The year 2024 showcased a revival of Test cricket with thrilling matches, outstanding individual performances, and emerging talents like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Kamindu Mendis. Below is a ranking of the top five Test knocks that captured the essence of resilience, aggression, and sheer dominance in the longest format.
#5 Kamindu Mendis – 102 vs Bangladesh in Sylhet
Kamindu Mendis proved to be Sri Lanka’s savior in a crucial Test against Bangladesh.
- Situation: Sri Lanka was reeling at 57/5, staring at a potential collapse.
- Performance: Kamindu’s 102 off 131 balls was a counter-attacking masterpiece that brought his side back into the game.
- Impact: His knock, along with another century in the second innings, secured a commanding 328-run victory for Sri Lanka.
#4 Harry Brook – 317 vs Pakistan in Multan
England’s Harry Brook delivered a staggering triple century on a flat Multan pitch.
- Situation: With Pakistan posting a massive 556, England needed a monumental response.
- Performance: Brook smashed 317 off 322 balls, sharing a record-breaking 454-run partnership with Joe Root.
- Impact: England’s colossal total of 823 led to an innings victory, solidifying Brook’s status as one of the year’s top performers.
#3 Yashasvi Jaiswal – 161 vs Australia in Perth
Yashasvi Jaiswal continued his dream run with a remarkable knock in Perth.
- Situation: After a duck in the first innings, Jaiswal faced a daunting chase on a spicy Perth track against a fierce Australian bowling attack.
- Performance: His composed 161 featured exquisite drives, sweeps, and upper cuts, setting up a massive 295-run win for India.
- Impact: This innings solidified Jaiswal’s position as a rising superstar in world cricket.
#2 Aiden Markram – 106 vs India in Cape Town
Markram’s valiant second-innings century came under extraordinary pressure.
- Situation: On a bowler-friendly Cape Town surface, South Africa needed to claw back from a 98-run deficit after being bundled out for just 55 in the first innings.
- Performance: Markram stood tall with a 103-ball 106, the only player to cross 12 runs in the innings.
- Impact: Though South Africa lost by seven wickets, Markram’s knock was a testament to his grit against relentless Indian bowlers.
#1 Ollie Pope – 196 vs India in Hyderabad
Ollie Pope produced one of the finest knocks on Indian soil in recent memory.
- Situation: England trailed by 190 runs after the first innings and was struggling at 163/5 in the second.
- Performance: Pope’s 196 off 276 balls was a counter-attacking masterclass, built on sweeps and reverse sweeps that dismantled India’s spinners.
- Impact: His knock laid the foundation for a dramatic 28-run victory, thanks to Tom Hartley’s seven-wicket haul in the second innings.
Conclusion
The year 2024 was a memorable one for Test cricket, filled with outstanding batting performances that will be remembered for years. Each of these knocks demonstrated not only individual brilliance but also the unmatched drama and thrill of the longest format of the game.
