India's win an exhilarating epic for the ages
Over the years, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy has had no dearth of extraordinary cricket and riveting drama. But what transpired in Brisbane on 19 January 2021 was in a different realm altogether.
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Over the years, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy has had no dearth of extraordinary cricket and riveting drama. But what transpired in Brisbane on 19 January 2021 was in a different realm altogether.
With Border-Gavaskar Trophy holders India pulling off a gripping draw at the Sydney Cricket Ground, the battle for the series is still alive going into the fourth and final Test at the Gabba in Brisbane.
Like almost everything else, Test cricket has been hit by the unforeseen circumstances of 2020.
The Test team I have picked for the year 2020 features five players from England, three from New Zealand, and one each from India, Pakistan and South Africa.
The 1988 triumph remains the West Indies’ most recent Test series success on English soil.
The West Indies went from strength to strength as the 1980s rolled on, and England bore the brunt of their firepower more than any other team.
In the third part of this series, we embark upon the period during which the West Indies firmly established themselves as the undisputed champions of Test cricket.
Having revisited the West Indies’ successes on the 1950 and 1963 tours in the first of this five-part series, I move on further through the 1960s and into the 1970s in the second part.
The much awaited battle for the Wisden Trophy between England and the West Indies is underway with the first of three Tests at Southampton.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) warmed up to the concept of floodlit cricket only in 1997, when the first day-night match was played under temporary lights at Edgbaston between Warwickshire and Somerset in the 40-overs Sunday League.
Having written international elevens of Steves and Davids, I turn my attention to the Peters.
Zimbabwe’s David Houghton, who turns 63 on June 23, has one of the more common first names for an international cricketer.
No player had scored a century and taken six wickets in the same ODI match until June 21, 2005.
As things stand, there is no certainty yet on whether Zimbabwe’s ODI tour of Australia in August will take place as scheduled.
Coming into this one-off match, played at the Castle Avenue in Clontarf, Dublin on June 17, 2010, Australia had notched nine successive ODI series wins, which included the 2009 Champions Trophy.
This was the first Test match to be played between the West Indies and Zimbabwe.
It is well known that Kenya defended a modest total of 166 in their famous 1996 World Cup victory against the West Indies at Pune’s Nehru Stadium.
As of today’s date, men’s ODI cricket has witnessed 54 bowlers take at least four wickets on debut.
It has been two decades since the seventh edition of the Asia Cup was contested in Bangladesh.
The third-place playoff of the 1997 ICC Trophy, as the World Cup qualifier was then known, in Malaysia saw Scotland beat Ireland by 51 runs on the Duckworth-Lewis method, which gave them a spot at the 1999 World Cup.
Cummins was strongly considered, but Woakes got the nod ahead of him because of his all-round impact. Similarly, it was hard to fit in Labuschagne. Ashwin over Lyon, again due to higher impact.
Test cricket: 2020 in review
Labuschagne, Babar and Blackwood all made my shortlist, but Woakes’ all-round numbers tempted me to lock him in for number seven.
The 2020 Test team of the year
Cummins and Labuschagne were both considered, but Woakes (impact with both ball and bat) and Crawley (his numbers warranted him a spot) edged them out respectively.
The 2020 Test team of the year
Cheers, Pat. Indeed, the 1973 victory was a strong indication of what was to follow for the best part of the next two decades.
West Indian Test wins in England: Part 2
Indeed, that was the all-conquering team. Marshall’s 35 wickets in the 1988 series remains a West Indian record. The result against Australia at home was 3-0 in five Tests though, not 5-0 (the first two Tests were drawn). In Australia, it was 3-1.
West Indian Test wins in England: Part 4
Indeed. Some real heavyweights in those West Indian teams. Sobers of course the superstar, plus the likes of Hunte, Kanhai, Butcher, Worrell and Nurse forming a potent batting line-up. Hall and Griffith as a fiery pace duo were as good as any on their day, and if they did not get you, then the parsimonious Gibbs surely did.
West Indian Test wins in England: Part 1
Taylor and Sleep were both edged out by Such for the spinner’s spot.
An international XI of Peters
Honorary team member would be Peter, the Lord’s cat (1950-1964), who has been the only animal to have had its obituary featured in Wisden.
An international XI of Peters
Yes, there is some issue. I am reproducing the eleven here:
Aaron Finch (Australia)
Jack Heron (Zimbabwe)
Stork Hendry (Australia)
Martin Crowe (New Zealand, captain)
Aminul ‘Bulbul’ Islam (Bangladesh)
Robin Uthappa (India, wicketkeeper)
Ilyas Gull (Hong Kong)
Jackson Bird (Australia)
Joe Partridge (South Africa)
Mason Crane (England)
Glenn ‘Pigeon’ McGrath (Australia)
I had gone with actual spellings of birds, whether actual name or nickname. Hence, near-misses like Umar Gul and Graeme Swann were ruled out. In case of Crowe, it is his first name that qualified, as martin is a bird.
High flyers? An Avian XI
Interesting read. I had compiled an Avian XI two years ago, which was quite distinct from your side. Here’s the link: http://www.holdingwilley.com/article/the-diary/cricket-avian-xi
High flyers? An Avian XI
Thanks, Tiger. Yes, Johnson was one of the faster Indian bowlers in the 90s, but played only two Tests.
An international XI of Davids
Cheers, Jon. Prior to this, I had made a Steve XI more than two years ago. Here it is: https://www.theroar.com.au/2017/12/27/time-international-xi-steves/
An international XI of Davids
Hi, nice suggestions in there. Davidson unfortunately does not qualify as its not his first name, otherwise he would have been a shoo-in.
An international XI of Davids
Thanks for your suggestions, Paul. Agreed, a bit harsh on Hookes – shows that the batting line-up is pretty solid. As mentioned, Houghton to keep so that the batting can be bolstered. Holford is in there at seven.
An international XI of Davids
Yes, terrific show, that. For good measure, Gilmour picked up another 5/48 in the final.
The best all-round show in an ODI
Indeed. That Australian side had some serious depth with both bat and ball.
The best all-round show in an ODI
Good one, thanks for sharing. Always thought that Bevan was the MOTM in that game.
The best all-round show in an ODI
Cheers, Spruce. Bangladesh beating Australia was special indeed.
The best all-round show in an ODI
Indeed. Zimbabwe had the wood on England in their early head-to-head ODI fixtures – they won six out of the first eight, including a 3-0 clean sweep at home in 1996-97.
Zimbabwe's best ODI performances in Australia
This has been a highly enjoyable series of articles, Jon. Appreciate the research you have put in to form the teams.
Born to rule: The top two cricketing birthplaces
Indeed, a Test between Australia and Ireland would be great. Here’s hoping that Australia play one in Ireland on their next Ashes tour.
When Ireland ran the World Cup champions close
Yes, Zimbabwe were at their best in the late nineties and the early 2000s. This was a golden opportunity lost to beat the West Indies, but they had their moments against them in the following season in the ODI format – for instance, they famously defended 138 in a tri-series match at Sydney; WI were 31/8 at one stage before folding for 91.
Ambrose retired a few months later, after the Test series in England. Walsh carried on for one more season, going on to become the first bowler to take 500 Test wickets.
Rewind to 2000: A stunning turnaround in Trinidad
A nice description of the opening day. Zimbabwe’s next ODI win over Australia would come a good 31 years later.
The opening day of the 1983 Cricket World Cup
Cheers, glad you liked it. Yes, Nortje has been impressive, but Broad, Jamieson and Southee pretty much selected themselves with their remarkable numbers. I am very much looking forward to South Africa v Australia; it always makes for a cracking contest.
Test cricket: 2020 in review