CA reveals best Test XI (Source:@sujeetsuman1991/x.com, @RichKettle07/x.com @Vinay_venus/x.com)
As 2025 heads toward the finish line, calling it 'cricket’s own year' wouldn’t be an exaggeration. Throughout the years, cricket fans have witnessed some heroic victories and some heartbreaking defeats across the formats, and the game held its head high.
Among all the formats, Test cricket had an eventful year as some of the heroes took the red-ball excitement to a different level. As the year signs off, Cricket Australia has unveiled its Best Test XI of 2025, packed with standout global superstars who ruled the longest format.
Ice meets carnage as Australia backs Rahul and Head at the top
In the year 2025, the cricket world witnessed some of the bravest Test battles between the sides. From the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and the WTC final to the India–England series and the gripping Ashes, every contest delivered edge-of-the-seat drama. In the series, some of the batters grabbed their attention with their excellence.
Before the year dropped the final curtains, Cricket Australia unveiled its best Test XI of 2025. Some snubs and some inclusions created buzz. Making a stat-studded playing XI, they trusted the opening position with KL Rahul and Travis Head, a combination of ice and fire.
In the England series this year, KL Rahul enjoyed an outstanding outing. With two hundred and two fifties in that series, he ended up scoring 532 runs in five matches. The redemption arc continued at home against the West Indies, where he finally smashed a long-awaited Test hundred on Indian soil. In 10 matches this year, he scored 813 runs with three hundreds and an average of 45.16.
On the other hand, Travis Head is standing as the other opener. The fearless opener had a memorable outing in the longest format this year. In the ongoing Ashes, he smashed two magnificent centuries in the first two matches, and domination continued. In 11 matches this year, he scored 817 runs with two hundreds, along with an average of 40.85. With a perfect combination of Rahul and Head, the opening position got the desired boost.
Calm command takes over, and Australia’s middle order looks unbreakable
In a Test match, the middle-order’s strength is most important, and Cricket Australia made a masterstroke in it. England great Joe Root’s red-ball brilliance is known to all, and the year 2025 has been commendable for the batter. The ongoing Ashes turned historic as Root finally cracked his maiden Test hundred on Australian soil, a moment years in the making. Scoring 805 runs in 10 matches with four hundreds, he has been preferred for the number 3 role in the playing XI.
Team India’s newest Test skipper Shubman Gill has taken up the number four position. Taking the charge, he had a record-breaking Test series in England on his captaincy debut. With a record-breaking 269, followed by three more hundreds, he nailed the series. In just nine Tests this year, Gill piled up a staggering 983 runs, averaging 70.21 and smashing five hundreds.
Cricket Australia dropped the biggest surprise in the captaincy section as they ditched Pat Cummins and appointed Temba Bavuma as the skipper of the best Test playing XI of 2025. Australia had only one heartbreak in 2025, and that was the WTC final defeat against South Africa.
Leading the South African side, Bavuma named the historic WTC trophy for the first time. The dominance didn’t stop there, as Bavuma’s men also whitewashed India in a two-match ODI series. Leading with fearless intent, Bavuma turned 2025 into a miracle year and proved why he deserved the ultimate captaincy nod.
In a playing XI, a wicketkeeper’s place is another crucial spot, and CA trusted Alex Carey with his excellence. Throughout the year, he has showcased his brilliance behind the stumps and made a notable contribution with the bat. Across 11 Tests, Carey snapped up 44 catches, effected five stumpings, and piled on 767 runs, including two centuries, underlining his all-round value.
Ben Stokes breaks in as Cricket Australia unveils a fearsome pace pack
The nerve-wracking rivalry between England and Australia is known to all, but talent knows no boundaries. To make the all-rounder position fiery, Cricket Australia named Ben Stokes for the number seven position. Filled with unreal all-around excellence, Stokes had a great 2025. In nine matches, he scored 496 runs with 1 hundred. With the ball, he was just as lethal, grabbing 33 wickets, producing two magical fifers, and averaging an impressive 23.12.
Australia’s fearsome bowling legacy needed no reinvention while picking the Best Test XI, and they stayed true to their roots. To make their bowling fiery, Mitchell Starc emerged as their first choice. The ace pacer has one of the best year of his glorious career. After a thrilling BGT to the recent Ashes, he covered it all. Across 11 Tests, Starc bagged 55 wickets with three fifers and featured in every single match Australia played, highlighting his ironman impact.
Another pace ace Jasprit Bumrah has talent in the other spot. In 2025, Bumrah faced several setbacks but shone in every given opportunity. In just eight Test matches this year, he secured 31 wickets with three five-wicket hauls with an average of 22.16. Bumrah delivered some of the fire moments, but his iconic fifer against South Africa is still iconic.
The Aussie superstar Scott Boland has been preferred for the third pacer for the side. In the year, the cricket world saw unimaginable consistency from him. With every given chance, he proved why he deserves a place. In just six matches, he secured 32 wickets with an average of 15.00. Among all his heroics this year, his first-ever 10-wicket haul in the longest format of India stood tall.
Announcing the best Test XI of 2025, South Africa’s Simon Harmer carved his place as the only spinner. With his excellence, he proved even limited chances can’t be a limit to greatness. The Protea spinner played just four matches and secured 30 wickets with two fifers and an average of 14.30.
Cricket Australia adds a starry twist with a special 12th man
Cricket Australia unveiled a twist with a surprise with a special 12th match of the side, and an Indian spin all-rounder took the spot. In the entire 2025, Ravindra Jadeja lived some of the best moments of his Test career. In 10 matches, he amassed 764 runs, including two centuries and six half-centuries, proving lethal with the bat. Adding to this, he also took 25 wickets with an average of 38.20.
Cricket Australia’s best Test XI of 2025: KL Rahul, Travis Head, Joe Root, Shubman Gill, Temba Bavuma (captain), Alex Carey, Ben Stokes, Mitchell Starc, Jasprit Bumrah, Scott Boland, Simon Harmer, Ravindra Jadeja (12th man).
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