Like almost everything else, Test cricket bore the brunt of the unforeseen situation in 2020. The World Test Championship (WTC) saw several series postponed, which meant that the year saw only 22 Tests, 17 less than were played in 2019. As many as 19 of them ended in a result – of which 13 were home wins – and ten went into the fifth day. There was only one day-night Test, compared to four in 2019.
Team Overviews
Australia
The current WTC leaders played only three Tests in 2020. They began emphatically, trouncing New Zealand by 279 runs at Sydney to complete a 3-0 sweep for the Trans-Tasman Trophy. In the first Test against India at Adelaide, they staged a stirring comeback, bowling the visitors out for 36 before winning by eight wickets. But their batting woes showed at Melbourne, and the four-match series entered 2021 at 1-1.
Moment to remember: Conjuring a come-from-behind eight-wicket win at Adelaide after Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood combined to bundle India out for 36.
Moment to forget: Going down tamely by eight wickets in the Boxing Day Test against India, with their totals reading 195 and 200.
Bangladesh
Among the ten teams that played Test cricket in the year, Bangladesh played the least number of matches. The Tigers lost the first Test against Pakistan by an innings, while the second Test had to be postponed. At home against Zimbabwe, they prevailed by an innings and 106 runs inside four days in the only Test. Their two-Test home series against Australia and New Zealand were deferred as well.
Moment to remember: Securing a dominating innings win against Zimbabwe at Dhaka.
Moment to forget: Losing to Pakistan by an innings and 44 runs at Rawalpindi.
England
As often is the case, England played the most number of Tests in the year. Down 1-0 in the four-match series in South Africa at the start of the year, they turned the tide to clinch the rubber 3-1 and retain the Basil D’Oliveira Trophy. In three-match series during the delayed home season, they beat the West Indies 2-1 after losing the first Test, and beat Pakistan 1-0 on the back of a tense three-wicket win in the first Test.
Moment to remember: Beating South Africa by 189 runs in the final session of the second Test at Cape Town, a result that changed the course of the series.
Moment to forget: Losing to the West Indies by four wickets at Southampton, owing to an ordinary show in the first innings.
India
India played four Tests, all of them overseas. They endured a 2-0 walloping in New Zealand, where their batsmen came a cropper against the pacers. Their quest to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy began off the wrong foot, what with their record low at Adelaide. However, they bounced back admirably in the Boxing Day Test. As things stand, they face a stiff challenge from Australia and New Zealand in the WTC.
Moment to remember: Bouncing back to beat Australia by eight wickets at Melbourne, leaving the series at 1-1 with two matches left.
Moment to forget: Getting dismissed for just 36 – their lowest total and the lowest by any team in nearly 66 years – en route to an eight-wicket defeat at Adelaide.
New Zealand
The Black Caps ended the year on the verge of toppling Australia in the Test rankings. They lost the final Test at Sydney to be blanked 3-0, but found their mojo at home. First up were India, who were soundly beaten 2-0. The result was the same in the series against the West Indies, and as the year ended, Pakistan became the latest team to be at the receiving end of New Zealand’s home run, in the first of two Tests.
Moment to remember: Bowling India out for 124 at Christchurch, which turned a first-innings deficit of seven into a series-sealing seven-wicket win.
Moment to forget: Suffering a 3-0 whitewash in the Trans-Tasman Trophy through a 279-run defeat at Sydney.
Pakistan
Pakistan started the year with an innings win against Bangladesh. They put themselves into a great position in the first Test against England at Old Trafford, only to squander it with a shoddy second-innings display. This result made the difference, as the three-match series was lost 1-0. The last week of the year saw them go down to New Zealand by 107 runs in the Boxing Day Test at Mount Maunganui.
Moment to remember: Taking a first-innings lead of 107 against England at Old Trafford to raise hopes of victory.
Moment to forget: Eventually losing the Old Trafford Test by three wickets, failing to defend 276 despite having England at 117/5.
South Africa
The Proteas entered 2020 holding a 1-0 lead in the home series against England. But their hopes of regaining the Basil D’Oliveira Trophy were dashed, as they hurtled to defeats in the next three Tests. Thereafter, their scheduled two-Test series in the Caribbean was postponed. However, there was reason to cheer as the year ended, due to an innings win against Sri Lanka in the Boxing Day Test at Centurion.
Moment to remember: Posting a gargantuan total of 621, the highest of the year, on the way to an innings win against Sri Lanka at Centurion.
Moment to forget: Getting routed by an innings and 53 runs at Port Elizabeth, which put paid to their hopes of regaining the Basil D’Oliveira Trophy.
Sri Lanka
The Lions started off with a 1-0 win in a two-match away series against Zimbabwe, who are not part of the WTC. Their two-match home series against England was deferred just when it was about to begin, and it will now be played in early 2021. They came into the Boxing Day Test at Centurion on the back of four consecutive wins against South Africa, but a defeat by an innings and 45 runs broke the streak.
Moment to remember: Reaching a sturdy 340/6 on the opening day of the Boxing Day Test against South Africa at Centurion.
Moment to forget: Slipping to defeat by an innings and 45 runs after conceding a total of 621 at Centurion.
West Indies
The West Indies won the respect of the cricket world for committing to tour England when the international game resumed after a hiatus of nearly four months. They went on to win the first Test at Southampton, but ultimately ceded the three-match series 2-1. Their scheduled home outing against South Africa was forced to be postponed. Later in the year, they were outplayed by a rampant New Zealand away.
Moment to remember: Taking a 1-0 lead in the series in England thanks to a four-wicket win in the first Test at Southampton.
Moment to forget: Crumbling from 53/0 to 138 all out in the first innings at Hamilton, which led to a defeat by an innings and 134 runs.
Zimbabwe
Though they are not part of the WTC, Zimbabwe did get to play Test cricket in the year, unlike Afghanistan and Ireland. At home, they took on Sri Lanka in two Tests, losing one and drawing the other. Away from home, they lost to Bangladesh by an innings and 106 runs.
Moment to remember: Taking a first-innings lead of 113 in the drawn second Test against Sri Lanka at Harare.
Moment to forget: Losing to Bangladesh by an innings and 106 runs at Dhaka.
Test Cricketer of the Year
Ben Stokes further established himself as England’s most potent force. Not only did he lead the batting charts with 641 runs at 58.27 (with a strike rate of 62.17 to boot), but he also chipped in with 19 wickets at 18.73 and captained against the West Indies at Southampton. He was the player of the series in South Africa, with a best of 120 at Port Elizabeth. He bettered this with 176 against the West Indies at Old Trafford.
The Cricket Cauldron Test Team of the Year
Dom Sibley (England)
Dean Elgar (South Africa)
Zak Crawley (England)
Kane Williamson (New Zealand, captain)
Ben Stokes (England)
Mohammad Rizwan (Pakistan)
Chris Woakes (England)
Ravichandran Ashwin (India)
Kyle Jamieson (New Zealand)
Stuart Broad (England)
Tim Southee (New Zealand)
Wishing everyone a happy and prosperous New Year.
The Cricket Cauldron 