Top 5 Test Debutants in 2018

2018 has been a year of a breakout stars showing their talent at the highest level. Let’s take a look five debutants who really impressed with bat and ball in 2018.

Mayank Agarwal

The debutant certainly played exceedingly well in his debut game for India against Australia in the Boxing Day Test played at Melbourne Cricket Ground. He scored 76 and 42 in the third game of the series to see India notch up their first win at MCG after 37 years. Agarwal was overlooked at times for experienced players like Murali Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan on the tours of England and then West indies. Certainly, given his superb temperament and technique, Agarwal will certainly open the innings alongside Prithvi Shaw for the coming season.

Rishabh Pant

The wicket-keeper batsman certainly responded well to the challenges presented in Test cricket. Pant did not play in the first game of the five-match Test series in England. He really showed character and temperament to smash a big hundred in the final game of the series played at The Oval. He continued his rich vein of form in the home series against West Indies ad chipped in with vital scores for the side. Pant has been exceptional behind the stumps and also took 11 catches against Australia in the first game of the series played at Adelaide Oval.

Sam Curran

The 20-year old has been standout performer for England in Test cricket this year. He made his debut for England against Pakistan at Headingley, Leeds. He contributed well with bat and ball to help England level the two-match Test series. Curran put in crucial performances with the bat during the Test series against India played at home. In the opening game of the series played at Edgbaston, he scored a crucial half-century and also picked five-wickets in the game to see England eke out a close win. He also bagged a lucrative deal for the coming season of Indian Premier League and will play for Kings XI Punjab.

Ben Foakes

Wicket-keeper batsman earned his maiden call-up to the national side for the series in Sri Lanka. The 25-year old came into the Test series as a replacement for Jonny Bairstow, who was ruled out for the first two games. Foakes certainly delivered the goods with the bat and smashed a scintillating ton on debut to see England beat Sri Lanka and go 1-0 up in the series. He continued to chip in with crucial scores and ended up as the leading-run scorer for England in the three-match series against Sri Lanka.

With Foakes doing so well, England might just play Jonny Bairstow as a full-time batsman in the playing XI in Test cricket this season.

Jaspreet Bumrah

Jaspreet Bumrah certainly surprised many with his superlative bowling performances in his debut year for India. He delivered a special performance in the third and final game of the series against South Africa to see India win the game. He also picked up five-wicket hauls in Nottingham and Melbourne, where India notched up historic victories. He currently has 48 wickets in 9 matches in Test cricket and would be looking to continue his good form next year as well.

Bumrah has already established his place in the shorter formats of the game for India.