Harsha Bhogle has unveiled his 2024 Test squad, which is dominated by English players and features just two Indians. Bhogle’s 2024 Test squad has three English players, two Indians and four players from Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka and New Zealand.
The well-known broadcaster has picked young Indian opener Yashasvi Jaiswal as the first pick in its Test Team of the Year. Yashasvi Jaiswal has so far amassed 1332 runs in 27 innings at an average of over 52 with the help of seven fifties and three hundreds both at home and away.
Harsha Bhogle reveals his star-studded 2024 Test squad
His second opening match is against England. Ben Duckettwho scored hundreds in Rajkot and Multan and five fifties to end the year with 1,100 runs to his name in Test cricket. Talking about his openers, Harsha Bhogle said on Cricbuzz: “Yashasvi Jaiswal did everything that was asked of him as an opener, which is why he is my first pick in the 2024 Test team. I picked Ben Duckett because of the runs he scored. all over the world.”
Coming to the crucial number three batting position, the Indian commentator chose New Zealand legend Kane Williamson, who scored 1013 runs in just 18 innings at an average of nearly 60 with the help of four hundreds and another fifties. Harsha also mentioned Shubman Gill, Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne.
But Bhogle said: “It was very difficult for me to look beyond Kane Williamson, even though his numbers are skewed by a lot of home goals, but how can you leave out someone who has made great careers in the number 3 position?” Meanwhile, Harsha Bhogle selected Joe Root at No. 4 in his Test team of the year.
Joe Root has amassed 1556 runs in 31 innings at an average of over 55 with the help of five fifties and six hundreds for England in 2024. The commentator then chose Harry Brook saying that “he is going to be a special player.” He pointed out that Brook got a lot of runs in Pakistan and New Zealand, and said the Englishman simply makes runs.
Harsha Bhogle praises Harry Brook as a special player
However, Harsha mentioned that Brook struggled when the ball started spinning but he made 1,100 runs at an average of 55 with the help of four hundreds, making it an easy pick for him at number 5. Bhogle said: “He (Brook) will be a really special player as he evolves. I love the audacity with which he plays.”
He then picked Sri Lankan star Kamindu Mendis at number 6. I was simply overwhelmed by Mendis’ carnage, having scored 1,049 runs at a staggering average of 75, with 5 centuries to his name this year.
Harsha stated: “I wondered what Mendis was doing when I started seeing his scores at number 7, then I saw him batting and wondered even more what he was doing batting at number 7. Over time, Sri Lanka started putting pressure on him. above; he’s going to be a player. I just hope Sri Lanka looks after him, gives him the right numbers and sticks with him even if he goes through a bit of a bad patch.”
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He then named Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan as his number seven player and wicketkeeper in his Test Team of the Year 2024. India’s left-arm spinner and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja was ranked number 8 in the Test XI of the year of Bhogle. Jadeja scalped 44 wickets and scored over 500 runs in 11 Tests in 2024. He will add more in the Boxing Day Test against Australia.
Jasprit Bumrah to lead Harsha Bhogle’s Test XI of the year pace attack
Harsha Bhogle’s bowling attack highlighted Gus Atkinson (52 wickets in 11 Tests), Kagiso Rabada (32 wickets in 7 Tests) and Jasprit Bumrah (62 wickets in 12 Tests). The announcer said he went with a spin specialist, three fast bowlers and Joe Root, his fifth bowler, in his 2024 Test XI.
Praising Bumrah, Harsha said, “What a joy it has been to see Jasprit Bumrah in all formats, in all situations and in all countries; “There is no bowler in world cricket right now like Bumrah, and he takes his country’s bowling attack wherever he goes.”
Here is Harsha Bhogle’s Test team of the year 2024:
Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ben Duckett, Kane Williamson, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Kamindu Mendis, Mohammad Rizwan (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Gus Atkinson, Kagiso Rabada, Jasprit Bumrah (C).
