Cricket.com.au's Test team of 2018

1) Kusal Mendis (Sri Lanka)

M: 12 | Runs: 1023 | Ave: 46.50 | HS: 196 | 100s: 4 | 50s: 4

Having scored two centuries as an opener in the first half of 2018, the 23-year-old Sri Lankan star continued to impress after he shifted down the order. His gutsy 86 in Colombo almost steered his side to a record run chase against England and his fighting knocks in Wellington and Christchurch against New Zealand rounded out an impressive year.

Image Id: A9D19CAE0ABB41A8ACF9422A56F36039 Image Caption: Mendis was one of only two batsmen to pass 1000 runs in Tests this year // Getty

2) Tom Latham (New Zealand)

M: 7 | Runs: 658 | Ave: 59.81 | HS: 264no | 100s: 2 | 50s: 2

The Kiwi opener scored more than two thirds of his runs in just two innings, but he’s worth recognising for his dominant series against Sri Lanka to finish 2018. The left-hander followed up his unbeaten 264 in Wellington, the highest individual score and one of just two double centuries for the year, with 176 a week later, while his 207-ball 83 against England in April helped the Kiwis secure the draw that handed them a famous series win.

Image Id: CF1777BDDA6B4A2398EC0A908E984AE7 Image Caption: Latham belted 264 against Sri Lanka in Wellington // Getty

3) Kane Williamson (New Zealand, c)

M: 7 | Runs: 651 | Ave: 59.18 | HS: 139 | 100s: 2 | 50s: 3

It was no great surprise that a breakthrough year for New Zealand’s Test side came on the back of their skipper’s brilliance. The classy right-hander scored a crucial century in Auckland to put the Black Caps on course for a first series win over England in almost two decades, and his double of 89 and 139 in Abu Dhabi secured a first away victory over Pakistan in almost 50 years.

Image Id: 062A9C18AB2C4400AC52AB26F433B825 Image Caption: New Zealand skipper Williamson helped his team produce a memorable year // Getty

4) Virat Kohli (India)

M: 13 | Runs: 1322 | Ave: 55.08 | HS: 153 | 100s: 5 | 50s: 5

Another supreme year from the world’s best batsman, who scored almost 300 more Test runs than any player in 2018. Hundreds in the UK (twice), South Africa, Australia and at home underlined his class in all conditions, while his ability to conquer his final frontier – Test runs in England – highlighted his mental strength. It wasn’t enough to earn his side a coveted series win away from home, but that could change in the first Test of the new year.

5) AB de Villiers (South Africa)

M: 7 | Runs: 638 | Ave: 53.16 | HS: 126no | 100s: 1 | 50s: 6

His shock mid-year retirement meant we only saw AB de Villiers in seven Tests this year, but he signed off from the Proteas in superb fashion. The right-hander passed fifty in half of his 14 innings and his unbeaten 126 against Australia in Port Elizabeth was one of the best innings of the year and possibly even the past decade. One of the greats of the modern game did enough to win the No.5 spot ahead of Kiwi Henry Nicholls, who impressed with three unbeaten hundreds in a strong year for the Black Caps.

6) Jos Buttler (England, wk)

M: 10 | Runs: 760 | Ave: 44.70 | HS: 106 | 100s: 1 | 50s: 6

Having all but demanded a Test recall on the back of stunning form in white-ball cricket, Buttler was a reliable source of runs down the order for England, often changing the course of a Test match after a top-order stumble. His maiden Test ton against India at Trent Bridge came after his side had been 4-62, while he also posted two crucial half-centuries when his team needed them on their tour of Sri Lanka. He only took the gloves in one Test this year, but he's a class wicketkeeper and we’re backing him to keep in this XI, just ahead of Aussie skipper Tim Paine.

7) Jason Holder (West Indies)

M: 6 | Runs: 336 | Ave: 37.33 | HS: 74 | 50s: 2 | Wkts: 33 | Ave: 12.39 | BBI: 6-59 | 5wi: 4

England’s Sam Curran was unlucky to miss out after an impressive debut year in Test cricket, but the lion-hearted Windies skipper gets the nod as the allrounder in our side. A match-winning 10-wicket haul against Bangladesh in Jamaica was the highlight of Holder’s year, while he also completed an impressive double against India in Hyderabad, scoring 52 and taking five wickets, including Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane.

Image Id: 1D6B3ACCA1214F72B12517F21C2F449D Image Caption: Holder showed his all-round ability in 2018 // Getty

8) Kagiso Rabada (South Africa)

M: 10 | Wkts: 52 | Ave: 20.07 | BBI: 6-54 | 5wi: 2 | 10wm: 1

Another superb 12 months from a fast bowler who, despite being aged just 23, is already among some of the greats of the game. His 11-wicket haul against Australia in Port Elizabeth caught the attention of both cricket lovers and the match referee, while he proved he’s a man for all conditions with seven wickets against Sri Lanka in Galle. He was the leading wicket-taker in the world this year and it’s hard to think he won’t be again at some stage in the next decade or so.

9) Nathan Lyon (Australia)

M: 10 | Wkts: 49 | Ave: 34.02 | BBI: 6/122 | 5wi: 2 | 10wm: 0

Sri Lanka’s Dilruwan Perera was statistically the world’s leading spinner in 2018, but Lyon wasn’t far behind and we’ve opted for Australia’s star tweaker given he played the majority of his Tests away from turning pitches in Asia. Lyon went wicketless just twice in 20 innings this year, the highlights of his 2018 being the back-to-back five-wicket hauls against India and his stunning burst of four wickets in six balls that ripped the heart out of Pakistan’s middle order in Abu Dhabi. He also sent down 145 more overs than anyone else this year at an impressive economy rate of 2.70.

10) Mohammad Abbas (Pakistan)

M: 7 | Wkts: 38 | Ave: 13.76 | BBI: 5-33 | 5wi: 3 | 10wm: 1

A simply brilliant year from a man who proves you don’t have to bowl quick to be destructive at the highest level. A steady right-armer, Abbas picked up match hauls of 10, nine, eight and seven wickets this year, thriving on dry decks in the UAE as well as early in the northern summer at Lords and in Dublin. He was frugal as well, conceding just 2.27 runs an over as he announced himself as one of the best bowlers in the world.

11) Jasprit Bumrah (India)

M: 9 | Wkts: 48 | Ave: 21.02 | BBI: 6-33 | 5wi: 3 | 10wm: 0

We simply had to include one of India’s impressive quicks in this side and the youngest of them, 25-year-old Jasprit Bumrah, gets the nod. In his very first year of Test cricket, the right-armer picked up five-wicket hauls in South Africa, England and Australia and went wicketless only twice, silencing any doubts that his uniquely whippy action can’t be effective and durable in the longest form of the game.