The leading players in 2016-17: Tests

Batsmen

The usual suspects of Steve Smith and Virat Kohli both finished with averages of more than 60 but it was the comparatively unheralded Azhar Ali who topped the Test batting aggregates for the 16-17 financial year. The Pakistan opener pipped the superstar pair, though he did have five more innings than Smith and Kohli. Azhar was one of six batsmen  - Kane Williamson, with 1,079 runs at 59.94 – to pass the 1,000-run mark.

Most runs

1. Azhar Ali (Pakistan)

Innings: 30 | Runs: 1,541 | Average: 57.07 | 100s: 5

2. Virat Kohli (India)

Innings: 25 | Runs: 1,503 | Average: 65.34 | 100s: 5

3. Steve Smith (Australia)

Innings: 25 | Runs: 1,399 | Average: 63.59 | 100s: 6

4. Cheteshwar Pujara (India)

Innings: 25 | Runs: 1,378 | Average: 59.91 | 100s: 4

5. Joe Root (England)

Innings: 22 | Runs: 1,101 | Average: 52.42 | 100s: 2

6. Kane Williamson (New Zealand)

Innings: 21 | Runs: 1,079 | Average: 59.94 | 100s: 4

7. Younis Khan (Pakistan)

Innings: 27 | Runs: 983 | Average: 39.32 | 100s: 3

8. Ajinkya Rahane (India)

Innings: 24 | Runs: 961 | Average: 48.05 | 100s: 2

9. David Warner (Australia)

Innings: 25 | Runs: 948 | Average: 37.92 | 100s: 2

10. KL Rahul (India)

Innings: 18 | Runs: 944 | Average: 55.52 | 100s: 2

Bowlers

They sit at the summit of the International Cricket Council's Test bowling rankings and India's spin duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja also find themselves atop of the Test wicket-taking charts for 2016-17. While Jadeja remains No.1 on the ICC rankings, his partner in crime Ashwin took 25 more scalps over the period on a list dominated by spinners. The crafty off-spinner was far-and-away the standout bowler, snaring nine five-wicket hauls in a bumper home Test season. Mitchell Starc is the lone fast bowler among the top five, coming in fifth with 57 wickets while two more Australians (Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon) feature in the top-10.

1. Ravichandran Ashwin (India)

Innings: 33 | Wickets: 99 | Average: 24.91 | 5WI: 9

2. Ravindra Jadeja (India)

Innings: 28 | Wickets: 74 | Average: 22.54 | 5WI: 4

3. Yasir Shah (Pakistan)

Innings: 27 | Wickets: 73 | Average: 35.89 | 5WI: 7

4. Rangana Herath (Sri Lanka)

Innings: 19 | Wickets: 69 | Average: 17.68 | 5WI: 6

5. Mitchell Starc (Australia)

Innings: 21 | Wickets: 57 | Average: 24.80 | 5WI: 3

6. Neil Wagner (New Zealand)

Innings: 25 | Wickets: 56 | Average: 24.25 | 5WI: 2

7. Nathan Lyon (Australia)

Innings: 24  | Wickets: 52 | Average: 35.36 | 5WI: 2

8. Josh Hazlewood (Australia)

Innings: 24 | Wickets: 48 | Average: 24.85 | 5WI: 2

9. Kaigso Rabada (South Africa)

Innings: 18 | Wickets: 47 | Average: 23.17 | 5WI: 2

10. Trent Boult (New Zealand)

Innings: 21 | Wickets: 43 | Average: 27.41 | 5WI: 0

Wicketkeepers

Just one dismissal separates the top three glovemen over the 2016-17 period, though Quinton de Kock's average of two-and-a-half dismissals per innings arguably makes him the standout. The left-hander was also the leading run-scorer among all Test 'keepers, with 926 runs at 54.47. 

1. Sarfraz Ahmed (Pakistan)

Innings: 29 | Catches: 49 | Stumpings: 0 | Average: 1.69

2. Quinton de Kock (South Africa)

Innings: 19 | Catches: 45 | Stumpings: 3 | Average: 2.53

3. BJ Watling (New Zealand)

Innings: 27 | Catches: 47 | Stumpings: 1 | Average: 1.78

4. Wriddhiman Saha (India)

Innings: 27 | Catches: 34 | Stumpings: 3 | Average: 1.37

5. Jonny Bairstow (England)

Innings: 20 | Catches: 32 | Stumpings: 4 | Average: 1.80