Year in Review: Test team of the year 2013

Ravichandran Ashwin- The Jacques of all Trades

Ravichandran Ashwin – the all-rounder

41 wickets at an average of 22.51 and a strike rate of 52. 4 5 wicket hauls, best of 7-103 ;

192 runs at an average of 27.42 and a strike rate of 59.07. 1 100, high score of 124

A canny off spinner with more variations than a chameleon, Ashwin was often accused of not having the patience for this level. He changed that this year, bowling long spells, weaving his web of deceit ever so subtly. He proved that he can be a genuine all-rounder too, with a superbly constructed and elegant 100. His job will be to score useful lower order runs, bowl tightly on green tops and spin teams to defeat on turners.

Stuart Broad- The Getaway Driver

Stuart Broad – walks into the team…errr

59 wickets at an average of 25.37 and a strike rate of 45.5. 5 5 wicket hauls, best of 7-44

Chester-le-Street and Lord’s were vintage Broad demolition jobs, quick, sudden and utterly compelling. There are few more thrilling sights in world cricket than Broad running through the opposition like an England selector of the 1989 Ashes through team sheets. Even if you were to ignore those spells, the leading wicket taker for the year would walk (sorry, couldn’t resist), into any team of the year. Tall, fast and always up for a fight, Broad rose to the occasion when his team needed it.

He began the Ashes series with a crucial half century to set up victory and bowled exceptionally without getting the wickets he deserved. All that changed at Durham, before that magical spell, he bowled beautifully in the 1st innings and was unlucky to pick up only 5. By the end of the series, he had gotten under the Australian’s skin so much that they started a public campaign to vilify him.

His response? A 6 wicket haul that silenced (albeit briefly) a mouth breathing Gabba crowd baying for blood. His job will be to bowl the full length that has suited him so well, make more of his undoubted batting ability and bowl his team to victory from the jaws of defeat with his ‘getaway driving.’