Sportskeeda Cricket Awards 2018: Test Team of the Year

The twelve months of 2018 had it all to make it a blockbuster year. With numerous eye-catching series between the various top teams, the year wasn't anything less on entertainment as we had the privilege to witness some of the most exciting encounters in the history of Test cricket.

Unquestionably, the one between New Zealand and Pakistan, where the former won by just four runs, will go down as one of the closest Tests between any two sides in the history of cricket.

Besides that, the Adelaide Test between India and Pakistan, the Edgbaston Test between India and England, and the Dubai Test between Pakistan and Australia also provided excellent spectacles of high-octane cricket.

Besides some exhilarating encounters, we also had the privilege to be a part of a year that marked a special place in the history of two international teams - Ireland and Afghanistan - who became the 11th and 12th Test playing nations.

Although both the teams lost their first Test, it etched a long-lasting memory in the books of their cricket history. Ireland and Afghanistan played their maiden Test against Pakistan and India respectively.

We had an opportunity to witness as many as 45 Tests in the year 2018 with India and England playing the most number of matches. Interestingly, all the Test playing nations played at least one Test in the year 2018.

Thus, based on the teams' performances at home and overseas conditions, we have compiled a list of top three Test teams of the year.

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#3 New Zealand

New Zealand surged under Kane Williamson's captaincy

New Zealand calls for one of the best Test teams in the year 2018. They played a limited number of Tests in 2018 but performed exceptionally well in every Test that they played. They played their first Test series of the year in March which was against England at home. NZ won the two-match series 1-0 and kicked-off their 2018 Test tourney in style.

After a long layoff of seven months, they played their second Test series of the year against Pakistan in UAE. The series between NZ and Pakistan happened to be one of the most exciting encounters in the year 2018 as NZ managed to win the series 2-1. The series win proved to be a historic win for New Zealand as it was their first series win against Pakistan since 1969.

After the series win against Pakistan in November, NZ conquered Sri Lanka at home with the scoreline reading 1-0. New Zealand didn't have a satisfactory start to the series as they failed to win the first Test against Sri Lanka which ended in a draw. Nonetheless, NZ managed to cover that up with a thumping win in the second Test by a mammoth margin of 423 runs

All in all, NZ fared exceptionally well under the captaincy of Kane Williamson. Thus, having played a consistent cricket in the year 2018, the Williamson led New Zealand stands at the third position in this list.

New Zealand's Test numbers in the year 2018

#2 India

India emerged unscathed from back to back tough overseas assignments

Under the tutelage of Virat Kohli, India fared quite well in Tests in 2018. They didn't have a decent start to their year as they lost two consecutive Tests against South Africa in South Africa.

However, India managed to make an exceptional comeback as they won the third Test at Johannesburg by 63 runs. They then toured England and lost 4-1 with two Tests being quite close. It was, all in all, a well-fought series from both the sides as India overcame the conditions to challenge England in their own den.

Before the Test series against England, the Indian team also played a historic Test against Afghanistan. Under the captaincy of Ajinkya Rahane, they sealed victory by an innings and 262 runs.

Post England tour, India contested against West Indies at home and clinched the series by 2-0. India then embarked on Australian tour where they are currently standing at 2-1 in the four-match Test series with one more match left at Sydney.

The Indian team recently won the third Test against Australia which commenced on Boxing Day. It proved to be a historic win for India as they won their first Test at MCG since 1981.

With memorable victories away from home, India are second on our list of best Test teams of the year 2018.

India's Test numbers in the year 2018

#1 England - Sportskeeda's Test Team of 2018

England beat India at home and swept Sri Lanka away

England played an impressive brand of Test cricket in the year 2018. Interestingly, they had an ordinary start to their year. After having gone down 0 -3 in the Ashes 2017-18, they lost the final Test as well to lose the series 0-4.

Their sorry run continued in Tests as they lost the first Test of the two-match series against New Zealand in New Zealand. Nonetheless, England made a decent comeback as they managed to draw the last Test.

Their turbulent times didn't end there as they had to face a shocking loss against Pakistan in the first Test at the iconic Lord's Cricket Ground. However, England managed to close the two-match series on a positive note as they leveled the series 1-1 by winning at Headingley.

England built upon their confidence with a remarkable 4-1 series victory at home against India. It proved to be a complete performance for the English team as they pulled off an impressive win against the top-ranked Test nation.

England then traveled to Sri Lanka in November with a dynamic squad. Contrary to expectations, they registered a 3-0 whitewash against a struggling Sri Lankan team on spin-friendly pitches.

With a home series win against India and an away series victory against Sri Lanka, England acquire the first position in this list and grab Sportskeeda's Test Team of Year award for 2018.

England's Test numbers in the year 2018