Rewind 2015: CricFit”s Test Team of the Year

6. YOUNIS KHAN

This old warhorse has made it to a squad comprising mainly youngsters on the back of some solid performances in 2015. Like Alastair Cook, Younis also became the leading run scorer of his nation in Tests by springing over Pakistani legend Javed Miandad’s tally of 8832 runs in white uniform. Moreover, he became the first Pakistani player to cross the 9000 run mark in Test cricket when he took to field at the Dubai Sports Complex against England in October while playing his 103^rd Test match. The 38 year old stalwart from Mardan has bulldozed innumerable records in the course of his 15 year long career. From being the only Pakistani batsman to have scored centuries against all Test playing nations to boasting of the best average in the 4^th innings among all batsmen of the 21^st century, Younis has conquered several such obscure records. His track record includes 30 Test centuries, which is a record for the most number of centuries scored by a Pakistani in the longest format. An exemplary model of the Gentleman’s Game, the former Pakistan Captain has slammed 789 Test runs in 14 innings this year at a striking average of 56.35 accompanied by 3 centuries and a half century. His highest score of 171* came against Sri Lanka in Pallekele earlier this year, when his defiant knock inspired Pakistan to their highest ever chase in the history of Test cricket as they successfully chased down 382 and sealed the series 2-1. His competence to hang around with the tail enders during crisis situations makes him an apt candidate to embrace the number 6 slot in this dream team.