The Most Important Players to the Five Best Test-Playing Nations

2024 has the potential to be a blockbuster cricketing year. Admittedly it is a year in which the Ashes won't be contested, meaning that by the time the next one rolls around in the winter of 2025, Australia will have clung onto the famous old urn for an entire decade. But the Aussies have much more to look forward to than just beating their oldest rivals.

They are the current reigning Test World Champions after dominating the rest of the planet between the 2021 and 2023 season, topping the league table to set up a meeting with runners-up India at The Oval. And in the showpiece fixture, they dominated once more, winning by a whopping 209 runs thanks to a blistering 163 from Travis Head. And the Baggy Greens weren't done there.

Late last year, they once again defeated the Men in Blue - who were on home turf - in the Cricket World Cup. Despite losing to the host nation in the pool stage, the Aussies dominated once more in the final, restricting India to a score of 240 before hitting the runs required to win with seven overs to spare. Later this year, they will have the chance to become the planet's first-ever triple world champions when the T20 World Cup gets underway in the West Indies and USA on June 1st. Websites that provide various sports betting options make them the +400 second favorites to do exactly that. Of course, with time passing by and the main event coming closer odds may change making them even stronger favorites and vice versa.

But who is their most important player at present? Let's take a look at them and the world's four other best teams and determine who exactly their key men are.

Australia - Steve Smith

Australian cricket has always been blessed with great players, and Steve Smith is one of the brightest gems in their crown. The Sydney-born star made his debut for Australia in 2010 and has since become the backbone of their batting lineup. He is known for his unorthodox technique, which makes him a challenging batsman to bowl to. He has a Test average of over 62 and has single-handedly won several matches for his country.

India - Virat Kohli

When it comes to Indian cricket, one name that comes to everyone's mind is Virat Kohli. His passion for the game and his incredible work ethic have made him one of the world's best batsmen and he is perhaps the biggest sports star that the subcontinent has ever seen. He is not only a run-machine but also a great captain who has taken Indian cricket to new heights. He has an average of over 50 in all formats of the game and is known for his aggression and never-say-die attitude.

England - Ben Stokes

When it comes to England, there are two players to choose from. One of them is Joe Root, who is arguably the greatest batsman the country has ever produced. The Yorkshireman has been in blistering form as of late and is ranked by the ICC as the best test-playing batsman on the face of the earth. So, why have we gone with Ben Stokes then?

Well, the New Zealand-born star simply has the X Factor. That thing that you can't quite put your finger on. That thing that if you were able to put in a bottle and sell it, you'd be a billionaire. Whatever it is, Ben Stokes has it, and he has it in abundance.

Ben Stokes is the ultimate all-rounder. He has always been a crucial player in the English team, and his performances in pressure situations have always been instrumental in their victories. Stokes played a crucial role in England's historic World Cup triumph in 2019 and was also instrumental in their Ashes series later that summer, famously grabbing victory from the jaws of defeat with a spell-binding 136 in which he smashed Australia's feared bowling attack all over Leeds en route to a razor-thin one-wicket victory.

In 2022, he also was instrumental as England knocked off Pakistan to become double world champion at the MCG. And while their defense of the Cricket World Cup didn't go as planned late last year, there can be no denying just how important Ben Stokes is to his country.

South Africa - Kagiso Rabada

South African cricket has produced some fantastic fast bowlers over the years, and Kagiso Rabada is the latest sensation from their production line. Rabada's raw pace and ability to swing the ball both ways make him a nightmare for batsmen. He has taken 287 Test wickets in just 61 matches and at 29 years of age, he is only just coming into his prime. His form over the last year has been so impressive that he is currently listed as the third-best bowler in the world, behind Ravi Ashwin and Aussie captain Pat Cummins.

New Zealand - Kane Williamson

Kane Williamson is the heart and soul of New Zealand cricket. He may not be as flashy as some of the other players on this list, but he is undoubtedly one of the world's best batsmen thanks to his pure grit and determination. His technique and temperament have earned him a reputation as a batting machine who is almost impossible to bowl out. He is also a great captain and has led New Zealand to some fantastic victories, including their historic run to the World Cup final in 2019.