The year 2019 produced some unforgettable cricketing moments. From England lifting the World Cup following a thrilling final to India conquering Australia Down Under, the year saw teams breaking new ground. We take a look at players who made such massive moments possible. Performance on the grand stage has been given credence over overall stats.
Ben Stokes
England all-rounder Ben Stokes produced the two outstanding moments of 2019. His unbeaten 84 off 98 pulled England into the Super Over in the World Cup final. Stokes then came out in the Super Over, and got some crucial runs. Earlier in the tournament, he scored 89 against South Africa, 82 not out against Sri Lanka, and 89 against Australia even as England struggled for consistency. Stokes’ second legendary moment of 2019, of course, came at Headingley. After England were rolled over for 67 in the first innings, the all-rounder made a stellar 135 not out in the fourth innings as the hosts chased down an improbable 359. At the 286 for 9, and Stokes on 61, the game seemed over. Not for Stokes. Fresh from his World Cup heroics, he produced another miracle as England won the Test by one wicket.
Pat Cummins
The Australian fast bowler was in rollicking form throughout 2019. Pat Cummins claimed 59 wickets in 12 Tests at an average of 20.13. At the start of the year, he produced sensational match figures of 10/62 against Sri Lanka at Brisbane. He ended the year with 5 for 28 in New Zealand’s first innings during the Boxing Day Test at Melbourne. In ODIs, Cummins picked up 31 scalps in 16 games at an average of 21.61. 14 of those wickets came in tough Indian conditions as Australia overpowered a strong Indian outfit. Cummins ended the year with 99 international wickets.
Virat Kohli
The Indian captain continued his incredible run-making ways in 2019. Virat Kohli amassed 612 runs in eight Tests, including a career-best of 254 not out against South Africa. In ODIs, he slammed 1,377 runs in 26 matches at an average of 59.86 with five hundreds. Kohli enjoyed a memorable year in T20Is as well with 466 runs in 10 games at an average of 77.66. Failure in the World Cup semi-finals though was a massive low point.
Rohit Sharma
India’s ODI vice-captain had an incredible World Cup 2019, smashing 648 runs in nine games at an average of 98.33 with a record five hundreds, three of them in a row. Of course, he would have traded some of those numbers for a better showing in the semi-final. The year also saw Rohit Sharma resurrecting his Test career by moving to the top of the order. In five Tests, he plundered 556 runs at a Bradman-esque average of 92.66 with three hundreds, including his maiden double hundred against the Proteas at Ranchi.
Mitchell Starc
The Aussie left-arm seamer was the leading wicket-taker in the World Cup for the second edition in a row. Mitchell Starc claimed 27 wickets in 10 matches at an average of 11.33. He disappointed in the all-important semis though with 1 for 70. Starc also grabbed 42 wickets in eight Tests at an average of 20.71. He claimed 10 wickets in the Canberra Test against Sri Lanka in February and nine in the Perth game against the Kiwis in December.
Steve Smith
David Warner scored more runs at a better average. However, most of his runs came against weak Sri Lankan and Pakistani outfits. Steve Smith, on the other hand, got big runs in challenging conditions. In eight Tests, he amassed 965 runs at an average of 74.23 with three hundreds, 774 of those came in the Ashes, his first Test assignment since the ball-tampering ban. Smith stood up for Australia in the World Cup as well, scoring 379 runs in 10 games with four fifties.
Mohammed Shami
The Indian pacer enjoyed a fantastic 2019. Mohammed Shami picked up 33 wickets in eight Tests at a brilliant average of 16.66. He blew away South Africa with 5 for 35 at Visakhapatnam. In ODIs, Shami was the leading wicket-taker with 42 scalps in 21 games averaging 22.64. Though he featured in only four World Cup matches, Shami finished with 14 wickets, including a hat-trick against Afghanistan.
Jofra Archer
The Barbados-born fast bowler made his much-awaited debut for England this year, and proved the hype around him was not for nothing. Jofra Archer, in fact, was the star performer for England with the ball in the World Cup, picking up 20 wickets in 11 games at an average of 24.55. He bowled the Super Over that won England the final. He also claimed 30 wickets in seven Tests.
Babar Azam
Pakistan’s Babar Azam was the third-highest run-scorer in 2019 with 2,082 international runs, behind Kohli (2,455 runs) and Rohit (2,442 runs). Azam scored 616 runs in six Tests averaging 68.44, with 104 at Brisbane and 97 at Adelaide. He added two hundreds against Sri Lanka at home. Further, in 20 ODIs, Azam amassed 1,092 runs at an average of 60.66. Azam registered three hundreds, including an unbeaten 101 in the World Cup triumph over New Zealand.
Marnus Labuschagne
Called in as a concussion replacement for Steve Smith at Lord’s, Marnus Labuschagne ended 2019 as Test cricket’s leading run-scorer. In 11 Tests, he assembled 1,104 runs at an average of 64.94 with three centuries and seven fifties. After four consecutive fifty-plus scores in the Ashes, he smashed 185 and 162 against Pakistan at Brisbane and Adelaide respectively, and 143 at Perth versus New Zealand.