Jonny Bairstow during day two of the 2nd Test at Newlands Stadium on January 3, 2016 in Cape Town, South Africa.

The demand for a quality wicketkeeper-batsman has never been higher in Test cricket, as 2016 sees wicketkeepers average their highest score in a calendar year since 1900.

In 42 Tests over the course of 2016, 'keepers have averaged 40.79, the most in over 100 years.

England gloveman Jonny Bairstow leads all comers with 1355 runs from 15 Tests, and has hit the most runs by any wicketkeeper ever in a calendar year.

Not only that, but Bairstow has two Tests remaining in 2016, and needs 127 runs from those matches in order to become the highest run-getter for England in a calendar year, and will eclipse Michael Vaughan on 1481 in the process.

South African Quinton de Kock is also having a stellar year, as the 23-year-old has smashed six half-centuries in 2016, at an average of 65.44 this year.

Wicketkeepers with 300+ Test runs in 2016

Country Innings Runs Average
Jonny Bairstow England 25 1355 64.52
Quinton de Kock South Africa 11 589 65.44
BJ Watling New Zealand 17 554 42.61
Sarfraz Ahmed Pakistan 15 426 30.42
Wriddhiman Saha India 11 366 40.66
Shane Dowrich West Indies 10 307 38.37