Cricket Australia has released its Test XI of 2025, highlighting a year’s best individual performances and memorable moments in the world of cricket.
Four Australians feature in the line-up, but South Africa’s World Test Championship (WTC) final triumph is led by captain Demba Bouma.
The calendar year 2025 saw some brilliant Test cricket, historic achievements and some near misses.
South Africa emerged as the story of the year by defeating Australia in the WTC final at Lord’s, followed by a rare series win in India.
Meanwhile, England and India played out one of the all-time great series in the northern summer, with England losing the first three Ashes Tests in Australia and baseball faltering months later.
Many individual performances stood out. South Africa’s Vian Mulder grabbed the headlines by declaring himself captain against Zimbabwe, 34 runs short of Brian Lara’s 400*.
In England, KL Rahul dominated as the visiting opener, scoring 532 runs in five Tests, including two centuries and two fifties. His marathon 90 in Manchester and a century against the West Indies made him the most outstanding opener of 2025.
Australia’s Travis Head impressed after replacing the injured Usman Khawaja at the top of the order.
Head scored 817 runs at 40.85, including two centuries in the Ashes opener, and made significant contributions in challenging conditions globally.
England captain Joe Root hit his maiden Test century in Australia and scored a record 571 against India in the northern summer.
Shubman Gill shone as India’s captain, amassing 754 runs in five Tests against England, cementing his status among the world’s elite batsmen.
Demba Bouma, despite modest individual numbers, played only half of South Africa’s Tests, leading his side to historic victories, including a WTC final victory and a series win in India, as he earned his place at the helm.
Australia’s Alex Carey played a key role as both wicketkeeper and batsman.
The left-hander scored 156 runs against Sri Lanka in Calais and made important contributions in the Caribbean and Ashes series, earning praise for his skills behind the stumps and in the middle order.
England’s Ben Stokes stepped up his all-round performance, producing heroic bowling after hamstring surgery and recording a 141-run innings at Old Trafford.
Mitchell Starc led the pace attack with 55 wickets, including three sixes, while Scott Boland’s remarkable consistency led to a hat-trick in pink-ball cricket and a 3-3 spell in the Ashes opener.
India’s Jasprit Bumrah has been the pace bowler despite a back problem, taking 14 wickets and three five-wicket hauls in three Tests during the England series.
Simon Harmer, the off-spinner, has been India’s most prolific, taking 17 wickets at an impressive average of 8.94 in the two Tests.
Ravindra Jadeja narrowly missed out on the all-rounder spot, but scored 764 runs with two centuries and six fifties. However, his bowling has been less impressive compared to previous seasons.
Cricket Australia’s Test XI for 2025:
KL Rahul, Travis Head, Joe Root, Shubman Gill, Demba Bouma (catch), Alex Carey (vk), Ben Stokes, Mitchell Starc, Jasprit Bumrah, Scott Boland and Simon Harmer.
12th Man: Ravindra Jadeja.