Alexander Postl |
2023 has been an exceptionally exciting year for cricket. But who was the standout player? There are a lot of them! Whether you are looking for an outstanding batsman, a budding captain or a fast bowler, you have all the options here.
So, if you like to track your career closely, it might be a good idea to write down all of these names. It’s impossible to say for sure, but it’s likely that these nine players have an overly exciting 2024 ahead of them.
pat cummins
In addition to being the captain of the Australian national team, Pat is also the captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad. His leadership saw the team finish third in the IPL and send Canadian betting sites with odds as short as their odds of winning. He was named Cricketer of the Year 2023 and received the following awards: almost The most expensive player ever in the 2024 IPL auction.
His cool-headedness was evident in all three competitions (WTC title, Ashes and ICC Cricket World Cup), proving to doubters that he can certainly keep his cool under pressure. Although he is not a ‘hidden gem’ of a player, it would be fair to say that there is much more to expect from Pat Cummins.
Aiden Markram
Aiden Markram takes the next spot on the list thanks to two particularly good tests. He averaged 69 points (276 total points). Not only that, but he makes it look easy. It’s a bit tricky to completely overlook his captaincy as Sunrisers Hyderabad haven’t really been up to standard this year. But we can’t ignore him because his international appearances are looking too good.
Daryl Mitchell
We had a particularly interesting thread late last year about the strength of Daryl Mitchell. Looks like there will be more controversies after he joins Chennai Super Kings in 2024!
Mitchell may have arrived later than most international cricketers, but he cannot be accused of not performing as he should. He showed his versatility as a batsman by averaging over 50 runs last year. Moreover, the Black Caps have made sure to include him on their team sheet.
Joe Root
With 47 international centuries to his name and at the age of 33, it is not impossible to think that Joe Root could be the greatest batsman ever to come out of England. He is third in the Test batting rankings and is averaging 43 runs.
Rachin Ravindra
Like Jaiswal, Rachin Ravindra also quickly made headlines. Ravindra, who excelled in the World Cup and impressed with bat and ball in the Test series against South Africa, is a key player for the Black Caps in all three formats.
The numbers don’t yet paint the full picture of how good Ravindra is. As I turn 25 later this year, my best moments are still ahead. Don’t be surprised if a more versatile player performs better.
Virat Kohli
After an uninspiring few years, Virat Kohli is back with a bang in the 2023 season. He has broken several records over the past 12 months. Notably, he has scored 50 ODI centuries and a whopping 765 runs in the Cricket World Cup.
These two accomplishments alone have earned him more than a place on the list. Moreover, he averaged 55.7 in Tests, which is significantly higher than anyone we’ve had on our list so far. He’s competing internationally at just over 66 years old!
Lorcan Tucker
Wicketkeepers often get left off ‘best’ lists, but not Lorcan Tucker. The Irishman scored a century in 2023 (only three other wicketkeepers have achieved this feat). The century came against Bangladesh, and he had several commendable performances against Sri Lanka and England. Considering he hasn’t played first-class cricket since 2020, he can’t help but be impressed.
Kagiso Rabada
You have to admire a truly good and fast bowler and that is Kagiso Rabada. He has the best strikeout rate and best bowling average of any fast bowler in 2023 (excluding the couple who took less than 15 wickets). Although his position in the South African team did not allow him to play as much as he would have liked, he played a key role in their victory.
Sophie Eccleston
Sophie Eccleston quickly took over as another standout bowler, retaining her spot as the number one ranked T20 bowler this year. She took the most wickets in the World Cup and put up an incredible show in the Women’s Ashes. She took a total of 10 wickets before setting the record for the fastest and youngest woman to take 100 IT20 wickets. Her appearance at Eccleston was so impressive that she even asked for her to join her men’s team!
