Test cricket took a backseat for a good chunk of 2019, as the white ball dominated in a World Cup year. But the 40 Test matches that fell within our qualification period (from December 3, 2018 to December 3, 2019) still threw up some historic events, including India’s first series win in Australia, Afghanistan’s maiden victory (swiftly followed by another in Bangladesh), Sri Lanka’s triumph in South Africa (the first ever by an Asian side) and the first drawn Ashes series for 31 years.

We also witnessed arguably the two greatest innings in the format’s history, with Kusal Perera and Ben Stokes pulling off the unthinkable at Durban and Headingley respectively.

It led to some intriguing results when our panel of writers and broadcasters from across the world cast their votes. There are only two survivors from our team of 2018; four of our XI come from an Indian side which won four consecutive series in our qualification period; four from an Australian side which won just two of their five; two Kiwis (but no Kane Williamson); and a solitary Englishman (you can probably guess who that is) compared to three last year. Three of our XI were chosen by every member of our 31-strong panel.

1. Mayank Agarwal

9 Tests

872 runs at 67.07

3 hundreds, 3 fifties

81 per cent of the panel voted for him

10 Tests

772 runs at 48.25, 2 hundreds and 4 fifties

20 wickets at 37.90, strike rate 70.3

100 per cent of the panel voted for him

The year it clicked. Two Ashes hundreds, a few never-say-die spells (often when the rest have given up), another catch (Smith, at The Oval) to add to the gallery, and the recognition of a public that was waiting for him after all. One of only three unanimous picks in our list.

7. BJ Watling (wk)

9 Tests

605 runs at 67.22, 2 hundreds and 3 fifties

38 catches and 3 stumpings

77 per cent of the panel voted for him

Although Quinton de Kock scored marginally more runs than Watling in the qualification period, the New Zealand wicketkeeper has been a key figure in his country’s rise to the number two spot in the ICC Test rankings. His highlight of the year was his double-century against England in the innings victory at Mount Maunganui Test.

8. Pat Cummins

13 Tests

65 wickets at 20.36, strike rate 45.0

2 five-wicket hauls, 1 ten-wicket match

100 per cent of the panel voted for him

The bearded, brooding quick with the chequered private life has bustled into the top 10 of the Test bowling charts after a string of in-your-face spells. With 47 wickets from 11 matches at under 20 – including 16 on Aussie soil – he has emerged as India’s grunting wrecking ball. After years of doing the dirty work, he’s now become, in cahoots with Jasprit Bumrah, one half of a fearsome partnership, Kohli’s chosen enforcers. Bumrah may have the higher profile, but Shami has more votes from our panel.

11. Jasprit Bumrah

6 Tests

34 wickets at 14.02, strike rate 36.4

3 five-wicket hauls

58 per cent of the panel voted for him

He’s been a Test cricketer for less than two years but Bumrah has already claimed five five-fors in 12 Tests, with 34 wickets bagged in the six matches he’s played in our voting period. Already the No.1 ranked ODI bowler in the world, he is vying with Cummins and Rabada for the title of the most complete quick in the game. He is certainly the most eye-catching – his chest-on action, propelled by those ramrod-straight, hyperextending arms creating a slingshot effect – is one of the great sights in cricket today.