No.1 Aiden Markram 106 vs India, Cape Town

On a surface so weighted in favour of bowlers it was later sanctioned by the ICC, Aiden Markram battled to a century against all the odds after South Africa were skittled for 55 on the opening morning. India hit just shy of 100 more than that in reply before Markram executed a gameplan on the impossible pitch to near perfection.

He stayed leg side, swerving the balls which reared up off cracks in the surface and got on top of those that scuttled through. He pounced on anything pulled back to short or overpitched, finding a way to score among a minefield. Of the 27 boundaries in South Africa's innings, Markram hit 19 of them to set-up a 79-run target to India, which was by no means a comfortable chase. In that ridiculous Test match as Dean Elgar faded into retirement, Markram finally embodied his status as South Africa's most important batter, and started their charge to the World Test Championship final.

No.2 Ollie Pope 196 vs India, Hyderabad

Facing down another arduous tour of India, with a young spin attack and questions over how well their attacking batters would fare on Indian pitches, England followed that script when they were bowled out for 246 on day one of the series. Having conceded a near-200 run first innings deficit, they were staring down a long barrel.

But, Ollie Pope dragged the match back into England’s hands single-handedly. While questions had persisted on Pope’s ability to construct an innings under pressure, here he faced down India’s relentless attack and trusted his instincts to get within four runs of a double, having faced just 208 balls. It was the pivotal chapter of a historic win, completed by Tom Hartley’s seven-for. Pope’s innings added to the echelons of great England batters in India, rivaling the contributions Kevin Pietersen, Alastair Cook and Joe Root from the modern era.

No.3 Harry Brook 123 vs New Zealand, Wellington

Few players at the same point in their careers as Brook can point to dominance in one country as he can in New Zealand. Already with greatness under his belt on England’s previous tour 12 months ago, he transcended those standards on their last assignment of 2024. After scoring 171 amid a series of dropped catches from New Zealand in the first Test, his 123 in Wellington was materially the better knock.

England were 43-4 before Brook came together with Pope to change the narrative. It was innings that epitomised why Brook is so much better than the rest - he can take risks they cannot. His second-fastest century and more than half of England’s innings total, it was the archetypal counter-attack to find success among the carnage.

No.4 Yashasvi Jaiswal 209 vs England, Visakhapatnam

After the first Test defeat in Hyderabad, India needed to hit back with a statement in Visakhapatnam. It was thanks to Yashasvi Jaiswal, who ascended to prodigal status in 2024, that they got it. His 209 in India’s first innings was the only score above 34, and his treatment of England’s spinners in particular was spectacular. It was the first of two doubles for Jaiswal in the series, the second coming in the following game at Rajkot. Having broken through in 2023, it was 2024 which showed the actual heights Jaiswal has the potential to reach.

No.5 Litton Das 138 vs Pakistan, Rawalpindi

Bangladesh were threatening their lowest-ever Test score when Litton Das and Mehidy Hasan Miraz came together in Rawalpindi. At 26-6, one wicket away from the tail, a defeat after going 1-0 up would have continued a frustrating year. Dogged by controversy heightened by protests back home, Das hit back over the course of four hours to mount a comeback for the ages.

By the time their partnership was broken, they had added 165 runs. A secondary partnership between Das and Hasan Mahmud (in which Das scored 55 of their 69 runs) brought them near parity with Pakistan’s first innings. Bangladesh went on to secure a six wicket victory, rivalling those they scripted in New Zealand in 2022.

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