If one bowler stood out in the year 2018, it was India's Jasprit Bumrah. He earned a lot of praise from former players and fans for outstanding performances in his first year of Test cricket. He was hailed as a 'genius' by former Australian captain Michael Clarke. Bumrah features among the top-five highest Test wicket-takers of 2018
For India, 2018 will always go down in history one of the memorable years for producing a superb fast bowling unit, which rattled the opposition. The year saw the emergence of Jasprit Bumrah as one of the best Test bowlers.
In world cricket, it was Indian fast bowlers who hogged the limelight for their outstanding performances in overseas conditions.
Also read: India's Top 10 ODI knocks of 2018
MyNation looks back at the top-five Test bowlers of 2018. Two Indians feature in the highest wicket-takers of the year list.
Rabada is one of the most exciting fast bowlers to have emerged on the international scene. He made his debut in India in 2015 and since then his stocks have kept increasing. The 23-year-old ended the year at the highest Test wicket-taker with 52 scalps. He has the best average (20.07) among the top-five wicket-takers in 2018. He is one of the two (in top-five wicket-takers of the year) to have bagged a 10-wicket haul. He also had two five-wicket hauls this year.
Also read: Top 5 Test batsmen of 2018
The second place is occupied by an off-spinner. Sri Lankan Perera took 50 wickets at an average of 29.32 with three five-wicket hauls and one 10-fer. His best in the match in 2018 was 10/78 against South Africa in Galle. So far, the 36-year-old has taken 149 wickets from 35 Tests. With the retirement of Rangana Herath, he is the key for Sri Lanka.
Also read: Top 5 debutants who lit up Test cricket in 2018
Another off-spinner who enjoyed success in the year is Australia's Nathan Lyon. He is rated among the best and time and again he has proved it. In the ongoing Test series against India, he has been impressive. He ended the year with 49 scalps from 20 innings. His best in the match was 8/106.
Also read: Top 5 ODI spinners of 2018
If one bowler stood out in the year, it was Bumrah. He earned a lot of praise from former players and fans for outstanding performances in his first year of Test cricket. Having made his Test debut in South Africa earlier this year, Bumrah recently shattered records by becoming the first Asian to take five-wicket hauls in South Africa, England and Australia in the first year of Test cricket. Former Australian captain Michael Clarke hailed him as a "genius" after he claimed a career-best 6/33 at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in the ongoing third Test between India and Australia.
Apart from Bumrah, India heavily benefited from Shami in the Test arena. Shami and Bumrah took the bulk of wickets for captain Virat Kohli. The duo has shared 94 scalps between them in 2018. Hailed by many as the "best-ever" Indian fast bowling unit, Bumrah, Shami, Ishant Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Umesh Yadav have served the country well this year. Overseas success of the team depended a lot on the fast bowlers. Thanks to their outstanding spells, India bowled out the opposition with ease. On most occasions they had bowled the sides out twice in the Test match, claiming all 20 wickets.
(All statistics as on December 29, 2018)
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