ICC Men's Test Cricketer of the Year award is one of the most prestigious annual awards given by the International Cricket Council (ICC). The top cricketers in each year battle for this and become superstars with this award.
Since the year 2004 there have been awards being given every year for the best test Cricketer of the Year except the year 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so let’s take a look at the winners.
2004: Rahul Dravid
Legendary Indian cricketer Rahul Dravid won the first ICC Test Cricketer of the Year award, which was given in 2004. While the time period for this award was considered between 1 August 2003 and 31 July 2004, Dravid was the sixth leading run-scorer with 1241 runs in nine Tests, including three centuries and four half-centuries. He started the considering period with a double-century against New Zealand in the Ahmedabad Test, where he also scored 73 runs during the team's second innings. The right-handed batter had a huge role in India's Test series draw in Australia, where he won the Player of the Series award for scoring 619 runs. In that Australia tour, Dravid scored an unforgettable 233 and 72 not out in the Adelaide Test win. Later in the Pakistan tour, Dravid scored 270 runs in the second innings of the Rawalpindi Test, and India created history by winning the series.
2005: Jacques Kallis
Legendary South African all-rounder Jacques Kallis was the second player to win the ICC Test Cricketer of the Year award, which he won in 2005. While the time consideration periods were between 1 August 2004 and 31 July 2006, the right-handed batter was the leading Test run-scorer in 2005 with 1497 runs in 15 Tests with six centuries and eight half-centuries. After scoring a century (121) and a half-century (55) in the Kolkata Test, he hit three centuries against England at home and finished as the second leading run-scorer in that home series with 625 runs, and he also hit two more centuries in the West Indies. Also, the right-arm pacer picked up 20 Test wickets in that period.
2006: Ricky Ponting
This time the stats consideration periods were between 1 August 2005 and 8 August 2006 as it was presented during the ICC Champions Trophy 2006. Australian captain Ricky Ponting won the ICC Test Cricketer of the Year 2006 award after powerfully scoring 1791 runs in 16 Tests, including nine centuries and seven half-centuries. During the Ashes 2005 in England, which was counted in this list from the second Test of the five-match Test series, Ponting scored 156 runs in Australia's first innings of the Manchester Test. Later, in the home season, he hit two centuries in the Brisbane Test against West Indies (149 and 104*). Later, the right-handed batter hit three home centuries against South Africa, including 120 and 143 not out in the Sydney Test, and two centuries in the Durban Test against the same opponents (103 and 116). In the Bangladesh tour, Ponting scored another century in the Fatullah Test (118*), where the Aussies chased down the 307-run target after losing by seven wickets.
2007: Mohammad Yousuf
For the ICC Test Cricketer of the Year 2007 award, the timeline was set between 9 August 2006 and 8 August 2007, where Pakistan legend Mohammad Yousuf scored 944 runs in just six Tests, the second most by any batter during the considered period for the award. The right-handed batter recorded five centuries and two half-centuries. He had an impressive batting average of 94.40. Yousuf recorded centuries in four successive Test matches, while the match against West Indies in Karachi experienced his twin hundreds (102 and 124). During this period, the right-handed batter scored two 190s against West Indies (192 at Lahore and 191 at Multan).
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2008: Dale Steyn
South African fast bowler Dale Steyn became the first bowler to win the ICC Test Cricketer of the Year award which he won in 2008. The performances were counted between 9 August 2007 and 12 August 2008, where the right-arm fast bowler was the leading wicket-taker with 86 wickets in 14 Tests, including six five-wicket hauls and two ten-wicket hauls. While South Africa won the Karachi Test, Steyn recorded a fifer in the fourth innings of the Test match. During the Johannesburg Test against New Zealand, Steyn recorded a 10-fer after claiming five wickets in both innings. He recorded another 10-wicket haul in the next Test at Centurion, including a six-fer in the last innings. With 20 wickets in the home Test series against New Zealand, Steyn won the Player of the Series award. He also recorded another six-fer against the West Indies at Durban and another fifer against the hosts India at Ahmedabad, where India were bundled out for only 76 runs.
2009: Gautam Gambhir
The timeline for the ICC Test Cricketer of the Year 2009 was from 13 August 2008 and 24 August 2009. Indian opening batter Gautam Gambhir won the award as the left-handed batter scored 1269 runs in eight Tests, the fourth leading Test run-scorer in this period. During this period, Gambhir recorded five centuries and four half-centuries. During the Delhi Test against Australia, Gambhir hit a double century (206). He also scored 179 and 97 runs against England during the Mohali Test. In the historic New Zealand tour, where India won the Test series by 1-0, Gambhir finished as the leading run-scorer with 445 runs. Apart from scoring 167 runs in the third innings of the last Test at Wellington, he played the major saviour role for India during the second Test at Napier with 137 runs in 436 balls in the follow-on innings.
2010: Virender Sehwag
It was the time for another Indian opener as Virender Sehwag won the ICC Test Cricketer of the Year 2010, while the selection criteria were considered the performances between 24 August 2009 and 10 August 2010. Sehwag became the leading Test run-scorer in this period with 1282 runs in 10 Tests and also picked up 10 Test wickets. During this period, Sehwag scored six Test centuries and four Test half-centuries, including 293 against Sri Lanka during the Brabourne Test. Talking about his incredible batting performances, Sehwag scored at least one 50+ knock in an innings in all ten Tests, including scoring centuries in three consecutive Tests, and just missed out on making it five consecutive Tests due to his dismissal for 99 runs in the Colombo (SSC) Test.
2011: Alastair Cook
The performance period for the ICC Test Cricketer of the Year 2011 was between 11 August 2010 and 3 August 2011. Legendary English cricketer Alastair Cook won the award for scoring the most runs during this period, 1302 runs in 12 Tests with the help of six centuries and four half-centuries. The left-handed batter was the key performer for England to win the historic Ashes 2010/11 in Australia by 3-1. Cook finished as the leading run-scorer in that five-match Test series with 766 runs and won the Player of the Series award. During that tour, the left-handed batter recorded three centuries, including 235 not out in Brisbane.
2012: Kumar Sangakkara
The official period was between 4 August 2011 and 6 August 2012 for the ICC Test Cricketer of the Year 2012 consideration. The legendary Sri Lankan cricketer Kumar Sangakkara won the award for scoring the most runs in this period with 1444 runs in 14 Tests, including five centuries and five half-centuries. During the 2011 Abu Dhabi Test against Pakistan, Sangakkara scored 211 runs in the third innings. Later, against the same team, the left-handed batter scored 199 not out in the 2012 Galle Test and 192 in the Colombo (SSC) Test.
2013: Michael Clarke
The ICC Test Cricketer of the Year 2013 performance period was considered between 7 August 2012 and 25 August 2013. Australian legend Michael Clarke won this award for finishing as the leading run-scorer with 1559 runs in 14 Tests, including five centuries and five half-centuries. The right-handed batter scored double-centuries in back-to-back Test innings (259 not out in Brisbane and 230 in Adelaide, both against South Africa) and scored at least one 50+ score in an innings in five straight Test matches.
2014: Mitchell Johnson
The ICC Test Cricketer of the Year 2014 performance period was considered between 26 August 2013 and 17 September 2014. It was the time when the Aussie left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Johnson produced the best performances in his international career, where he dominated with fiery deliveries and the opposition batters hardly felt comfortable facing him, especially in the red balls. During this period, he finished as the second-leading wicket-taker with 59 wickets in eight Tests, including five five-wicket hauls and one ten-wicket haul. He recorded two seven-fers (7/40 vs England in Adelaide and 7/68 vs South Africa in Centurion). During this period, he never finished wicketless in a Test innings and won the Player of the Series award in the home Ashes for picking up 37 wickets (also scored 165 runs), which Australia won by 5-0. Also, as a left-handed batter, he scored 231 runs, including one half-century.
2015: Steve Smith
Australian legend Steve Smith won the ICC Test Cricketer of the Year 2015 award performance period was considered between 18 September 2014 and 13 September 2015. During this period, Smith scored 1734 runs in 13 Tests, which was unmatchable for others. Apart from scoring a double-century at Lord's (215), the right-handed batter also scored 192 against India in the Melbourne Test and 199 in the Kingston Test. He recorded centuries in four straight Test matches. Also, as a leg-spinner, Smith picked up five wickets.
2016: Ravichandran Ashwin
The ICC Test Cricketer of the Year 2016 award timeline was considered the performances between 14 September 2015 and 20 September 2016. Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin won the award for taking 48 Test wickets and scoring 336 Test runs in eight Tests. He finished as the fifth-leading Test wicket-taker, who recorded six five-wicket hauls and one ten-wicket haul. Also, in the West Indies tour, the right-handed batter hit centuries in back-to-back Test matches, where he scored 113 in the North Sound Test and 118 in the Gros Islet Test.
2017: Steve Smith
This time the Australian cricketer Steven Smith created history by becoming the first player to record the ICC Test Cricketer of the Year award twice. The ICC Test Cricketer of the Year 2017 award timeline was considered the performances between 21 September 2016 and 31 December 2017. It was tough competition as the Indian stars Virat Kohli (2023 runs) and Cheteshwar Pujara (1914 runs) were the top two Test run-scorers during this period, Smith won the award after scoring 1875 runs in 16 Tests, where the right-handed batter recorded eight centuries and five half-centuries. He recorded 50+ scores in an innings in five straight Test matches. During the WACA Test against England, Smith hit a double-century (239).
2018: Virat Kohli
Since this time the performance timeline has been considered the complete calendar year for the ICC Test Cricketer of the Year 2018. As an Indian captain, Virat Kohli scored 1322 runs in 13 Tests, the leading Test run-scorer, including five centuries and five half-centuries. The right-handed batter scored four centuries outside India, which were 153 in Centurion, 149 in Birmingham, 103 in Nottingham, and 123 in Perth.
2019: Pat Cummins
Australian right-arm fast bowler Pat Cummins won the ICC Test Cricketer of the Year 2019. In 2019, he finished as the leading wicket-taker with 59 wickets in 12 Tests and also scored 136 Test runs. During this period, the fast bowler recorded two five-wicket hauls, including one six-fer, and one ten-wicket haul.
2021: Joe Root
It was the time for English legend Joe Root as he won the ICC Test Cricketer of the Year 2021 for ending the year as the leading run-scorer scoring 1708 runs in 15 Tests and also picking up 14 wickets. In three consecutive away Tests, the right-handed batter produced the knocks of 228 (at Galle), 186 (at Galle), and 218 runs (at Chennai). Later, he scored 180 not out and 121 runs against India at Lord's and Leeds, respectively. As an off-spinner, he also claimed a fifer in the pink-ball Test at Ahmedabad.
2022: Ben Stokes
England all-rounder Ben Stokes won the ICC Men's Test Cricketer of the Year 2022. The left-handed batter scored 870 runs and the right-arm pacer picked up 26 wickets in the calendar year. He was the second-leading run-scorer for England in Test cricket in 2022, where he scored two centuries. In that same year, Stokes also finished as the third most Test wicket-taker for England.
2023: Usman Khawaja
Australian opening batter Usman Khawaja was the only batter in 2023 to score 1000+ Test runs as the left-handed batter scored 1210 runs in 13 Tests with the help of three centuries. While he started the year with 195 not out against South Africa at Sydney, he scored a fighting 180 runs in 422 balls against the hosts India at Ahmedabad. Australia also retained the Ashes trophy after leveling the away Test series by 2-2, and Khawaja finished as the leading run-scorer with 496 runs in 10 innings, including one century at Birmingham (141). So, there was no doubt of his success as the ICC Men's Test Cricketer of the Year 2023.
2024: Jasprit Bumrah
Indian fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah won the ICC Men's Test Cricketer of the Year 2024 award for his extraordinary bowling performances throughout the year. Bumrah picked up 71 wickets in 13 Tests in 2024, including five five-wicket hauls. He had an incredible bowling average of 14.92. While it was the fifth most Test wickets for an Indian bowler in a calendar year, Bumrah created new history with 32 wickets in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, where four out of five matches were played in 2024.