Half of the second edition of the ICC Test Championship has been completed with the completion of 68 matches. Some memorable batting and bowling performances were witnessed during this period of the 2023 ICC Test Championship. The ICC identified the best five best individual performances in both the batting and bowling departments in order to recognize the players' efforts. Let’s take a look at the best batting and bowling performances so far in the current World Test Championship. Top five batting performances in the 2023 ICC Test Championship There were a few worthy candidates to be named on the list. The ICC picked the best five batting performances after evaluating some of the splendid individual knocks. Tom Latham (252) vs Bangladesh New Zealand were under pressure after losing the first Test of a two-match series against Bangladesh. They needed a commanding batting performance in the second Test. Thankfully, Tom Latham rose to the occasion and made a 252-run knock in the first innings of the Christchurch Test. New Zealand eventually clinched the match by an innings and 117 runs.  Read Shakib to play for Legends of Rupganj in Dhaka League Babar Azam (196) vs Australia The target was 506 for Pakistan, and it apparently seemed impossible. But Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan's partnership almost did the impossible. The match eventually ended in a draw. However, Babar Azam’s 196 off 425 balls in his marathon innings was a remarkable effort.  Azhar Ali (185) vs Australia Azhar Ali's 185 runs in the first innings of the series-opening Test in Rawalpindi against Australia was a magnificent effort. The match ended in a draw. Read ICC Test Championship 2023: Mominul Haque among the best all-around performances Joe Root (180) vs India England captain Joe Root scored an undefeated 180* runs against India in the first innings of the second Test of the series at Lord's. This knock was significant because none of the other English batters had fared well in the innings. However, England were defeated by 151 runs in the contest. Ravindra Jadeja (175) vs Sri Lanka India’s Ravindra Jadeja produced a remarkable 175*-run knock in the first innings of the first Test against Sri Lanka last March. His effort helped India score a massive total in the first innings. Sri Lanka eventually conceded an innings defeat. Read Bangladesh likely to tour Australia and England in the forthcoming ICC FTP fixtures Top five bowling performances in the World Test Championship 2023 New Zealand's Ajaz Patel had the most noteworthy individual bowling effort, but he failed to inspire his side to win the contest. Patel is among the three spinners included in the list. Besides, Matt Henry is the lone pacer to make the top five charts. Ajaz Patel (10/119) vs India Ajaz Patel of New Zealand made history by taking 10 wickets in the first innings of the second Test against India at Mumbai's Wankhede stadium. He is only the third bowler in history to take ten wickets in a single innings. Despite the fact that New Zealand lost by 372 runs in the match.  Read Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League 2022: Meet the Favourites Sajid Khan (8/42) vs Bangladesh Bangladesh were all out for only 87 runs in their first innings in response to Pakistan's 300/4d in the second Test in Mirpur, Dhaka. Off-spinner Sajid Khan smothered Bangladesh's batting lineups with his spinning precision. He took eight wickets in that innings, and Pakistan went on to win the match by an innings and eight runs. Matt Henry (7/23) vs South Africa In the first Test of the 2-match series, South Africa were completely outplayed by the hosts, New Zealand, in the first Test. They were twice bowled out for a low total. In the first innings, medium-pacer Matt Henry rattled the Proteas batting order and picked up 7 wickets. New Zealand went on to win the contest by an innings and 276 runs. Read IPL 2022: Delhi’s Mustafizur Rahman eyes to end his wicket drought Keshav Maharaj (7/32) vs Bangladesh Keshav Maharaj was brilliant for South Africa in the 2-match Test series against Bangladesh. In the first Test, Bangladesh had a target of 274 but Maharaj’s spin rattled the Bangladesh batting order. The visitors were bowled out for only 53 runs and lost the match by 220 runs. Keshav picked up 7 wickets in the fourth innings for the hosts. Keshav Maharaj (7/40) vs Bangladesh Like in the first Test, Keshav Maharaj did the same thing in the second Test against Bangladesh. The visitors came out to bat for the fourth innings to chase 413 runs. But they were bowled out for only 80 runs because of Maharaj’s brilliant spin bowling. The left-arm orthodox spinner once again bagged seven wickets in the fourth innings and showed his true potential as a bowler. Bangladesh lost the match by 332 runs. Read ICC Cricket World Cup Super League: Bangladesh's Current Standings, Forthcoming Fixtures Bottom Line The batting and bowling performances stated above are among the finest in this edition of the competition thus far. Individual efforts by these players contributed to their respective teams' dominance over the opposition. The remaining fixtures of the 2023 ICC Test Championship are anticipated to offer even more spectacular and game-changing performances. 

The second edition (2021–2023) of the Test Championship started on August 4, 2021, and the final match is likely to be held on March 31, 2023. According to the schedule, 138 matches will be played between the nine participating teams in the ICC Test Championship 2023. Half of the tournament is already over, with 68 matches completed and 70 more to go. On this occasion, the ICC revealed the best all-round performances so far in this two-year-long tournament. Let’s take a look at who made the cut in the top five all-rounders list.  Top five all-round performances in the ICC Test Championship 2023 The jury board had to go through a detailed analysis to identify the best performances in the all-round category. Because there were a number of brilliant performances and picking the best five is always a challenging task. Here are the best all-round performances picked by the ICC. Read: Bangladesh likely to tour Australia and England in the forthcoming ICC FTP fixtures Ravindra Jadeja vs Sri Lanka (First Test, 4-6 March 2022) In the opening match of the two-match series in Mohali in March of this year, India's all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja was ruthless against Sri Lanka. His all-round display helped India dominate the Lankan side all through the match. Jadeja made 175 runs after coming into bat at No. 7 and carried the first innings total to 574. In reply, Sri Lanka were bowled out for only 174, in which Jadeja bagged a fifer. This time, India forced Sri Lanka to follow on, and this time they made 178. Once again, Jadeja was the main strike bowler for the Indian side and picked up 4 wickets. Overall, Ravindra Jadeja finished the match with 175 runs and a 9/87 bowling figure. India went on to win the contest by an innings and 222 runs.  Read Dhaka Premier League: Super League begins on Monday Matt Henry vs South Africa (First Test, 17-19 February 2022) New Zealand’s pace-bowling all-rounder Matt Henry produced a magical performance against South Africa in the first Test of their 2-match series in Christchurch. His 7-wicket haul in the first innings bowled South Africa out for only 95 runs. In reply, New Zealand made 482, in which Matt Henry played an important 58*-run knock. The defeat was imminent for the Proteas side after a horrible first innings performance. They were bowled out for 111 in the second innings and lost the contest by an innings score of 276 runs. The sensational Matt Henry picked up 9 wickets apart from scoring a half-century in the match. Read Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League 2022: Meet the Favourites Shardul Thakur vs England (Fourth Test, 2-6 September 2021) Shardul Thakur played an important role in India’s 157-run win over England in the fourth Test at the Oval, London. Shardul played a blazing 57-ball knock in the first innings and helped India get past the 150-run barrier. He also made an important 60 runs in the second innings, which helped India set a big target. Apart from scoring runs with the bat, Thakur also bagged 1 wicket in the first innings and 2 wickets in the second innings.   Keshav Maharaj vs Bangladesh (2-match series, 2022) Spin bowling all-rounder Keshav Maharaj was outstanding against Bangladesh in the recently concluded 2-match Test series. He bagged 16 wickets at an average of 12.12 and made 108 runs with the bat. Maharaj’s best bowling figure in the series was 7/32, and he played an important 84-run knock in the first innings of the second Test. He was the most vital player in South Africa’s 2-0 clean sweep over Bangladesh. Read: Anamul hits another fifty as Prime Bank beat Abahani Mominul Haque vs New Zealand (First Test, 1-5 January 2022) Captain Mominul Haque played an important role in Bangladesh’s historic Test match win over New Zealand at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui in January this year. Mominul made 88 runs in Bangladesh’s 458 runs first innings total. He also picked up two crucial wickets in the contest. Mominul removed two of the top scorers from New Zealand's first innings. Bangladesh eventually clinched the match by 8 wickets, where Mominul’s contribution was very much noticeable.   Bottom Line The ICC recognized that the above-mentioned individual all-round performances were truly special. Most importantly, in all cases, the performances helped their respective sides to snatch a victory. As the tournament is heading towards an important stage, there is an expectation that more brilliant all-round displays will be witnessed in the remaining fixtures of the ICC Test Championship 2023. Read Root quits as England test cricket captain after 5 years