Worst Test XI of 2014

During the LG ICC Awards for 2014 which took place a few months back, world cricket’s governing body announced both the Test team of the year and the ODI team of the year. All the players in those teams naturally enjoyed a dream run in 2014 and provided vital contributions to their respective teams. On the other hand, there were players who seemed to be a burden to their teams, but were not dropped because the team management believed those guys could deliver.Let’s have a look at the worst Test XI for 2014:(Note: Only those players who have played a minimum of 5 Tests in 2014 were considered. Also, the batting position in which these cricketers play for their respective teams was taken into account, which is why someone like Cheteshwar Pujara, who undoubtedly had a poor year, was left out)

#1 Alastair Cook

With poor performances throughout 2014, England captain Alastair Cook was an obvious choice for such a list. He, after all, didn’t manage to reach the century landmark even once in the calendar year. He was also recently axed from England’s ODI side after a poor result against Sri Lanka, losing 2-5.

He managed to get England a series victory against the Indians 3-1 after losing the second Test at Lord’s. Other than that, it was a definitely a year which Cook would like to forget. He could only manage to score 395 runs in 13 innings at an average of 32.5, which is very less for a player of his calibre.

#2 Shikhar Dhawan

The dashing Indian opener started the year on a high with a brilliant 115 against New Zealand in the 1st Test at Auckland, but things started going downhill after that. He was dropped after the third Test against England, but his replacement Gautam Gambhir struggled even more, thereby giving Dhawan his place back.

The opener has a clear problem against the moving ball outside off and the English bowlers took full advantage of it. He has been getting starts recently in Australia but has not been able to convert them into big ones. With only 504 runs in the 15 innings he played in 2014 at an average of 33.60, Dhawan makes it to this team as one of the openers.

#3 Shane Watson

The Australian all-rounder missed a few matches in 2014 because of injury but came back into the playing XI whenever fully fit. Known for throwing his wickets away after getting starts, the all-rounder’s place in the Australian squad is in a spot of bother currently.

The problem of not making good use of his starts is affecting the all-rounder, and he hasn’t found a way out of it yet. Watson is still able to be in the team because of his vital contributions with the ball. He deserves a place in this team with only 258 runs under his belt in 10 innings at an average of 25.80. Being a senior in the Australian squad, the all-rounder should clearly up his game in the upcoming year for him to establish himself at that No:3 slot.

#4 Ian Bell

Except for his wonderful knock of 167 against India in the third Test at Southampton, Ian Bell didn’t have a good run with the bat in 2014. More responsibility was on him considering that he was one of the senior players in the squad, but Bell was unable to live up to the responsibility.

He could manage only 452 runs in the 13 innings he played at an average of 34.76. England’s poor performance this year was mainly because of their senior batsmen not turning up. Bell would sincerely hope that his fortunes turn around in 2015. He is a batsman of such quality that he can’t be out of form for a long time.

#5 Lahiru Thirimanne

The Sri Lankan left-hander couldn’t produce good performances in 2014 and was a weak link in their middle-order. Having Angelo Mathews after him in the batting order has somewhat shielded his poor performances, and the Sri Lankans would want him to perform much better since their middle-order stalwart Mahela Jayawardene has retired recently. Thirimanne could manage only 133 runs in the 10 innings he played at an average of 13.30.

Although the left-hander had a forgettable year, he is definitely capable of coming back strongly in the next year. With Kumar Sangakkara about to retire in the near future, Thirimanne will definitely have to expect shouldering a lot of responsibility in the future.

#6 Rohit Sharma

The Indian batsman was quite good in the ODI format in 2014 and even went on to score an unbelievable 264 in an ODI against Sri Lanka which is likely to stay in the record books for a long time. But his problems overseas against the moving ball haven’t come to an end, and considering that all of India’s Tests were outside the subcontinent this year, Rohit Sharma couldn’t cement his No:6 spot in the Indian Test team.

He was recently replaced by KL Rahul for the third Test against Australia. Known for throwing his wicket away after getting starts, the No:6 batsman managed to get only 237 runs in 10 innings at an average of 26.33. With the innumerable amount of chances he has got in Test matches to prove himself, it would be fair to say that it is time for Rohit to either deliver or perish.

#7 Brad Haddin (WK)

The 37-year-old Australian wicketkeeper is struggling badly for runs and age is not on his side to help him. He managed to score only 2 half-centuries in the 17 innings he played in 2014. He has not been so good with his wicketkeeping too, but he manages to latch onto some extremely difficult catches now and then.

The batsman’s weakness against short balls and the outside off-stump deliveries have been utilised perfectly by the opponents. Australia would want Haddin to get back to his best as soon as possible and contribute as much as he can before he retires. The team believes Haddin contributes much more than what the numbers suggest, and it would do them a lot of good if he can contribute with the bat also. He was able to score only 263 runs at an average of 17.53 in 2014.

#8 Ravindra Jadeja

The Indian all-rounder came into the national squad on account of his T20 performances, and he was able to stick on to the national side in limited-overs cricket with his economic bowling. His batting technique in overseas conditions while playing Test cricket, however, has been prone to severe criticism, and he has struggled in Test matches with his bowling too.

The lack of a wicket-taking spinner has affected India’s performance in overseas Tests a lot recently, and they have now gone back to Ravichandran Ashwin to do the job. India playing all their Test matches in 2014 away from home hasn’t helped the all-rounder’s cause, either. In the 6 Test matches he played in 2014, he had a diabolical strike rate of 122.5 and could manage only 12 wickets in the 6 Test matches he played.

#9 Mohammed Shami

Mohammed Shami started off his Test career brilliantly against the West Indies, putting on an exceptional display of reverse swing bowling. Things haven’t been good for the Bengal pacer since then, though, and he has been finding it difficult to keep his economy down.

He has been able to bowl some great deliveries now and then, but his bad deliveries, either too short or too wide, have outperformed the good ones. He has a strike rate of 73.0 and has managed to get just 23 wickets from 13 innings in 2014. Known for bowling two freebies in almost every over, Shami, unfortunately, makes it to the bowling attack of this team.

#10 Peter Siddle

After a good back-to-back Ashes series last year, the Australian pacer has lost his rhythm of late and was rightly dropped from the side for the recently-concluded second Test against India. Josh Hazlewood replaced him in the Australian XI and impressed with a five-for on his debut.

Siddle took 12 wickets from his 5 Tests in 2014 at a poor strike rate of 104.8. The Aussie can definitely turn it around in the near future, and the well-wishers of Australian cricket would want him to come back to his best before the Ashes later this year.

#11 Rahat Ali

The Pakistani left-arm fast bowler made his debut against South Africa in 2013 and has now become a regular member of Pakistan’s pace attack. Pakistan has produced a lot of bowlers who can clock the 140 kmph mark over the years, and he is one among them. He performed well for Pakistan when New Zealand toured UAE recently, but overall, he had a strike rate of 81.70 in Tests in 2014 and he could manage only 17 wickets in the 12 innings he played. It is still quite early, though, to be too harsh on Rahat Ali, and with experience, one can expect him to get better.