Five innings in 2019 that reaffirmed the quality of Test cricket

2019 was a dream year for cricket as the game witnessed outstanding action in every format. The ICC Cricket World Cup was a success as the competitiveness was high with the round-robin format. The final was a humdinger with England walking way with the cup on boundary countback. The T20 leagues continued to grow and produce exciting talent.

But the biggest positive was for the game's ultimate format - Test cricket. After two failed attempts, the ICC put the World Test Championship in place in 2019. With points at stake for every game, teams started going harder for wins. The fact that 35 of the 40 Tests held in 2019 produced a winner is an indicator.

Concussion substitutes were approved by the ICC. India also gave the nod to day-night Tests as they hosted Bangladesh at Kolkata. The game was a massive success with Eden Gardens witnessing full house on each day of the match. These changes reignited the longest format.

Moreover, many exciting knocks by the batsmen in the year showcased what Test cricket is all about. Here are five such knocks that reaffirmed the quality of the format.

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#5 Marnus Labuschagne - 59 vs England at Lord's

The first-ever concussion substitute

With 1-0 lead in the series, Australia played England in the second Ashes Test of the series at Lord's. Jofra Archer also made his Test debut in the match. In reply to England's 258, Australians were struggling at 80-4 at the start of day 4 in a rain-affected match.

Archer first struck the elbow of Steve Smith and then a bouncer hit him on the back of his helmet. The right-hander returned to the dressing room only to come back after a while. He was dismissed for 92 and later ruled out due to symptoms of concussion.

On the back of Ben Stokes' magnificent century in the second innings, Australians were given a target of 267 in 52 overs on the final day. Archer led England's push for a win with two quick wickets. Marnus Labuschagne walked into bat becoming the first-ever concussion substitute in the history of the game.

He was welcomed with a quick bouncer from Archer which hit him on his helmet. But it didn't rattle him up as he continued batting. It didn't disturb his style of play either, as he continued to play on the front foot to bring up a fighting half-century.

The Aussies kept losing wickets at one end, but Labuschagne held the fort at the other. His 100-ball innings helped them salvage a draw, which in turn later helped them to retain the Ashes on English soil after eighteen years. Although it was a small knock in terms of runs, the occasion and the way it brought back the memories of old-fashioned Test cricket were a treat to watch.

#4 Cheteshwar Pujara - 193 vs Australia at Sydney

Pujara was instrumental in India winning their first-ever Test series in Australian soil

In a generation of T20 cricket gaining prominence, Cheteshwar Pujara is one player who grinds his way to score runs. Just like a classic Test batsman, he plays on patience and builds a solid innings. It was one such knock in the New Year's Test at Sydney that ensured India's first ever Test series win in Australia.

With a 2-1 lead going into the match, India won the toss and chose to bat first. The plan was to bat Australia out of the game. Pujara had to survive the new ball as he walked into bat in the second over. He weathered the storm against a lethal fast bowling attack. The right-hander was even hit on his head by a bouncer from Josh Hazlewood.

The Saurashtra batsman brought up his fifty of 134 balls. He then attacked the tiring bowlers as he scored his next 50 runs in just 65 balls. On a pitch that was offering turn, Pujara used his feet to either negate turn by coming down the track or allowed it to turn by going on to the back-foot.

He went on to score 193, which helped India post a massive total of 622. Inclement weather resulted in a draw as India took home the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

#3 Steve Smith - 144 & 142 vs England at Edgbaston

Smith scored twin centuries in Ashes opener

Australia took on England at Edgbaston in the first Ashes Test. Having chosen to bat first, Australia had a shocking start, as they lost both their openers in the eight over. With Edgbaston crowd booing, Steve Smith walked in to bat after serving a one-year ban.

He was at his usual best as he started neutralizing the new ball. Despite the bowlers asking too many questions, Smith faced them with ease. But wickets kept tumbling at the other end and the Aussies were tottering at 122-8. With Peter Siddle resisting bravely with him, the 30-year-old mixed caution with aggression to take the total past 200.

The former captain went berserk at the fall of the ninth wicket to bring up his 24th Test hundred. His 144 took Aussies to 284. Rory Burns' 133 helped England take a substantial lead of 90. With the openers failing once again, Smith was at the crease by 10th over.

The calm-headed Smith was up for the task as he toiled with the England bowlers. Joe Root tried to unsettle him with unusual field placements. But the Australian was unperturbed as he scored a well-compiled 142 to set a target of 398.

England lost the match by 251 runs to concede a 1-0 lead. Smith's twin centuries were masterful because they came in his comeback Test in the hostile conditions of an Ashes opener.

#2 Kusal Perera - 153* vs South Africa at Durban

Kusal Perera

Going into the match, Sri Lanka had serious issues as they had dropped their Test captain Dinesh Chandimal and appointed Dimuth Karunaratne as the new captain. Sri Lanka won the toss and asked South Africa to bat first.

The pitch had enough assistance for both spinners and pacers. The home team scored 235 while the visitors scored 191 in the first innings. Sensible innings from Faf du Plessis and Quinton de Kock helped South Africa set a target of 304 in the final innings. Sri Lanka was struggling at 52-3 when Kusal Perera walked into bat.

He enjoyed the bounce on the wicket as he played the cut and the pull shots with ease. The southpaw, who had top-scored in the first innings with 51, was batting with ease at one end while wickets kept falling at the other.

Sri Lanka needed 78 to win when they lost the ninth wicket. With Vishwa Fernando barely managing to survive, the left-hander started scoring runs quickly. He attacked the likes of Dale Steyn and Kagiso Rabada as he stroked every ball with absolute authority.

He went to win the game for Sri Lanka and they later became the first Asian team to win a Test series in South Africa. Perera's 153 was given the top-spot in Wisden 100's Golden Willow 25 rankings.

#1 Ben Stokes - 135* vs Australia at Headingly

Stokes was sensational in his innings of 135*

Trailing 1-0, England won the toss and chose to bowl first to capitalize on the overcast conditions in the third Ashes Test. Jofra Archer did that with a spell of 6-45, which bowled the Australians out for 179. The Australian bowling attack responded brilliantly to dismiss the home team for just 67.

Riding on Marnus Labuschagne's 80, the Aussies set an improbable target of 359 for England to keep the Ashes hopes alive. Joe Root and Joe Denly's 126-run partnership steadied the home side's innings after they lost the openers early. Ben Stokes started slowly as he scored only two runs in his first 66 balls. A Josh Hazlewood bouncer hit and broke the neck guard on the back of his helmet.

The 28-year old shrugged off his early jitters and kept the scoreboard ticking along with Jonny Bairstow. The dismissal of Bairstow increased the pressure on Stokes. It went to another level as a wrong call from him resulted in Jos Buttler being run out. England lost their ninth wicket at 286, still requiring 73 to win.

Stokes unleashed his power game as he scored runs in boundaries. Despite the ball spinning off the track, he attacked Nathan Lyon. Sixes off a switch-hit and a scoop rattled the opposition. It was evident in the way two catches were dropped off consecutive balls. Then Lyon fumbled the ball to miss an easy run-out chance.

The pressure got to the umpires as well as a clear LBW decision was given not out. But Stokes kept his cool, and scored the winning runs through point to script one of the historic wins in Test history.