5 cricketers who surprised us in 2017

#3 Shai Hope (Tests)

Shai Hope scored twin tons at Headingley to spearhead West Indies' euphoric triumph

Even as eminently respected cricketing minds like Ian Bishop continued to speak highly of him, Shai Hope's initial exploits on the field did not match up to the hype spawned off the field. In fact, from his first seven Tests, the right-hander could only muster a measly average of 17.15 with a highest score of 41.

Then, the tide began to turn and how. 2017 has been a watershed moment in Hope's career. The talented Bajan played ten Tests in this calendar year and scored 773 runs at an impressive average of a shade over 45.

Extra Cover: Under the SKanner - Shai Hope

More pertinently, Hope has shown glimpses of an admirable penchant for weathering testing spells and shaping match-defining knocks. During the Headingley Test in August, he not only became the first batsman in the history of the game to score twin centuries in the fabled venue but also lifted West Indies to their most memorable triumph in recent times.

Statistics for 2017

773 runs from 10 Tests at an average of 45.47 with two centuries and three fifties