The year 2025 witnessed a magnificent landscape of the longest, toughest, and ultimate format of our beautiful game. Test cricket outshone the other two formats of the sport comprehensively. This assertion gains its push courtesy of some marvelous red ball international series over the past year. Add to it a new World Test Champion (WTC) in South Africa, the spectacular Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy in England, India's historic low at home, an ongoing dramatic Ashes series Down Under, etc., and the format really got a lift. 

The ingredients, like intense and intriguing battles, pitch fights, the equality between batters and bowlers, the transition between different styles of play (traditional to modern), and impeccable individual performances, all unpredictably yet perfectly confluenced to boost the health of the format. Viewers were treated to premium Test Cricket across regions, and this formed the basis for their substantial and prolonged interest in players donning the whites. 

The 'Best Test Cricket Eleven of 2025' features some of the most talented and deft players across the international circuit. They cut others due to their stellar cricketing displays, individually and also while effectively contributing towards the success of their respective nations. Their work ethics and efficiency were unmatched over the entire year, and they bore the right blend of values to progress in the game. They charted themselves with intent and achieved great recognition. 

See Also - Watch: Brendon McCullum caught playing crossword as rain halts day 1 of fifth Ashes Test

A detailed look at the players who make up the playing XI as a Test unit for 2025. Their presence and position have been backed by their cumulative statistics during the same phase. 

The Best Test Cricket XI of 2025  

KL Rahul, Travis Head, Shubman Gill, Joe Root, Temba Bavuma (C), Ravindra Jadeja, Alex Carey (WK), Marco Jansen, Mitchell Starc, Simon Harmer, and Mohammad Siraj. 

KL Rahul

KL Rahul takes the first opener spot in the best Test XI of 2025. The period saw Rahul amass his best-ever tally of runs in a single calendar year. The Indian right-handed batter was pivotal in his side's success during the English summer. India drew that series two-all. His solid mettle and seniority acted as a backbone for the younger batters transitioning into the squad. He struck a couple of tons in England and another one in India. He also became the flagbearer for disciplined and meticulous test batting. 

Travis Head

Australia's Travis Head accompanies KL Rahul in the middle. The explosive batter played only half of his innings as an opener in 2025, but his impact was indelible. The southpaw hit swashbuckling hundreds at Perth and Adelaide during the Ashes 2025-26 series and turned the tables as usual. His strike rate (90-plus) was breathtaking, and his presence didn't let the opposition gain any fortunes. 

Shubman Gill

2025 saw Shubman Gill being handed over India's Test Cricket reins post the retirement of a couple of senior players. Traversing uncertainties and doubts, the elegant player made headlines for his outstanding performances both as the captain and with the bat. He had a stellar England tour in the middle of the year, was the top run scorer of both sides (754), had his career-best score of 269 runs become the highest figure by an Indian skipper overseas, and bagged the man of the series award. 

His injury-induced absence in the home rubber against South Africa hurt India immensely. The latter slumped to their lowest in the format, giving up the series 0-2. Nonetheless, Shubman finished the year as the leading run-getter and with a sizeable margin. 

Joe Root

The sensational Joe Root has made quite a habit of featuring in every Test team. The Englishman averaged over 50 during the year. He hit three centuries against India in the British summer and recently ended his drought of a ton in Australia. He managed to score his first-ever hundred Down Under, at Brisbane, in the ongoing Ashes Series. The Yorkshire player has perennially been synonymous with consistency. 

Temba Bavuma (Captain)

Under Temba Bavuma, the Proteas have almost become unbeatable regardless of the conditions and opponents. As their leader, in 2025, South Africa won all four matches. With the bat in his hands, he averaged over fifty. Winning the WTC final against the mighty Aussies was quite remarkable, a humongous highlight, a testament to Temba and the rainbow nation's success in Test Cricket. 

Ravindra Jadeja

Ravindra Jadeja, the batter, had a memorable year. He averaged over sixty, made six fifties and two centuries. This, by far, became the best year for him in terms of batting returns. 

In bowling, the form was not so great. However, 2025 brought the special moment when he completed the rare double of garnering 4000 runs and 300 wickets in his Test Cricket career. 

Alex Carey (Wicket-Keeper)

Alex Carey, Australia's man behind the stumps, had an exceptional year. His potent batting returns and the work with the tailenders proved invaluable on the majority of occasions. He smashed two tons, one in Sri Lanka and the other at his home ground in Adelaide during the Ashes 2025-26 series. 

Behind the poles, he was a force to reckon with. His skillful wicket-keeping display was entirely evident throughout the year. Against England, he became a beast of a proposition, as his glove work was equivalent to perfection. Technically sound in every way. 

Marco Jansen

Talk about pacers, and it begins with Marco Jansen. He had an all-round year like no other. The Proteas' all-weather player played an instrumental role with the bat. The tall man offered some very useful and match-defining contributions late in the innings to swing the tide towards his side. His strike rate was, at times, alarming for the opposition. 

With the ball, he took a six-fer in India and won the man of the match award in the second game of that series. His performances well and truly stood out. 

Mitchell Starc

The tall and lanky Aussie quick was a class apart. Known mainly for his fiery and hostile pace bowling, he also struck three fifties with the bat to add to his repertoire. 

He was at his lethal best with the red Kookaburra in his hands. Inevitably, he became England's nemesis in the Ashes 2025-26 and blew their top order off on quite a few instances. In 2025, scalping 55 wickets, no other bowler had a better strike rate than him. 

Simon Harmer

The standout and specialist spinner of 2025 made giant strides for South Africa. He victimized several batters with his incisive spin bowling. The veteran and a former Essex player used all his experience to disguise India with his guile, outshining their batters to win the man of the series trophy. He was the Proteas' leading wicket-taker and the anchor behind their success in the subcontinent. 

Mohammad Siraj

The inexorable lion-hearted Indian pacer ran relentlessly with the ball and never gave up. His fitness levels were extraordinary and enabled him to feature in the maximum number of games. With him around, there was always some spice in the pitch. His positivity rubbed off on other teammates as well. He was the man of the moment when India trumped England, by the barest of distances, in that historic Oval Test match.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who are the players included in the Best Test Cricket XI of 2025?

The Best Test XI of 2025 features standout performers from across the year — players who consistently delivered match-winning performances in the longest format.

2. How is the Best Test XI of 2025 selected?

The selection is based on overall performance, consistency, impact in key matches, and contribution to team success during the 2025 season.

3. Which country contributed the most players to the 2025 Test XI?

Teams like India, Australia, and England dominated the list, with several of their top-order batters and frontline bowlers making the cut.

4. Who narrowly missed out on the Best Test XI of 2025?

Some iconic players like Aiden Markram (South Africa), Ben Stokes (England), and Jasprit Bumrah (India), had strong individual seasons but narrowly missed the selection due to inconsistencies, form dips, injuries, or limited match appearances.

5. Why is 2025 considered a remarkable year for Test cricket?

2025 saw several thrilling series, record-breaking performances, and rising stars making their mark — reaffirming Test cricket’s timeless appeal.

6. What can we expect from Test cricket in 2026?

The year promises intense rivalries, packed schedules, and new talents emerging as teams prepare for major Test tours and the World Test Championship final in 2027. 

Cricket's pinnacle and ultimate format - 'The Test' - is stunning. It has several dimensions associated with it that make it second to none, and glorify its aesthetics. From the tough grind of five days, braving variable conditions and the ebbs and flows, to the sheer intensity of battles, the format is synonymous with life. It examines the players on their skills, tenacity, patience and perseverance. The real growth in a player occurs when the performance at the elite level is matched with consistency, and the red ball game is a great teacher of that subject. 

One such beautiful aspect of the longest format of the game is 'Pace Bowling'. Speed, thrill, goosebumps, fieriness, aggression, lethality, impact, etc, are some of the superlatives that describe it. Further, proverbs like 'Smell the Leather', 'Perfume Ball', 'Chin Music', among others, have been used as colloquial sayings in Test Cricket. They are all its indispensable parts.

A bowler, adorning the whites, marking his run-up, striding ahead with firm steps, the ball like a red cherry in his hands, arriving at the wicket and the popping crease, extending his levers, snapping his wrist, releasing the ball with immense pace to kiss the surface, and then that ball reaching the batter like a tracer-bullet, is a sight to behold.

Add to that the crowd rooting for him, and the entire scenario becomes a spectacle and a piece of art. It would be perfect to call it 'Poetry in Motion', after all, it's merely about rhythm, flow, momentum and resonance. The better these are, the higher the chances of the ball obeying the bowler's commands, making the batters dance accordingly with them. 

See Also - Ashes 2025-26 Squad Analysis: Australia vs England Players Compared & Series Winner Prediction

This leads us to an intriguing question - 'Which has been the best pace bowling trio in the history of Test Cricket?' and how do numbers complement those players who are part of the said set. The eras that were decorated by their immaculate and fearful bowling, the comparison between them and their contemporary counterparts, and the legacy they had built for the current generations to take a cue from - all these shall aid in ranking the trios and provide an enriching insight into the folklore of bowling in Test Cricket. 

It is vital to mention that pace pairs are more common in a Test side. To support this assertion, one must look at the incisive swing bowling duo of Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis of Pakistan, and the English pair of James Anderson and Stuart Broad. Finding and getting three such bowlers involved in the same team is a rarity. This includes only pure quicks and excludes fast bowling all-rounders.

However, in the 1970s-80s, the West Indies team were blessed and privileged to have a deadly bowling arsenal which was a pentad - a set of five. It was made up of the likes of Malcolm Marshall, Joel Garner, Michael Holding, Andy Roberts, and Colin Croft. They featured regularly and bowled in tandem. Back then, there used to be no respite from any end. The batters did not get any discounts, and each one of those who faced them was like a deer in the headlights. 

Marshall, Garner, Holding

The trio of Marshall, Garner and Holding played 26 Test matches together and amassed 331 wickets at a frightening average of 22.51. They operated as a group for a span of 7-8 years during the 1980s. Their fast bowling exploits brought glory to the West Indies, and consequently, the team ruled the game by a handsome margin over others. 

Ambrose, Bishop, Walsh

During the 1990s, the Caribbean Test Cricket team boasted a potent trio of fast bowlers in Ambrose, Bishop, and Walsh. They shared their 412 wickets almost identically and democratically. They are, in fact, believed to be more lethal than their predecessors. 

McGrath, Gillespie, Lee

At the start of the century, Australia dominated World Cricket with elegance and pride. At the heart of the matter were the trio of McGrath, Gillespie, and Lee. In 22 matches, they scalped 243 wickets at an average of 28.47, as a unit. Moreover, among those 22 games, they won 15 and lost just three. 

Flintoff, Hoggard, Harmison

Going neck and neck with their arch-rivals, Australia, England put across an impressive pace trio of Flintoff, Hoggard, and Harmison. During the same period and in 33 matches together, they struck 383 times. At home, they were almost unbeatable as they recorded 11 wins, 3 draws and just one loss. This included the famous Ashes series win in 2005. 

Steyn, Morkel, Philander

In the phase between 2011 and 2018, South Africa's red-ball bowling was spearheaded by three of the best quicks of this generation. Steyn breathed fire with his impeccable 'seam and swing' skills, Philander was consistently sharp, incisive and immaculate with his line and lengths, and Morkel extracted steep bounce courtesy of his height. As a combination, they were a nightmare for the opposition batters and were responsible for the Proteas holding the Test Mace during this period. Additionally, they ensured a perfect away record, winning 13 tests together, outside South Africa.  

Starc, Cummins, Hazlewood

Australia's current big three in Starc, Cummins, and Hazlewood have become the epitome of pace bowling and are recognised as ambassadors of Test Cricket. They bear a knack for searching for different yet successful ways to challenge the batters. Their presence has made their home, Down Under, a fortress and difficult to breach. Each one of them has bagged more than 150 wickets in 38 matches together, so far. Cumulatively, they have hunted down 466 batters by victimising them at an effectively paltry average of 24.50. 

Boult, Southee, Wagner

The New Zealand trio of Boult, Southee, and Wagner are statistically head and shoulders above everyone else. Playing together, in 40 matches, the Kiwis relished and dismissed the opposition batters an astounding 535 times, making them perish at an average of 25.98. They also possess symmetrical bowling numbers. Further, their mean of 13.38 wickets, together, per game makes them, hands down, way ahead of all the other names mentioned. 

Rashid Khan, Afghanistan's cricketing icon, has officially become a part of the Red Bull Athlete family in order to expand on his already impressive career. Rashid and the brand announced the news together, with Rashid announcing the news through a post and video on his official Instagram account. Red Bull also put out promotional material with Rashid so that they confirmed to both him and the world that he is in the family with some very prestigious company.

The leg spinning sensation now at the age of 26 joins the likes of international stars KL Rahul, Ben Stokes, Kagiso Rabada, Dewald Brevis and Riyan Parag as a part of the Red Bull family, most notably became only the second Asian Cricketer after KL Rahul to join Red Bull, providing significant marker to statistics in Rashid's international appeal and marketability.

Rashid Khan's story is a wonderful one. Ever since making his Afghanistan debut back in 2015, Rashid has played a crucial part in taking Afghanistan from an emerging cricketing nation to a much more competitive nation on the international cricket world stage. Rashid Khan is one of the few players in the world who will definitely win matches for their team in a T20I cricket match. He has played key roles in top franchise leagues, including the Indian Premier League, Big Bash League, Pakistan Super League, and The Hundred, cementing his place as one of the hottest prospects anywhere in the world, and possibly the hottest player anywhere in world cricket.

Rashid Khan’s Red Bull Deal Marks New Era for Afghan Cricket’s Global Rise

Afghanistan’s cricket story is remarkable in itself. From competing in Division Five of the World Cricket League in 2008 to achieving full ICC membership in 2017, the team’s rise has been meteoric. Rashid has been central to this success, inspiring a new generation of Afghan cricketers while also serving as a global ambassador for the sport in his country.

Watch the video:

THE MAGICIAN OF AFGHANISTAN, RASHID KHAN. 🤯

- He joins the Red Bull Family...!!!! pic.twitter.com/OkvYfSiaef

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) August 9, 2025

Rashid has been announced as Red Bull's new athlete for his first partnership with global Red Bull. The collaboration follows a short hiatus from competitive play and Rashid's outstanding return performance in The Hundred 2025 against London Spirit, where he bowled a phenomenal 3/11, suggesting that he is back in amazing form. Rashid's competitive return comes with the Asia Cup slated for September 9 in the UAE, with the upcoming Tri-series with Pakistan and the UAE as prep, meaning that Rashid is leading Afghanistan into another exciting chapter. This tremendous partnership not only celebrates Rashid's previous achievements but also allows the world again to recognise the growth of Afghan cricket and Rashid as an ambassador and a champion.

Kumar Sangakkara and Virat Kohli are two huge names in international cricket. Having been the stalwarts of their respective nations in every game format in their playing days, they have left an indelible mark on the current and future generations. Both have been outstanding, prolific, and a cut above the rest. Their elegance was unmatchable, and the world was awestruck when the ball hit the sweet spot of their bats and raced towards the boundary. Their competitive nature added an extra bit of spice to the India-Sri Lanka encounters, and their camaraderie off the pitch was worth every bit of appreciation. Their batting prowess, coupled with immaculate leadership skills, elevated them to a legendary status. Records and statistics are genuine proof of that. 

Kumar bid adieu to Test Cricket on August 24, 2015. His last match in the longest format of the game was against India in Colombo as part of a two-match series. He was given a fitting guard of honour by the Indian side, and the entire moment was very emotional for him. His family was beside him on that occasion, and the whole of Sri Lanka and the cricketing world were proud to have seen a player of his calibre grace the field for as long as he did. This brought curtains to an illustrious international career and one that will inspire the next crop of budding cricketers for a very long time. 

Kohli, on the other hand, just recently announced his test retirement, leaving millions of cricket fans across the globe surprised. The news caught everyone off guard and was highly unexpected. The Indian veteran always loved to don the whites and was nothing short of an ambassador for the purest format of the game, even in the current T20 era. His passion, seriousness, and intrusive playing style made test cricket attractive again, and hence worth loving by fans of all ages. Under him, India excelled extremely well and made a name for itself on foreign soil. Virat has been a part of the cricket's 'Fab-4' for a long period. And his test records, including the number of tons and double tons he scored, made him arguably one of the greats in the five-day format.  

See Also: List of all Virat Kohli centuries in Test cricket

Curiosity arises among fans as to who has been a better red-ball player for their nation and between themselves. Virat or Kumar? A deeper dive into their test cricket statistics may help one answer that question. An interesting thing here would be their performances in SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia) countries, and that shall conclude and reveal the better batter. 

Virat Kohli vs Kumar Sangakkara in SENA countries

The Sri Lankan wicket-keeper batter and the Indian batting great have played a similar number of matches. The stark difference is in the runs they scored overall. The former leads the latter by around 3000 runs. Sanga's average is also better than Virat's, above the golden 50 mark and nearing 60. The Indian could accumulate 30 hundreds in his flamboyant career, eight less than Kumar's tally.  

Virat Kohli has scored more test centuries (19) in SENA countries than in India. In 84 innings, he scored 3,591 runs with an average of 43, making him the 3rd Asian batter with the most test runs there. For Sri Lanka, Kumar Sangakkara is the highest run scorer in the SENA countries. In 59 test innings, he scored 2,526 runs with an average of 45, amassing 11 centuries as well. While Virat might have struck more runs and centuries on foreign soil in a greater number of innings, his average is yet just a tad less than that of Sanga's. 

The left-handed Lankan batter retired ten years before the right-handed Indian talisman. The statistics give a slight edge to the former, but no one can deny the evergreen presence of both players on their respective sides. Sanga mostly played in an era when T20 cricket was still setting foot on the stage, while Virat excelled in a time when the game became fast-paced and less patient. Both have been great servants for their nation, and the game desperately needs more legends and icons like them.