The years of cricket between 1980 and 1990 will never be beaten, and here is a taste of what this amazing period provided.
1. The series
Ian Botham’s Ashes, or the 1981 Australia versus England Test match series. One of the greatest comebacks in the sport’s history. England were down 1-0 and Ian Botham was sacked as captain. He launched a comeback that has inspired numerous books, writings and documentaries narrated by Hollywood stars.
2. The drama
The underarm. Another incident that inspired a fantastic documentary released in 2019. The incident galvanised New Zealand cricket and will always be brought up in any sporting clash across the two nations.
3. The skulduggery
Rebel tours by England, the West Indies, Sri Lanka and Australia to the banned nation of South Africa required a lot of wheeling and dealing and front-page headlines across many nations.
4. The players
Viv Richards, Allan Border, Malcolm Marshall, Ian Botham, Joel Garner, Imran Khan, Kapil Dev. That’s to name just a few of the outstanding players and big personalities that dominated the decade.
(Adrian Murrell / Getty Images)
4. The upset
India’s win in the 1983 World Cup toppled the mighty West Indies line-up. That win showed that India was a world power in the game and they backed this up by winning the 1984 World Championship of Cricket in Australia.
5. The spell
Patrick Patterson’s spell at Sabina Park in Jamaica in 1986 was terrifying. Fire and pace and on an up-and-down wicket, Patterson’s spell was described by wicketkeeper Jeff Dujon as rapid.
6. The all-rounders
Ian Botham, Kapil Dev, Richard Hadlee, Imran Khan, Clive Rice. No decade has had the world-class all-rounders that walked the international ovals of that decade.
7. The heavyweight clash
Pakistan’s tour of the West Indies in 1988, to be precise. The series was drawn 1-1 and it was the closest the West Indies came to losing a series at home during their golden era. They were led by Imran Khan, who had to be coerced out of retirement. This series brought out the best in both sides.
8. The fall and rise of Australia cricket
Retirements and the South African rebel tour left Australia down and out. Ashes thrashings and New Zealand winning their first series in Australia left the Australian team in a dark place and looking for answers. The ACB hired Bob Simpson and within two seasons Australia was holding up the 1987 World Cup in Eden Gardens, India.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Great too, but a fraction below the guys mentioned in terms of averages, as not as impressive away from home. SA has been very helpful to the seamers over the last 15 years, even compared to England.
matth
Roar Guru
Dale Steyn
Micko
Roar Rookie
It's funny in that I only read about that test series (1980-NZ vs WI) in an article about two months ago (naturally not written by a kiwi either :shocked: ). They'll constantly complain about supposed dodgy biased aussie umpires costing them wins/draws throughout the years, but won't mention when it's their umpires who are the suspicious ones who apparently got them across the line against the WI at their peak.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
I guess Donald started his cricket in the 80s but didn’t play Tests until the 90s. If you mean he is a serious candidate for the all time team, he’s right up there, though a little behind Marshall, Hadlee, Imran, Ambrose, Garner and evening McGrath if you look at their averages on all wickets.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Was one amazing win by aus in india in 87 paul
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Bay 13 and the mighty west indies as a team deserve their own paragraphs although the windies feature heavily in your points. Id also add the commentary teams were hilarious and much better value
Rob Peters
Guest
We have to mention how strong the WI actually were in the 1980s. They did not lose a test series home or away the entire decade (the 1980 series in NZ doesn't count as they were cheated out of a win) and did not lose a single test between Dec 1981 and Jan 1985 with 11 wins on the trot from mid 1984 to early 1985. They also managed to "blackwash" England twice in 1984 and 1986. It is rumoured that Australia should have toured the WI in 1987 but because of the state of Australian cricket the tour was cancelled.
Mark
Guest
You forgot that it actually happened in 1985.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Don't leave out SAs Alan Donald and a little known Brett Schultz who only played 9 Tests in the nineties before a catastrophic injury ended his career. Finished with a bowling average of 22.
Sinclair Whitbourne
Roar Rookie
I am delighted to say that as I read this I went from agreeing, to thinking no, surely the 1970's then agreeing with the post on the 1990's, then thinking that the last decade was pretty good. In lots of other things I am a bit of a pessimist but the truth is that in sports like cricket and rugby (my favourites), we have just been spoiled with great year after great year. Technically, batting probably isn't what it has been at the moment but it is very entertaining and it is an era rich in quality, aggressive quick bowling (and that is what really gets the pulse racing - batsmen are just there to provide a target and a job for those who would be quick bowlers but can't). Really enjoyed this article and the posts, thank you all.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Nice summary. I think it might have been the best decade for the spread of strength across the teams, given the quality of the Pakistan and New Zealand sides, the might of the Windies, some good Aussie teams at the beginning and end, and occasional England sides. Although there would be a case for the nineties, given the introduction of a very good South Africa and and an improving India, though England and NZ went downhill. Also the greatest decade for pace bowling. The Windies had the two or three of the greatest pace quartets of all time (from Holding, Roberts, Garner, Croft , Marshall, Walsh, Ambrose and Patterson) , Pakistan had Imran, Wasim and Waqar), Australia Lillee, Alderman and others, England Willis and Botham, as well as Hadlee and Kapil Dev. Marshall, Hadlee, Imran, Wasim, Ambrose, Lillee, Garner all candidates for best all-time team while it’s hard to name any others outside the 80s.
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
I think 87 was won by a more ‘unrated’ team. I forgot that ‘ 1984 World Championship of Cricket in Australia’, that was pretty good event.
Paul
Roar Guru
Nice piece Mitchell. The 80's was certainly a dynamic period in world cricket. Under "upset" I think you can probably include the Aussies winning the WC in India in '87.