Cricket Australia chose the Indian speed star Jasprit Bumrah as the captain of their Test team of the year, which also includes Yashasvi Jaiswal, on Tuesday in recognition of his outstanding achievements in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

With 71 wickets from 13 games at an average of 14.92 and a strike rate of 30.16, Bumrah has been the greatest bowler in Test cricket in 2024. CA, the nation’s cricket governing body, praised Bumrah, calling it “one of the greatest calendar years by a bowler ever; not since Dale Steyn’s 74-wicket 2008 has a pace bowler been as prolific and not since Imran Khan’s 1982 (62 victims at 13.29) has one taken them at a better rate.”

While every other seamer walked around the field, he destroyed England with 19 poles in four Test matches on useless home pitches. Yes, he has destroyed Australia on one of the best visiting quick tours in history.

“Bumrah also gets the captaincy reins – a job he could well see more of in the future, as he is the only member of this side to have skipped their team in 2024 (leading India to victory in Perth),” CA said.

With 30 wickets in only four Test matches, the unmatched fast bowler has emerged as the top bowler in the current Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Because of his batting prowess this year, Jaiswal was selected as the opener in addition to Bumrah.

With 1,478 runs from 15 games (29 innings) at an average of 54.74, nine fifties, and three hundreds, Jaiswal ended the season as the second-highest scorer. “India’s brilliant young batting star was only 22 for all but four days of 2024, but played with the composure and class of a veteran,” CA remarked of Jaiswal.

“India defeated England in the home Test series thanks to Jaiswal’s back-to-back double hundreds in February, and the left-hander’s incredible 161 in Perth was also crucial.

“His 36 sixes set a new global record for a calendar year, and his runs total is the most by an Indian opener in a calendar year.”

Despite having a strong season with 37 wickets from nine games at an average of 24.02 and two five-wicket hauls, Australia skipper Pat Cummins was left out of the starting lineup.

The two Australians on the squad were Alex Carey and Josh Hazlewood; the other players were Ben Duckett, Joe Root, and Harry Brook from England; Rachin Ravindra and Matt Henry from New Zealand; Kamindu Mendis from Sri Lanka; and Keshav Maharaj from South Africa.