This article written by Kate Richardson
Test cricket delivered pure gold in 2025. Big hundreds, impossible chases, and bowling that
left batsmen wondering what hit them. But five players stood out from the crowd.
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| Photo by Alfred Kenneally on Unsplash |
We picked performers who owned the Test scene in 2025, not lifetime greats. That's why
legends like Joe Root and the newly-retired Virat Kohli aren't on this list. We look at why
these five stars mattered, what they did, and the stats behind their stellar performances.
1. Shubman Gill
Shubman Gill smashed 269 at Edgbaston. But it was not just any 269. This was a record-breaking knock for an Indian Test captain in a single innings. It's the kind of innings that makes you forget about everything else happening in the world.
He didn't stop there, though. Across five matches against England, Gill piled up 754 runs,
more than anyone else in the series. Those runs, combined with his captaincy, kept India
fighting hard all year long.
2. Usman Khawaja
The calm, big-scoring left-hander Usman Khawaja went really big in Galle. His 232 against
Sri Lanka was his first Test double century, helping Australia post a massive 654-6 declared.
Three Tests in 2025 brought him 338 runs at an average above 80. These were consistent
runs when his team needed them most.
3. Aiden Markram
Aiden Markram picked the perfect moment to play the innings of his life. His 136 in the World
Test Championship final at Lord's guided South Africa to a 5-wicket win. This was South
Africa's first major ICC men's title since 1998.
After the match, Markram talked about pressure and motivation beforehand. ‘‘I thought a lot
about T20 World Cup last night, and how I felt after getting out. And I was like I don’t want to
sit there again. It gave me a lot of motivation to stay at the crease if I could,’’ he said. It's
safe to say this actually helped with his performance.
4. Jomel Warrican
Left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican ripped through Pakistan's batting. He had nineteen wickets
in just two Tests, including career-best figures of 7/32 in one innings. These numbers made
him the standout bowler of that series.
5. Scott Boland
Scott Boland completed a Test hat-trick as Australia bowled the West Indies out for 27. He
made the second-lowest Test total ever, one of those days that cricket fans will talk about for
long.
Rankings Snapshot
ICC rankings kept moving all summer. As of August 7, the official batting rankings show Joe
Root at the top, followed by Harry Brook, Kane Williamson, Steve Smith, and Yashasvi
Jaiswal. But like we said earlier, we're looking at who dominated 2025 specifically.
Last year, Alastair Cook predicted that, ‘‘Root's continued hunger and consistency could help
him become the top run-scorer in test cricket.’’ That same hunger shows up in what players
like Gill and Khawaja did this year.
Why These Five Guys Matter
Several stars have played Test cricket in 2025. Here’s what we think the five guys above are
above the rest:
- They produced match-defining moments: Gill's Edgbaston double, Markram's Lord's century, Boland's hat-trick.
- Each showed consistency: Gill's 754 in the India series, Khawaja's big average across limited Tests.
- They influenced trophies and series: Markram's innings clinched the WTC; Warrican's wickets turned a Pakistan series.
- Their performances forced tactical changes as captains and coaches responded.
Quick summary table
| Rank | Player | Role | Key 2025 highlight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shubman Gill | Batter | 269 at Edgbaston; 754
series runs |
| 2 | Usman Khawaja | Batter | 232 at Galle; 338 runs
in short run |
| 3 | Aiden Markram | Batter | 136 in WTC Final;
Player of the Match |
| 4 | Jomel Warrican | Bowler | 19 wickets in 2 Tests; BB 7/32 |
| 5 | Scott Boland | Bowler | Hat-trick; helped WI bowled out for 27 |
Cricket Betting Tips & Insights from MightyTips
Betting boosts Test excitement even more for participating fans. But if you want to get the
best out of it, you need to study player form first before you begin putting money down.
Resources and guides like MightyTips are perfect for this.
MightyTips shares useful tips on secure and rewarding betting. If you also want to know
about bookmaker payment options, they break down the payment methods and deposit
options most bettors use. They cover E-wallets, cards, and everything that works.
Most essentially, top tipster Kate Richardson recommends watching cricket matches. She
opines that new bettors who want to bet on Test cricket may need match clips and highlights
as this can help with player study and other analyses.
Rising Trends in Test Play
Teams are mixing experience with youth more than ever these days. All-rounders also prove
crucial when matches get tight and batsmen handle pace better now. Plus, 2025 avoided
many of those boring draws that make fans switch off.
Some fan tips worth remembering are:
● Monitor weekly rankings
● Review past series outcomes
● Spot emerging talents
● Note weather effects
Final Thoughts
2025 has shown us that patient batting, crafty bowling, and perfect timing are why Test
cricket works. We got old-school marathon innings from Gill and Khawaja, then watched
Boland and Warrican tear through batting lineups in completely different ways.
These five players gave fans plenty to remember and even more to argue about. If you're
planning a highlight reel or previewing the next WTC cycle, you have every reason to start
with these performances.
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