After the ODI and the T20I Team of 2022, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced the Test team of 2022. Wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant was the only Indian to feature in this XI. The left-handed batter had a great year both behind the stumps and with the bat, scoring 680 runs from 12 innings at an average of 61.81 and a strike rate of 90.90.
He achieved those numbers with the help of two hundreds and four half-centuries. The 25-year-old hit 21 maximums in the traditional format of the game while producing six stumpings and taking 23 catches as a wicketkeeper.
After a terrific year, especially in the longest format, it is a shame that Pant will have to miss out on cricketing action for the majority of 2023 after sustaining serious injuries in a car crash in December last year. While he has already been ruled out of IPL 2023, some reports suggest that he could even miss the ODI World Cup in October.
Ben Stokes named captain of ICC Test Team of the year 2022
Star England all-rounder Ben Stokes was named the captain of the ICC Test team. Australia had the maximum representation in the side as 4 Aussies found their place in the side: Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, speedster Pat Cummins and lone specialist spinner in Nathan Lyon.
West Indies' Kraigg Brathwaite, Pakistan captain Babar Azam, Englishmen Jonny Bairstow and James Anderson, South African Kagiso Rabada were the other players who featured in the side.
The finalist of the 2021-23 World Test Championship cycle though will be determined after Australia tour of India in which the Kangaroos will play four Test matches. While the Aussies are more or less through to the final, India will have to win at least two more Test matches to enter the final. South Africa-West Indies is the other Test series that could decide who plays the WTC final 2021-23.
ICC Men's Test Team Of The Year 2022: Usman Khawaja, Kraigg Brathwaite, Marnus Labuschagne, Babar Azam, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes (captain), Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Pat Cummins, Kagiso Rabada, Nathan Lyon, James Anderson