Sportskeeda Cricket Awards 2017: Top 10 Test batsmen of the year

The year 2017 saw most of the Test playing nations feature in excess of 10 matches each, which gave the best batsmen in the world ample opportunities to entertain cricket fans and they didn't disappoint. As many as six batsmen scored over 1000 runs in the calendar year, making this a batting-heavy year.

Here, we'll be focussing on the top 10 batsmen of the year.

---

#10 Shai Hope

The West Indian was one of the few shining lights for the struggling Caribbean side. Hope added a total of 773 runs in 10 Tests and saw his side through quite a few trying times. Two centuries and three half-centuries are a testament to the fact.

He scored his runs at an average of 45.47 with a high score of 147.

#9 Hashim Amla

The South African great wasn't at his best but still managed to amass a total of 947 runs in 12 Test matches. His runs came at an average of 47.35 with a high score of 137. Amla led the South African batting line-up, along with Elgar, in most of the matches as the Proteas registered wins in seven of the 12 matches they played this year.

#8 Joe Root

Root was one of the few batsmen who scored runs at an excess of 50 runs per match consistently throughout the year. Though he failed miserably as a captain in the Ashes, he managed to score 966 runs in 11 Test matches this year.

His average was 50.84 and his highest score was 190.

#7 Dinesh Chandimal

The Sri Lankan batsman was one of the six players who scored in excess of 1000 runs this year. Though the island nation failed to assert their authority over a majority of their oppositions, Chandimal managed 1003 runs in 14 Test matches at an average of 45.59 with the help of three centuries and five half-centuries.

#6 Dimuth Karunarante

Even though Sri Lanka lost seven of their 13 Tests, two of their players managed to breach the 1000-run mark. Along with Chandimal, Kanuratne was the only one who showed signs of resilience in a tough year for the Lankans.

The 29-year-old scored a total of 1031 runs in 13 matches at an average of 39 with the help of three hundreds and four half-centuries.

#5 David Warner

The diminutive Australian opener was at his belligerent best in 2017. The left-hander fell short by three runs of the 1000-run mark and scored his runs at an average of 49.85. Apart from Steve Smith, Warner was the only Australian batsman who terrorized oppositions at will. He slammed four centuries and as many half-centuries.

#4 Dean Elgar

Elgar was the top-scorer from the South African side and went about his job without much of a fuss. In 12 matches, he added 1128 runs at an average of 53.71.

On top of that, the opener slammed five centuries and four half-centuries, making 2017 a year to remember for himself.

#3 Cheteshwar Pujara

The Indian rock finishes third on this list of top Test batsmen of the year. Pujara, in fact, scored more runs than skipper Kohli, but the impact his skipper had meant the number three batsman had to do with the number three spot.

He managed 1140 runs in 11 Tests this year at an average of 67.05 with the help of four hundreds, five half-centuries and a double hundred.

#2 Virat Kohli

The Indian skipper had one of the best years of his cricketing career, where he scored 1059 runs in 10 Test matches at a mind-boggling average of 75.64. However, though he was by far the best limited-overs batsman, he couldn't quite replicate that form in the Tests.

Kohli slammed three double centuries in the calendar year, to go with five hundreds and a half-century.

#1 Steve Smith

Like Kohli, who rules the roost in limited-overs formats, Smith was easily the best Test batsman in 2017. The Australian skipper led his team from the front and ensured they finished the year with an Ashes win. The right-hander played 11 Tests and scored 1305 runs, the most by any batsman this year, at an average of 76.76.

On top of all this, he scored a double hundred against England, and six hundreds and three half-centuries overall.