The Combined Best Test XI of 2018

Fast Bowlers

#10 Kagiso Rabada( South Africa)

Rabada has been impressive all through the year

Matches – 9, Innings – 18, Wickets – 46, Avg – 20, 5 wicket haul – 2, 10 wkt for the match - 1

In the first Test series of the year against India, Rabada took 15 wickets in 3 matches. With his express pace, he was successful in knocking off Virat Kohli’s stumps twice in the series. In the following series against Australia at home, Rabada took 11 wickets in the second Test match at Port Elizabeth and South Africa won that match by 6 wickets

In the next match too Rabada took 5 wickets and South Africa won that match by a big margin. Rabada was instrumental in South Africa winning that four-match series by a margin of 3-1. Rabada has been rightly adjudged the Player of the series.

Even in South Africa’s disastrous tour of Sri Lanka, Rabada took 8 wickets in 2 matches. Rabada is the fast bowler in form and deserves a place in this team.

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#11 Mohammad Abbas (Pakistan)

Mohammad Abbas living up to his country's reputation of producing quality fast bowlers

Matches – 7, Innings – 13, Wickets – 38, Avg – 23, 5 wkt haul – 3, 10 wkt for the match – 1

Mohammad Abbas started the year with a 9 wicket haul against Ireland. In the next match against England at Lord’s Abbas took 8 wickets in Pakistan’s comfortable win by 9 wickets. His best performance in the year came against Australia when he took 17 wickets in just 2 Test matches. After the first Test match was drawn, Abbas took 10 wickets in the second Test at Abu Dhabi. Pakistan won that Test by 373 runs.

Though Abbas couldn’t repeat that performance against New Zealand, Pakistan very much missed him in the decider at Abu Dhabi due to injury.

Mohammad Abbas would be the ideal opening bowler in this team to share the new ball with Rabada.