R. Ashwin, Kyle Jamieson, Joe Root and Dimuth Karunaratne have been shortlisted for the ICC Men's Test Player of the Year.
Root has had a terrific year. With 1,708 runs in 15 matches, he ended 2021 with the third-highest Test runs ever in a calendar year. He notched two double centuries from the first three Tests, and carried on the same form throughout the year. He also picked a five-wicket haul in Ahmedabad.
Ashwin, meanwhile, claimed 52 wickets in eight Tests at an astounding average of 16.23, including 32 in four Tests against England at home. He also combined with Hanuma Vihari to help India salvage an improbable draw in Sydney, and struck a century in front of his home crowd.
Kyle Jamieson could not have asked for a better start to his Test career. He has picked up 27 wickets in five matches, including seven in the World Test Championship final, and scored crucial ruls.
Dimuth Karunaratne has been the backbone of the Sri Lanka batting unit. He has accumulated 902 runs seven matches at 69.38 including a hundred against South Africa at the Wanderers.