Across the globe, millions of cricket enthusiasts enjoy the game. It was invented in England and has since expanded to India, Australia, South Africa, and the Caribbean. Throughout the game's extensive history, there have been several memorable matches and moments. So let's recall those moments.
1. Sachin Tendulkar Bowls Out As A Champion
During the 2011 World Cup in Mumbai, Sachin Tendulkar's career came to a fitting conclusion with a win. Tendulkar bowled Sri Lanka out with 10 balls to spare to seal victory for his squad. His colleagues carried him around his home field, Wankhede Stadium, on their shoulders as a sign of joy.
2. Mike Gatting’s Disastrous Reverse Sweep
Mike Gatting batted for England against Australia in the 1987 World Cup, and the English were well on their way to a win. Gatting saved the day with a reverse sweep on Allan Border's left-arm spin. The plan, however, backfired as England fell seven runs short of winning the match.
3. Shane Warne Bowls The “Ball Of The Century.”
Warne's first ball of the Ashes series on English soil was one of the most memorable. Former Australian cricketer Warne made his debut at Old Trafford in Manchester on the second day of the first Test of the 1993 Ashes series. English batsman Mike Gatting's leg stump was hit by a pitch that was thrown outside the leg stump and spun back to strike the off-stump. Also, this marked the beginning of leg-spin bowling's comeback.
4. Herschelle Gibbs Hit 6 Sixes In 2007
Herschelle Gibbs' remarkable batting performance in 2007 helped South Africa to a 221-run victory over the Netherlands. In the group game against Daan van Bunge, Gibbs became the first player to knock six sixes in an over of international cricket. Even if Warner Park's narrow border could have helped, the merciless exhibition of hitting lightened up a rain-soaked day. South Africa reached 353-4 despite the match being reduced to 40 overs apiece. Gibbs' heroics overshadowed Kallis' undefeated hundred. Luuk van Troost snared Gibbs after he scored 72 points on 40 balls.
5. Philip Hughes' Death
When the whole cricketing world gathered on November 25-27, Phillip Hughes, an Australian cricketer, was airlifted to a hospital after being struck by a bouncer during a local match on November 25. But Hughes succumbed to his injuries on November 27, despite the prayers of fans across the world. The Pakistan-New Zealand Test match in Sharjah has been called off for the day.#PutOutYourBats became a prominent hashtag on social media as a homage to Phillip Hughes.
6. The Sandpaper Gate
After match-fixing ruined the sport's reputation, its best players got entangled in what has been termed the decade's largest controversy. Smith, Warner, and Bancroft were caught tampering with the ball using sandpaper in the third test against South Africa. He later confessed that he was aware of the intention to alter the ball's condition. Smith was also the team's captain. In addition to Warner, vice-captain David Warner had also pleaded guilty to the accusations brought by the International Criminal Court.
7. The Birth Of The Ashes
During Australia and England's legendary Ashes series, many great moments were made. In 1882, the English national team was defeated by the Australians in England. This was viewed as so catastrophic that it was announced that English cricket had died. As a result of the meeting, the teams have reunited every two years since then in order to reacquire the ashes and the glory.
8. The First Day-Night Test
On the first anniversary of Phillip Hughes' death, Adelaide Oval staged the first day-night Test match between New Zealand and Australia. Known for their dominance in cricket and their innovative ideas, the Australians have made significant contributions to the sport. The Australians not only invented the notion of Day-Night games, but they also invented color kits, Hotspot, DRS, and Snickometer. To encourage more people to attend matches, Australia instituted the Pink Ball Test in 2015. Also, in Kolkata, India played its first-ever Day-Night Pink-Ball Test match on February 24, 2019.
9. South Africa Suffered In The Rain In 2003
South Africa has never had a good World Cup weather record. In 1992, adverse weather restrictions prevented them from making it to the final. They were on pace to win against England in Sydney, but interruptions in play left them requiring a 21-run total from one ball, which proved impossible. During the 2003 World Cup, the Duckworth-Lewis system was used to guarantee that the side that batted first would not gain an unfair advantage over the opposing team. For the Proteas to advance to the Super Six, they must defeat Sri Lanka in their last group game. South Africa has never had a good World Cup weather record. Mark Boucher hit a six off Muttiah Muralitharan to put them ahead of their aim of 269 despite the prospect of rain. According to the Duckworth-Lewis system (h/t Cricket Country), they only had 229 points on the board. Boucher, on the other hand, believed that it was sufficient. On the next delivery, the last one in that inning, the batter failed to score a single run. After that, the officials removed the players from the field, allowing South Africa to watch as their dreams of triumph were dashed.
10. Dwayne Leverock's Catch Briefly Rocked India In 2007
South Africa has never had a good World Cup weather record. Dwayne Leverock's 2007 catch would deserve a place on the list, even if he didn't anticipate it. Malachi Jones' initial delivery to India's Robin Uthappa has swung away from his body. Leverock, who, given his stature, was likely covering first and second slip, sprinted to his right to catch the ball with one hand. In joy, he took off sprinting, blowing kisses to the audience. "The ground trembled" when the fielder landed with the ball still clutched in his grasp, according to commentator David Lloyd. Given that he was a police officer in Bermuda, Leverock may have been used to capturing things in the act. In the end, the minnows fell to India by a score of 257 runs.
