International Team of 2025

Despite all the dire predictions of its imminent demise, I applaud the persistence of international cricket, in particular the traditional red-ball formats. The franchise stuff continues to rake in sponsorship and TV cash but when leading countries accept the opportunity and challenge of a series spanning more than three Tests, cricket invariably rises to the occasion. If only other nations could embrace take note of England’s battles against India at home and the ongoing Ashes barney in Australia, producing high drama and great entertainment lasting several days, although a few Aussie groundsmen seemed hell bent on preparing Test match pitches geared to a T20 duration. 

Australia ended the year atop the ICC Test rankings but were undone in the World Test Championship Final at Lord’s. In a low-scoring encounter in June, South Africa, fired by Aiden Markram and Kagiso Rabada, at last scooped a major trophy. Both sides defeated India in five-day cricket series, while the Aussies inflicted an ignominous humbling of West Indies in Kingston, reducing their second innings to 27 all out. Mitchell Starc took 6-9. At the other end of the scale, England took the Indian attack for 669 at Old Trafford and Australia plundered their Sri Lankan hosts for 654-6 at Galle. 

I am amazed and encouraged by the plethora of nations participating in T20 internationals around the world. Many of them rely on the Asian diaspora but it’s great to see the likes of Austria, Bahrain and Rwanda playing so much cricket. However, I am not sure what their attendances are like. 

In women’s cricket, Australia barely broke sweat to take the multi-format Ashes without a single victory for England. However, Alyssia Healy’s squad were unexpectedly defeated by Harmanpreet Kaur’s India in the World Cup. The delight on their faces in triumph was a joy to behold. 

India also picked up the ICC Champions Trophy, but only after being allowed to play their fixtures in Dubai rather than Pakistan. The small-scale tournament contained its share of surprises, not least Afghanistan’s historic victory over England, whose Bazball boasting produced not silverware but nul points. Perhaps England weren’t as good as they thought they were…. 

So what about my Team of the Year? In first-class cricket, nobody outscored KK Nair or took more wickets than Mohammed Abbas. West Indian batters Nicholas Pooran and Shai Hope seemed to be everywhere in T20. Compatriot Jason Holder garnered 97 T20 victims, the most by anybody in a single year.

Neither South Africa nor New Zealand played much Test cricket but their players nonetheless made an impact on the world stage. For the Proteas, Markram and Rickelton made runs, while Jansen and Maharaj looked dangerous with red ball in hand. The Black Caps’ Matt Henry was the top wicket-taker in ODIs and Daryl Mitchell proved himself one of the best batters. 

A new record was set by NZ openers Devon Conway and Tom Latham when they each scored a ton in both innings against the Windies in December, and Wiaan Mulder opted to avoid what he considered an undeserved place atop the list of individual Test match innings. On 367 not out, and Brian Lara’s world record at his mercy, he declared South Africa’s first innings against Zimbabwe at Bulawayo. Many criticised him, and I understand why, but to cricket fans, any record achieved against a side as weak as Zimbabwe’s would inevitably come with a mental asterisk against it. 

For openers, KL Rahul and Travis Head are leading contenders. The Indian remained a formidable scorer in Tests and ODIs, and the South Australian proved to be a brutal hitter in any format. He may be inconsistent but saves his best performances for the biggest stage, not least when promoted as emergency opener in the ongoing Ashes series. NZ’s Rachin Ravindra announced himself in the Champions Trophy, nailing down the opener’s spot. 

Shubman Gill was a revelation with the bat in England and was by far the most prolific batter in men’s Tests, albeit 17 shy of the 1,000 mark. Who needs Rohit or Kohli? Harry Brook is clearly hammering on Joe Root’s door as the premier Yorkshireman in cricket but 2025 was the senior man’s year. His 805 Test tally was pretty useful but he surpassed that in ODIs: 808 was superior to anyone else’s. The unbeaten 138 at Brisbane filled a glaring gap in his CV and only Tendulkar has more Test career runs. Root’s average tops 50 and he now claims 22,000 runs in England colours across all senior formats. I don’t normally dwell long on T20 specialists but even I cannot ignore the splash created by Indian Abhishek Sharma, who ended the calendar year with a T20 strike rate above 200. Not even the likes of Gayle or De Villiers managed that but, as boundaries shrink, scoring continues to accelerate. 

Aussie Alex Carey‘s brilliance behind the stumps and decent return with the bat cemented himself as the best ‘keeper in Test cricket and, for me, Ravi Jadeja retains his all-rounder spot in 2025, although he seemed to improve his batting at the expense of his left-arm spin. Ben Stokes demonstrated that he is not finished yet, but fitness issues restricted his appearances to major Test series. 

Last year, bowlers could claim to receive a bum deal. Jasprit Bumrah was given some much-deserved breathing space, allowing Mohammed Siraj to capture 43 Test wickets. Jofra Archer’s return to England’s attack was hailed as the Second Coming but, although miracles weren’t forthcoming, the old fore and pace were much in evidence. However, that old Aussie warhorse Mitchell Starc was relentlessly brilliant, hoovering up 55 wickets in eleven Tests at barely 17, driving the Barmy Army nuts. 

Amongst slower bowlers, it was also nice to see Simon Harmer back in the South African Test fold at the age of 36. In the series success against India, he finished with a superlative seventeen wickets at a mere 8.94 apiece. However, my attention has strayed to the women’s game for my final pick. England may not have enjoyed the best year but Sophie Ecclestone had no peers when it came to limited-overs spin bowling, and she is still only 26. 

My 2025 Team of the Year:

Ravindra (NZ), Head (Aus), A Sharma (Ind), Shubman Gill (Ind), Root (Eng), Carey (Aus +), Jadeja (Ind), Starc (Aus), Henry (NZ), Siraj (Ind), Ecclestone (Eng). 12th: Rickelton (SA)

Pope and Amla Steer Surrey Closer

In the race for the title, the top three each won again to pull away from the field. At The Oval, no centuries were scored but two fifties from Olly Pope and a smooth unbeaten 80 by Hashim Amla eased Surrey to a six-wicket victory over Warwickshire. Hampshire’s trip to the Scarborough seaside netted them 20 points and an eighth success of the summer. Kyle Abbott took his season’s tally to 49 wickets, more than anyone else, although colleagues Abbas and Barker are also in the top six in Division One. The seam trio are really fuelling the South Coasters’ bid for a first crown in decades.

At Old Trafford, it was definitely a game of two halves. Matt Henry ably led the Kent attack into a commanding lead over Lancashire, but the home side didn’t roll over to have their tummy tickled for a second time. Josh Bohannon (134) was part of two century partnerships as they declared on 439-9 by lunch on the fourth day. There was no chance of a Kent run chase but only Daniel-Bell Drummond survived the experience against Williams, Sundar and Tom Bailey, who ended the match with career-best figures of 11-110. More importantly, the 184-run triumph keeps Lancashire just about within range of Surrey should the leaders slip up.

There weas plenty of entertainment at Cheltenham where Gloucestershire and Northamptonshire not only served up plenty of runs but also an exciting finish, a difficult combination in a first-class contest. Ryan Rickelton led the visitors to a handsome first-innings lead, only for Gloucester skipper Graeme Van Buuren’s 127 not out to help set up a thrilling final afternoon. Needing 202 off a minimum 37 overs, Northants got off to a cracking start with Will Young and Rickelton again before losing a steady flow of wickets to Zafar Gohar’s spin. In the end, it was tail-ender Simon Kerrigan who hit Higgins for the winning boundary.

At Chelmsford, there was no chance whatsoever of a nail-biting conclusion; it was all about accumulation of runs as only sixteen wickets fell in total. Essex batted first, Nick Browne ending unbeaten on 234 before Somerset continued in the same vein. They delayed their first-innings declaration until late on the fourth afternoon, allowing teenage ‘keeper James Rew and Tom Banton to strike their maiden first-class centuries. Somerset really needed more, and now their next two fixtures, against fellow strugglers Gloucester and Warwickshire are ‘must-wins’. But they will have to wait until after the summer holidays, when the Hundred and One-Day Cup take over.

In Division Two, Nottinghamshire extended their lead to thirty points thanks to a straightforward defeat of Sussex inside three days. Overseas stars James Pattinson and Dane Paterson shared most of the wickets to fall. Further north, Middlesex lost ground by only drawing a rain-hit encounter against Durham. Opener Michael Jones racked up 206 for the home team, before a ton from John Simpson ensured maximum batting bonus points for Middlesex. They now go into the summer hiatus, Glamorgan breathing down their neck with a game in hand. Anuj Dal’s superb all-round performance for Derbyshire made the difference against Worcestershire and very much keeps them in the promotion hunt.

Team of the Week: Browne (Ess), Jones (Dur), Bohannon (Lan), Rickelton (Nor), Van Buuren (Glo), Simpson (Mid +), Anuj Dal (Der), Pattinson (Not), Abbott (Ham), Bailey (Lan), Paterson (Not)