Cricket is a team sport, yet every day, every month and every year we find a few select faces who stand out in a crowd of hundreds of players representing their national flag on the field. 2023 was no different. While the year will be remembered for Australia completing a three-peat of the ICC World Test Championship, The Ashes and ICC Cricket World Cup, India's dominant run at home ending with heartbreak from a World Cup final loss, the aggression of the South African cricket team, England's 'Bazball' school of test cricket and the failure of old World Cup-winning empires like Sri Lanka, England and the West Indies, certain individuals captured the attention of fans with their performances. Let's take a look at some of this year's best players:
Virat Kohli (India)
India's star player had quite a redemption arc in 2023 after a disappointing run from 2020-2022. Virat was breaking records day and night, left and right, sometimes even on days off with the bat. Be it becoming the first batsman to reach 50 ODI centuries, scoring a whopping 765 runs in this year's Cricket World Cup to have the best ever campaign by a batsman, or the legendary batting figures of the chasing legendary Sachin Tendulkar, Virat has given enough reasons for India to call him their 'GOAT' and follow his every move.
Overall, in seven Tests this year, Virat has scored 557 runs at an average of 55.70, with two centuries and a fifty in 10 innings. His best score was 186.
In 27 ODIs this year, Virat has scored 1,377 runs at an average of 72.47 and a strike rate of 99.13, with six centuries and eight fifties in just 24 innings. His best score is 166
After all, in all 34 international matches so far this year, Virat has scored 1,934 runs at an average of 66.68, with eight centuries and nine fifties in 34 innings. Now that the batsman was scheduled to play the Test series against South Africa, he can cross the 2,000-run mark himself this year during the Boxing Day Test at Centurion from December 26.
Virat also had a fine IPL, scoring 639 runs in 14 matches at an average of 53.25, with two centuries and six fifties, making a statement that he is not done yet in T20s.
Shubman Gill (India)
If 2023 belonged to the 'King Kohli', the 'Prince of Indian Cricket' too started taking baby steps towards greatness and became Virat's successor. While Gill is still finding his feet in T20Is and Tests, this Punjab batsman roared loudly in the ODIs and even became the number one ranked batsman.
In five Tests this year, Gill scored 230 runs at an average of 32.85, with a century. His best score was 128. In 29 ODIs, Gill scored 1,584 runs at an average of 63.36 and a strike rate of over 105, with five centuries and nine fifties. His best score was 208. Gill has had a disappointing 2023 in T20Is, scoring 312 runs in 13 innings at an average of 26.00, with a century and fifty. His best score is 126*.
In 47 international matches this year, Gill has scored 2,126 runs at an average of 48.31, with seven centuries and 10 fifties.
He also finished as the 'Player of the Tournament' in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for Gujarat Titans, scoring 890 runs in 17 innings at an average of 59.33, with three centuries and four fifties. Gill was awarded the 'Orange Cap' for most runs this IPL season.
Travis Head (Australia)
Travis Head was Australia's man for the big moments this year, piling up runs when he mattered most. He gave Team India and its fans sleepless nights with his centuries in the finals of the ICC World Test Championship and the ICC Cricket World Cup, making him a contender for a major ICC Players Award.
In 11 Tests this year, he piled up 902 runs at an average of 45.10 with an impressive strike rate of over 76, with a century and five fifties in 21 innings. His best score was 163. In 13 ODIs this year, Head made 570 runs at an average of 51.81 and a strike rate of over 133. He scored two centuries and three fifties in 13 innings, with the best score of 137. Notable on above 174, this devastating left-hander scored 209 runs in six T20Is at an average of 34.83, with a knock of 91 as his only fifty.
In 30 international matches this year, Head scored 1,681 runs at an average of 45.43 and a strike rate of over 97, with three centuries and nine fifties. His best score is 163.
Rohit Sharma (India)
The 'Hitman' will be remembered this year as a synonym for selflessness. He led the Men in Blue from the front with his fearless batting in the ICC Cricket World Cup, easing the pressure from batters coming after him and giving them time. He led India to a ten-match win streak in the tournament and ended up heartbroken in the final.
In 27 ODIs, Rohit scored 1,255 runs at an average of 52.29 and a strike rate of over 117, with two centuries and nine fifties to his name. In seven Tests this year, he has scored 540 runs at an average of 49.09 with two centuries and two fifties in 11 innings. His best score was 120.
In 34 international matches this year, Rohit has scored 1,795 runs at an average of 51.28, with four tons and 11 fifties in 37 innings, with a best score of 131. He also led Mumbai Indians (MI) to the IPL 2023 play-offs , although his batting was disappointing.
Aiden Markram (South Africa)
This stylish South African batsman is the leader for the future. In two Tests this year, he scored a total of 276 runs at an average of 69.00, with a century and fifty. His best score was 115. In 24 ODIs he scored 1,033 runs at an average of 51.55 and a strike rate of over 113, with three tons and five fifties. His best score was 175. He also scored a ton off 49 balls in the Cricket World Cup, which became the fastest in tournament history until Glenn Maxwell made one off 40 balls against the Netherlands. In eight T20Is, he scored 239 runs at an average of 39.83 and a strike rate of over 162, with the best score of 49.
In 34 international matches, Markram has scored 1,548 runs at an average of 51.60 this year, with four centuries and six fifties in 36 innings. However, his IPL with Sunrisers Hyderabad as captain and batsman was disappointing.
Usman Khawaja (Australia)
Test specialist Usman Khawaja played a crucial role in Australia's success in the World Test Championship and The Ashes. In 12 Tests this year, he scored 1,168 runs at an average of 55.61, with three centuries and six fifties. His best score was 195*.
Daryl Mitchell (New Zealand)
This late-blooming all-rounder in his thirties bloomed like no other this year. In the absence of skipper Kane Williamson, he has acted as a batting pillar for the Kiwis this year. In seven Tests he scored 469 runs at an average of 42.63, with a century and four fifties in 13 innings. His best score was 102. In 26 ODIs he scored 1,204 runs at an average of 52.34, with five centuries and three fifties in 25 innings. His best score was 134. In 15 T20Is, he scored 283 runs at an average of 21.76, with two half-centuries.
Overall, he finished as the second most successful batsman of the year with 1,956 runs in 48 matches and 52 innings at an average of 41.61, with six centuries and nine fifties in 52 innings, with the best score of 134.
Daryl was New Zealand's second most successful batsman in World Cup 2023, scoring 552 runs in 10 matches with two centuries and two fifties at an average of 69.00. The all-rounder has 1,069 runs for Kiwis in 56 T20Is at an average of 24.86, with five fifties and also eight wickets. He is an all-rounder as a batsman. He also took 11 wickets across formats throughout the year.
Mitchell Marsh (Australia)
The Australian all-rounder has been in turmoil this year, going after the bowlers from ball one. He played a crucial role in Australia's success at the Ashes and ICC Cricket World Cup.
Across four Tests this year, Marsh has scored 403 runs at an average of 67.16 and a strike rate of over 73, with a century and three fifties in eight innings. His best score was 118. In 20 ODIs this year, Marsh has scored 858 runs at an average of 47.66, with two centuries and five fifties. His best score is 177*. In three T20Is, Marsh scored 186 runs at an average of 186.00, including two fifties and a best score of 92*.
In 27 international matches this year, he has scored 1,447 runs at an average of 57.88, with three centuries and 10 fifties in 31 innings. His best score was 177*. He also picked up six wickets across formats this year.
Ravindra Jadeja (India)
This great Indian all-rounder ended the year with 66 international wickets this year in 35 matches, the most by any bowler this year. 33 of these came in Tests, 31 in ODIs and two in T20Is.
Across all formats this year he scored 613 runs at an average of 30.65, with two fifties, finding most of his success in Tests, with 281 runs in seven Tests. His best score is 70.
Jadeja also played in IPL 2023 and scored the winning runs to guide Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to their fifth title. He finished the tournament with 190 valuable runs in 12 innings and 20 wickets.
Kuldeep Yadav (India)
This spinner has been unplayable this year and finished the year strongly with 63 scalps in 39 matches. He took 49 in ODIs and the rest 14 in T20Is, with best bowling figures of 5/17.
Mitchell Starc (Australia)
The 'World Cup year of Starc' wasn't as scary as expected, but he still had a fine year with the ball, finding success in the WTC final (four wickets), The Ashes (top wicket-taker with 23) and Cricket World Cup (16 wickets). He finished the year with 59 wickets in 22 matches, with best figures of 5/33. He took 34 wickets in Tests and 25 in ODIs.
Starc saved his absolute best for the WTC final, the Ashes and the World Cup knockout matches, cementing his reputation as an Australian great.
Gerald Coetzee (South Africa)
Coetzee made his debut in all formats this year and what a success story he has been for Proteas, taking 46 wickets in 20 matches with best figures of 4/44. Coetzee took nine wickets in Tests, 31 in ODIs and six in T20Is.
Coetzee had a memorable Cricket World Cup debut, leading Proteas to the semi-finals with a 20-wicket campaign, the most by a Proteas bowler in a single tournament edition.
Mohammed Shami (India)
While the veteran pacer had to spend some time on the sidelines this year due to the emergence of young blood, Shami spewed venom with the ball in his hand. He finished with 56 wickets in 23 international matches, with best figures of 7/57. Only 13 of these wickets came in Test cricket.
Shami had a memorable 2023 World Cup, bursting into the thick of the field and stealing the show with a 24-wicket campaign, topping the charts within just seven matches. His best marks were 7/57.
He also picked up the 'Purple Cap' for most wickets in IPL 2023, with 28 wickets in 17 matches.
Pat Cummins (Australia)
The Australian skipper quashed all his critics this year, showing calm nerves and sheer class as a player and leader. He completed the three-peat for Australia with the WTC title, the Ashes and the ICC Cricket World Cup title and shone in each of these key events.
Cummins finished with 49 wickets in 23 matches this year with best bowling figures of 6/91. 32 of these wickets came in Tests while 17 came in ODIs.
Cummins also put in some valuable performances with the bat during the Ashes and the World Cup, scoring 393 runs in 26 innings at an average of 21.83 this year. His 44* against England in an instant classic first Ashes Test, 12* in a double century stand with Glenn Maxwell against Afghanistan in the Cricket World Cup immediately come to mind.
(This story has not been edited by DailyExpertNews staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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