Sportskeeda Cricket Awards 2014: Test Batsmen of the Year

Some years are batting years, some bowling years. This one has definitely been a year for batting connoisseurs as far as Test cricket is concerned.While Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara has hit a purple patch, topping the batting charts in Tests and ODIs, there are quite a few other players who are close on his heels, with a few more days to go before the year ends. We take a look at the top 5 batsmen in Tests this year. Mind you, it is not a mindless statistical exercise, although the list is, indeed, close to what the statistics suggest.We tried to look a little more qualitatively at the runs scored, based on the opposition, the venue and the situation. Joe Root, with 777 runs at a staggering average of 97 including a double and two more centuries, was a close contender for the top 5 Test batsmen. So was Steven Smith, who is presently tormenting Indians Down Under.

#6 Honorable Mentions

Murali Vijay has fewer runs than many, but the quality of his runs is outstanding this year, a year where India spent a lot of time away from home. He has a big hundred against England at Nottingham and against Australia in a losing cause at Brisbane. Add to that a 95 at Adelaide and a 99 at Lord’s and you understand why he is at No. 4 in the list of leading run-scorers away from home, with a total tally of 773.

Jayawardene, with 1000 runs this calendar year, also misses out on the top 5, to make way for Brendon McCullum who has scored fewer runs, but more impactful ones in tougher situations.