CRICKET

10 Test Cricketers with a Point to Prove in 2025

January, 15, 2025-04:25

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10 Test Cricketers with a Point to Prove in 2025
As Test cricket enters an exciting year, featuring the World Test Championship final at Lord’s, a five-match series between England and India, and the Ashes, Mail Sport highlights 10 cricketers who have something to prove in the coming year.

10. Temba Bavuma (South Africa)
Nothing personal: Bavuma’s recent performances should have long silenced any lingering doubts about whether his place in South Africa’s middle order is based on merit or the quota system. As captain of a team that, through no fault of its own, has reached the World Test Championship final via unconventional means, Bavuma represents something larger than just his individual form.
A win against Australia at Lord’s in June would allow South Africa to not only shut down critics but also halt discussions around a two-tier Test structure. This could send those plans into the long grass, where they belong.

9. Marnus Labuschagne (Australia)
At 30 years old and with 55 Test caps under his belt, Labuschagne should be entering the prime of his career. However, his recent form has raised questions. Since the home series against the West Indies in January, his average has plummeted to just 21, with 12 of his 17 innings seeing him dismissed for fewer than 12 runs.
His typically grinding approach has been overshadowed by the rise of the aggressive Sam Konstas. Labuschagne needs to prove that he still has a place in Australia’s top order, especially in the evolving landscape of international cricket.

8. Ben Stokes (England)
Stokes’s latest injury, sustained during the Hamilton Test, has added fuel to the fire of concerns about his long-term fitness. Will his hamstring injury become England's equivalent of past iconic sporting setbacks, like Compton’s knee or Beckham’s metatarsal? England desperately need their captain fit to bowl 12 to 15 overs a day if they are to have any chance of competing with India and Australia.
Stokes has also gone 28 innings without a Test century, but his defiant pledge on social media to “f*** some s*** up” signals that he won’t go down without a fight. England will be hoping he can lead them to success, with the Ashes looming large.

7. Babar Azam (Pakistan)
A surprising quiz question: How many Test centuries does Babar Azam have? The answer – nine – might catch you off guard, considering his status as one of Pakistan's premier batsmen. Once tipped to join the Fab Four, Babar's last Test century came in December 2022, and since then, he’s faced the challenge of being dropped and later brought back as an emergency opener.
Despite making three fifties in South Africa, Babar is yet to regain his previous form. As Pakistan begins its two-match series against West Indies in Multan, all eyes will be on Babar, who is expected to be at the peak of his powers.