flawless behind the wickets in Galle and took 2 catches and also involved in a stumping. His man of the man performance in the Galle Test prompted the team management to drop the regular keeper Bairstow for the second Test despite his recovery from injury. Foakes scored runs in the second Test at Pallekele and his gutsy innings of 65 in England's second innings was crucial.
All in all, Foakes has scored 277 runs in three Test matches at an average of 69.25.