2019 has been a wild ride for the England Test team. While they have been crowned world champions in ODI cricket, the Test outfit hasn’t been quite as consistent.

Here are 32 bonkers moments that summed up England’s year:

Starting the year by being bowled out for 77 in Barbados

After having West Indies 120-6, being on the receiving end of an unbeaten 295-run stand from Shane Dowrich and Jason Holder

Roston Chase, a batting all-rounder with a bowling average of over 40, taking 8-60 against them

The above three all happening in the same Test

 

Batting Ben Foakes, their Player of the Series in their most recent tour, at eight in Barbados and Antigua

 

Dropping Ben Foakes two Tests after being England’s Player of the Series

Mark Wood bowling one of the fastest spells ever delivered by an English bowler in his only Test appearance of the year

 

Getting bowled out for 85 against Ireland at Lord’s 10 days after winning the World Cup

Jack Leach scoring 92 opening the batting

Bowling Ireland out for 38

James Anderson bowling just four overs in the first Ashes Test before picking up a series-ending calf injury

 

Having Australia 122-8 in their first innings, being 282-4 in their own first innings and yet still losing by 251 runs

 

Jofra Archer hitting arguably the best batsman since Donald Bradman, in the form of his life on the head on Test debut

Test cricket’s first concussion substitute being hit on the helmet off the first legal ball he faced

Jofra Archer (still on debut) bowling more overs than all the other English seam bowlers combined in Australia’s second innings

 

Jofra Archer taking 6-45 at Headingley bowling fast-medium

Getting bowled out for 67

Ben Stokes effectively bowling a 24.2 over spell

 

The last hour of Headingley

A record run chase, Stokes’ 135*, Leach’s 1*, Australia’s dreadful review, Lyon’s missed run out, the lbw not given, the winning cut shot for four, Leach’s reenactment of his single, take your pick.

Craig Overton being picked out of the blue ahead of Sam Curran at Old Trafford

 

Craig Overton nearly keeping England’s Ashes hopes alive with the bat at Old Trafford

 

Putting in their most complete Test performance of the year at The Oval with Mitchell Marsh still taking 5-46 in England’s first innings

Stuart Broad having David Warner on toast throughout the Ashes

Batting patiently for one day at Mount Maunganui before getting bored

Having New Zealand 127-4 in their first innings with both Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor in the pavilion yet still conceding 615-9

 

Making Mitchell Santner look like Garry Sobers for one Test

 

Ollie Pope keeping wicket for just the fifth time in first-class cricket in the Hamilton Test

Making 400 for the first time in the year yet still sneaking in a collapse of 21-5

 

THAT Joe Denly drop

 

Half their squad falling ill in South Africa

 

Almost exclusively bowling bouncers when all evidence pointed to doing the opposite

 

Genuinely having people believe that they could chase 376 despite everything that happened in the Centurion Test up until that point and the way England have batted for most of 2019

 

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