Picking the best Test playing 11 of 2024 ft. Jasprit Bumrah, Joe Root

Test matches in 2024 concluded with Australia winning the Boxing Day contest against India in Melbourne by 184 runs on Monday, December 30. Chasing a target of 340, the visitors were all-out for 155 in 79.1 overs despite Yashasvi Jaiswal's 84. For Australia, skipper Pat Cummins and Scott Boland claimed three wickets each, while off-spinner Nathan Lyon chipped in with two scalps.

Earlier, on Sunday, December 29, South Africa completed a nervous two-wicket win over Pakistan in the first Test at the SuperSport Park in Centurion. Set to chase a target of 148, the Proteas stumbled to 99-8 before Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen combined to take them home.

With the triumph, South Africa became the first team to qualify for the World Test Championship (WTC) final. India, Australia and Sri Lanka are in contention for second finalist slot. England and New Zealand have been knocked out of the race, but there were some impressive individual performances from their camps.

With 2024 coming to an end, we try and pick the best Test playing 11 of the year.

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Top-order: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ben Duckett, Kane Williamson

Yashasvi Jaiswal was sensational at the top of the order for India. (Image Credits: Getty Images)

India's Jaiswal and England's Ben Duckett would be the openers in the best Test playing 11 of 2024, while former New Zealand captain Kane Williamson would occupy the crucial No. 3 slot.

Jaiswal was India's standout batter in 2024, hammering 1,478 runs in 29 innings at an average of 54.74, with three hundreds and nine half-centuries. The southpaw slammed double hundreds in consecutive Tests during the home series against England. He also hammered a memorable 161 in Perth and ended the year with two 80-plus scores in the Boxing Day Test.

England's aggressive batter Duckett smashed 1,149 runs from 32 Test innings at an average of 37.06 and a strike rate of 87.04, with the aid of two tons and six fifties. The 30-year-old smacked 153 off 151 balls against India in Rajkot and 114 off 129 deliveries against Pakistan in Multan.

Veteran Kiwi batter Williamson had a memorable year in Tests in 2024. In 18 innings, he totaled 1,013 runs at an average of 59.58, with four hundreds and as many half-centuries. The 34-year-old hit centuries in both innings against South Africa in Mount Maunganui in February and scored an unbeaten 133 in Hamilton. Williamson ended the year with 156 against England - again in Hamilton.

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Middle-order: Joe Root, Kamindu Mendis, Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper)

Joe Root continued to dominate the run charts in red-ball cricket. (Image Credits: Getty Images)

England batter Root was absolutely spectacular in Tests in 2024. He finished as the leading run-getter, with 1,556 runs in 31 innings at an average of 55.57, with the aid of six hundreds and five fifties. Root scored his career-best of 262 against Pakistan in Multan in October. He also hit tons in both innings against Sri Lanka at Lord's in August and a ton each against India, New Zealand and West Indies.

There was a tough fight between Harry Brook and Kamindu Mendis for one of the middle-order slots. The Sri Lankan batter narrowly edged out the England star. Mendis scored 1,049 runs in 16 Test innings in 2024, averaging 74.92, with five hundreds and three fifties. The left-hander hit hundreds in both innings against Bangladesh. He also scored two tons against the Kiwis and one versus England.

Jamie Smith beat competition from Rishabh Pant to clinch the keeper-batter's slot in the best Test playing XI of 2024. In 15 innings, the England cricketer contributed 637 runs, averaging 42.46, with the aid of one century and four half-centuries. Smith's maiden Test ton came against Sri Lanka in Manchester in August. He also scored 89 against Pakistan in Rawalpindi in October.

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Bowlers: R Ashwin, Pat Cummins (c), Kagiso Rabada, Jasprit Bumrah, Keshav Maharaj

Pat Cummins (middle) led from the front for Australia. (Image Credits: Getty Images)

Pat Cummins, Rabada and Jasprit Bumrah would be the pacers in the best Test playing XI of 2024, while Ravichandran Ashwin and Keshav Maharaj would be the spin options.

Bumrah had an outstanding 2024 in Tests. In 17 matches, he claimed 71 wickets at an average of 14.92, with the aid of five five-fers and four four-fers. Of his 71 scalps this year, 30 came in four Tests of the ongoing series Down Under.

Cummins would be the captain of the best Test playing XI of 2024. He picked up 37 wickets in nine matches at an average of 24.02, with two five-fers and three four-fers. He also contributed with the bat, scoring 306 runs at an average of 23.53, with a best of 64*.

Rabada has been instrumental in South Africa reaching the WTC final. In eight matches in 2024, he claimed 34 scalps at an excellent average of 19.94, with two five-fers and a best of 6-46. The seasoned Proteas cricketer has also made some handy contributions with the willow, including the 31* in the tense chase against Pakistan in Centurion in the Boxing Day Test.

Off spinner Ashwin retired from international cricket after a few disappointing games. However, he did well enough to find a place in the Test XI of 2024, pipping Ravindra Jadeja. In 11 Tests, Ashwin picked up 47 scalps at an average of 27.25, with three five-fers and one four-fer. With the bat, he notched up his sixth Test ton against Bangladesh at his home ground in Chennai.

Proteas left-arm spinner Maharaj has also made the cut. In seven Tests in 2024, he claimed 35 wickets, averaging under 20, with two five-wicket hauls and two four-fers. The seasoned spinner claimed 5-59 against Bangladesh in Chattogram and picked up 5-76 against Sri Lanka in Gqeberha.