The WCM team of the year itself, voted for by a panel including David ‘Bumble’ Lloyd, Wisden Almanack editor Lawrence Booth, and BBC Test Match Special commentator Dan Norcross, contained a host of stars of the world game, from those like Virat Kohli and Steve Smith, already established as true greats, to the likes of Marnus Labuschagne and Mayank Agarwal, making names for themselves after breakout 2019s.

The qualification cut-off period of December 3, 2018 – December 3, 2019 contained several momentous Test matches and series, including the first ever series wins by Asian sides in both Australia and South Africa, Afghanistan’s first two Test victories, and Wisden’s two Test innings of the decade.

The strong XI chosen meant many with strong claims missed out. Here are six who came close to making the cut, but were unlucky enough to receive just too few votes to not make Wisden Cricket Monthly’s Test team of the year:

Rohit Sharma (India)

7 Tests
662 runs at 73.55
3 hundreds, 1 fifty
35 per cent of the panel voted for him

Rohit Sharma’s unbeaten 63 was quietly vital in India’s victory at Melbourne which helped them take a 2-1 series lead, while his promotion to open the batting back home brought him all sorts of records. But with Tom Latham and Mayank Agarwal being ever-presents for their sides inside the qualification period, and starring home and away in that time, the opening spot was locked up, and Marnus Labuschagne finished level on votes with Rohit, pipping him to the No.3 spot on Chief Selector’s Call.

Kane Williamson (New Zealand)

9 Tests
826 runs at 75.09
3 hundreds, 4 fifties
29 per cent of the panel voted for him

Though Kane Williamson’s stats are stellar in the qualification period, it’s possible his staggering series-sealing efforts in Abu Dhabi were diminished in the minds of the panel by only just making the cut-off, and his other big scores came at home against weaker attacks or in unperilous match situations. In any case, isn’t it fitting for Williamson to end 2019 missing out on selection by the barest of margins?

Josh Hazlewood

10 Tests
43 wickets at 24.53, strike rate 54.6, 1 five-wicket haul
65 runs at 9.28
19 per cent of the panel voted for him

It’s hard to fault Josh Hazlewood’s 2019. With 20 wickets at 21.85, he played a key part in Australia retaining the Ashes, and he was only slightly under par against India at the turn of the year. He is simply another victim of the brilliance of Pat Cummins, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Shami, which saw that trio all selected ahead of him.