The year 2021 has brought back cricket to life. After having a dry run in the year 2020 in the wake of the Covid-19 Virus, cricket was back in 2021. There have been several amazing batting performances in this sensational year. The year 2021 also witnessed the first-ever World Test Championship final. Several players showed top batting performances in 2021. The top 10 batting performances in 2021 Test Cricket are as follows:
Steven Smith 131 VS India, Sydney:
Steven Smith has always been a solid rock in the Australian Cricket Team. The Sydney test is cherished because of the iconic partnership of Hanuma Vihari and Ravichandran Ashwin. But before the heroic effort, Steven Smith smoked the bowlers. Steven Smith seemed to be in the form of his life. Smith made sure that his team goes to a strong 338 runs in the first innings.
Travis Head 152 VS England, Brisbane Gabba:
The most recent entry on this list is Travis Head. This inning is one of the best in the Ashes of all time. Travis Head scored a quick-fire 152 and took the game away from the English Team. England bowlers had started a fightback with Australia for 195/5 but Travis Head just piled the pain on. Travis played at a strike rate of more than 100.
Rohit Sharma 161 VS England, Chennai:
Rohit Sharma always had a big, classy hundred coming his way. It was in the 2nd Test match of England Tour of India 2021. India was coming in from a loss in the first game. Rohit Sharma pulled out a new weapon from his arsenal. He swept the bowlers! Rohit Sharma and his sweeps were absolutely unstoppable. He went on to score a match-winning 161.
Joe Root 180* VS India, Lords London:
If Steven Smith from Australia troubles the Indian bowlers, Joe Root from England it is. In this historic test match that witnessed an amazing bowling spell from Mohammad Siraj, Joe Root was the lone fighter from England. Joe Root showed the class of a technically sound batsman. He hit every Indian bowler to every part of the ground. However, the hundred came in a losing cause.
Rohit Sharma 127 VS England, The Oval, London:
Rohit Sharma and his first overseas hundred certainly find a place on this list. Ravi Shastri said that this is one of Rohit Sharma’s best innings. Rohit Sharma played this inning in a different tone. He controlled his attacking instincts. He was supported by Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli at the non-striker’s end. Rohit Sharma proved that the backing that the Indian Cricket Team showed on his abilities has paid off.
Abid Ali 215* VS Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe:
The Pakistan Team toured Zimbabwe for a test series. This helped Zimbabwe’s Cricket grow. Abid Ali was exceptional with the bat. He showed what attacking batting in test cricket means. Abid Ali was like a hurricane. His drives of the Zimbabwe pacers were illustrious. Abid was supported by Azhar Ali at the other end who also scored an amazing 100. Hasan Ali was the star with the ball scalping 14 wickets in this match. Abid Ali’s score ensured that Pakistan get an innings victory.
Joe Root 228 VS Sri Lanka, Galle, Sri Lanka:
Joe Root has proven his mettle of playing spin in the Asian conditions. The skill that Joe Root used to dominate the Asian Spinners was the tried and tested sweep. Joe Root slogged and swept the hell out of the Sri Lankan spinners. Lasith Embuldeniya and Dilruwan Parera seemed ineffective on a pitch that supported spinners to the fullest. Their line and lengths were disturbed by the sweeps and the footwork of Joe Root. Root didn’t drive the bowlers at all. He slammed them with cuts, sweeps, and cross bat shots.
Dimuth Karunaratne 244 VS Bangladesh, Pallekele, Sri Lanka:
In a test match that saw over 1300 runs being scored, Dimuth Karunaratne emerged as the classiest batsman. The test match ended in a draw but the batter’s skill on show was elite. Dimuth did not use cross bat shots but showed his skill with the straight bat. The Bangladeshi lineup also scored 100s but Dimuth’s “Daddy” hundred takes all the respect. He played with patience initially and once he settled, the attack was brutal.
Rishabh Pant 89* VS Australia, Brisbane, Gabba:
With a match-winning knock due, Rishabh Pant opened the flood gates when it mattered the most. With most of the senior players out of the team with injuries, Rishabh Pant came to the party. It was certain that Australia will win the series with the final test being played at the Gabba. But fortress Gabba was conquered by India after 32 years. Rishabh Pant played all the Australian bowlers exceptionally well. He attacked the bowlers and made them scratch their heads.
Honorable Mentions:
Ravichandran Ashwin 106 VS England, Chennai, India.
Quinton De Kock 141* VS West Indies, Gros Islet.
Mohammad Rizwan 115* VS South Africa, Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
Kyle Mayers 210* VS Bangladesh, Chattogram, Bangladesh:
This inning is hands down the best innings in Test cricket 2021. Just after India had completed the heroic run-chase at Gabba, West Indies chased down 395 runs on a day 5 dry pitch in Chattogram. The protagonist was Kyle Mayers. Kyle Mayers was on debut and he scripted history. Kyle played the likes of Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Shakib, and Taijul Islam with at most ease.
