In 2023, Steve Smith played a pivotal role for Australia, contributing to their victories in the World Test Championship and the ODI World Cup. Alongside players like David Warner, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood, they achieved a remarkable feat in cricket by securing triumphs in the T20 World Cup and the mentioned trophies.
The conclusion of the second World Test Championship cycle and the commencement of the third marked a positive year for Test cricket. In 2023, there was a notable shift, placing significant importance on both ODI and Test cricket, deviating from recent trends, and this change was evident for understandable reasons.
Now, let’s examine the leading five run-scorers in Test cricket for the year 2023:
#5 Joe Root – 787 runs
Joe Root not only outperformed the other members of the Fab Four in Test cricket but arguably had the most impressive 2023 among all batters in the format. The only reason he isn’t ranked higher on this list is that he played approximately 10 innings less than the Australian batsmen.
Root accumulated 787 runs in 14 innings during the year. His remarkable average of 65.58 and a strike rate of 76.33 set him apart from his counterparts. The 33-year-old has adeptly embraced the Bazball style of cricket, consistently scoring a substantial number of runs.
#4 Marnus Labuschagne – 803 runs
One of the four Australians mentioned in this ranking, Marnus Labuschagne, achieved 803 Test runs across 25 innings in 2023. Since joining the Australian Test team, Labuschagne has been a dependable and consistent presence at No. three.
The right-handed batsman had an excellent overall year. He earned a spot in the Kangaroos’ 2023 World Cup squad as a replacement for the injured Ashton Agar. Labuschagne seized the opportunities in the quadrennial event, delivering a crucial performance in the final against India.
#3 Travis Head – 919 runs
While Labuschagne had a stellar 2023, Travis Head had an even more exceptional year. The South Australian accumulated 919 runs in 23 innings, including five half-centuries and a crucial century in the WTC final.
Head’s two ODI centuries this year were also pivotal, occurring in crucial matches, namely the 2023 World Cup semi-final and final, solidifying his reputation as a big-match player. With a strike rate of 75.57 in Test cricket, he stands out as the X factor in the Australian batting order, alongside Mitchell Marsh.
#2 Steve Smith – 929 runs
Steve Smith had a relatively modest year compared to his usual high standards but still secured two ICC trophies and a substantial run tally.
The 34-year-old accumulated 929 runs in 24 Test innings in 2023, maintaining an average of 42.22, noticeably lower than his Test career average of 58.11. The standout moment for Smith in the year was his 121-run innings in the WTC final against India.
The cricketer from New South Wales formed a significant 285-run fourth-wicket partnership with Head, placing his team in a commanding position in the first innings. Steve Smith notched up three centuries in 2023, bringing his overall Test century count to 32.
#1 Usman Khawaja – 1210 runs
Usman Khawaja operated somewhat under the radar from 2017 to 2021, but over the last two years, he has demonstrated his capabilities in the longest format of the game. In 2023, he amassed 1210 runs in 24 innings, building on his 1080 runs in 20 innings in 2022.
The Australian opener recorded three centuries and six half-centuries, with his highest score being a remarkable unbeaten 195 against South Africa early in the year, in a drawn match. At the age of 37, the left-hander is exhibiting no signs of slowing down any time soon.
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