Kohli, Pujara, Root, Mendis among prolific Test scorers of 2018

– only batsmen to exceed 800 runs in 2018

By Clifton Ross

The year 2018 has certainly been a batsman’s time as some of the world’s best Test players enter into 2019 with oodles of runs, confidence and points to prove in the New Year.
Despite teams celebrating one or more of their players entering record books or simply just adding more credits to their statistics; a number of players chalked up hundreds of runs in Test cricket during the 2018 period, with just a few classy

enough to take their current tally past 800 runs.

Joe Root
The England skipper is not only one of four batsmen to cross the 800-run mark this year, but the elegant right-hander has been in good cricketing form in all formats. In the Test arena, the 27-year-old has racked up 948 runs at an average of 41 with two hundreds and six half-centuries: 83, 58*, 51, 54, 68 and 80.
His 125 against India at the Oval back in September helped his side beat the visitors while he returned to frustrate the Asians; this time Sri Lanka with a match-winning 124 in Kandy. Seemingly a more timid batsman, Root has also been prolific with his shot selection, hitting 92 fours, but just three sixes this year as he continues to build a fantastic Test career.

Kusal Mendis
Sri Lanka’s classy little man has been a heavy run-getter this year, finessing some

962 runs as he comes in second behind leader Virat Kohli, who is close to 1400 runs. The diminutive maestro has been the Sri Lankans’ best batsman this year with a phenomenal conversion rate of three hundreds and three fifties; making him one of the most complete batsmen on the list.
At just 23 years of age and 33 matches into his Test career, Mendis has been magical since 2018 commenced, with his highest Test score of 196 coming against Bangladesh in January. He continued his run-fest with scores of: 68, 102, 87, 45, 45, 86 and 141* just a few weeks ago against New Zealand in their backyard.
As one of the key players in the Test team, the young batting champ certainly has a long way to go, but to be just a few hundred runs away from ‘King’ Kohli in terms of a yearly aggregate is any dream for a batsman.

Cheteshwar Pujara
Coming in at number four is India’s new-aged ‘Wall’ who seals off the list of batsmen to reach 800 runs this year. With knocks of 50, 72, 132*,86, 123,71 and 106, Pujara’s presence in the Indian Test team is invaluable as he’s a proven match-winner and among the most composed, consistent players in the world.
The right-hander recently showed the Aussies his class during the series which ended a few days ago as he rated his 123 at Melbourne as one of his best Test knocks. Playing just 13 Tests this year, Pujara averages a decent 38, but remains

one of the better players within his team’s Test setup heading into a busy 2019.

Virat Kohli
The current King of Test cricket batting and arguably One Day Internationals, the Indian Captain has surpassed all his mates, either in his team or from teams around the world. With 1322 runs in 2018, the only 30-year-old Kohli has been the magician within his world, smashing scores of 153, 54, 41, 149,51,97,103,46, 58, 49, 139, 45, 123 and his last innings of 82, which took him past former India skipper and Hall-of-Famer Rahul Dravid who had the most runs by an Indian back in 2002.
After breaking the decade-long record, Kohli has etched his name into Test cricket at just the age of 30 and with 38 hundreds in ODI cricket and more than 10,000 runs under his belt in the format; it will not be long before the dashing right-hander converts his ODI record to his still sublime yet growing Test career with more cricket to play in 2019.