THE RUN FEST

 

Image Credit- ESPN CricInfo.

Venue- WACA Ground, Perth [November 13-17, 2015].

In the Australian Summer of 2015-16, New Zealand Cricket Team toured Australia to play 3 test matches. The Hosts won the first test comfortably at the Gabba and the action now shifted to the Western Coast of Australia. However, something very unusual happened this time. The WACA pitch prepared for this test was a batting paradise unlike what Perth usually offers.  Historically Perth is known for its bounce and pace. But this time it was a flat deck. As a result, Australian Captain Steve Smith decided to bat first after winning the crucial toss. 

And Boy! What happened next was something truly extraordinary. David Warner came all guns blazing as he smoked the Kiwi attack from the very first session of the match. Whoever came into bowl received same treatment. It was pure delight to watch Warner bat. Even though Usman Khawaja too played a wonderful knock, but his knock got overshadowed by the heroics of the Explosive Opener. The Mighty Bull went on to score 253 as the Australians declared at a mammoth total of 559/9. Apart from Warner, Khwaja scored a gritty 121 as Kiwis struggled to take wickets in the WACA heat. 

In response the Visitors batted sensibly and posted a huge 624 in their first innings. Ross Taylor scored a monumental 290, whereas Kane Williamson scored a solid 166. The Kiwis were thus successful in taking a crucial first innings lead. For Australia Mitchell Starc ended up taking 4 wickets. However, the moment which grabbed the headlines was when Starc bowled a ball with a pace of more than 160 kmph. The crowd literally went crazy when they saw the speedometer. 

Even though this test match ended in a draw, but it will always be remembered by cricket fans all around the globe. Afterall, this test produced multiple moments to cheer about. Firstly, the run fest which we witnessed. Second for that absolute peach which Starc bowled. And lastly because this test turned out to be the farewell test of the Great Mitchell Johnson.

 

To watch the knock of Warner, Click Here.

To watch the knock of Taylor, Click Here.

To watch the knock of Williamson, Click Here.

To watch that delivery of Starc, Click Here. 

A HOPE IN THE MOMENT OF DESPAIR

 

Image Credit- Al Jazeera.

Venue- Perth Stadium, Perth.

 No Indian Cricket Fan would like to remember the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Series. Afterall, Aussies managed to secure a series win against us after 10 long years. The outcome which reads 1-3 could have been even worse if we did not have Jasprit Bumrah in our squad. It was because of one cricketer that Indians remained alive in the series till the 5th test.  

Australia is one such place wherein Virat Kohli has always performed. It is his home away from home, but this time even the King failed. The tour was a disaster for him as well. However, amidst this crisis he played one marvelous knock that gave some hope and joy to his fans all around the world. That very knock of his came in a place which is considered as a graveyard for batsmen. Yes. You guessed it right. We are talking about his 100 in the first test at Perth. 

Indian Captain Jasprit Bumrah won the toss and elected to bat first on what looked like a spicy wicket. Interestingly the wicket was so tough to bat in the first couple of days that both India and Australia bundled cheaply. However, to everyone's surprise the pitch became better after some time as Indians resumed their second innings.  KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal gave India a solid start and when Kohli came out to bat the Indian scorecard read 275/2. The platform was set, and it was expected of him to perform. And Boy! What a knock Kohli played. In an innings comprising of 143 deliveries, he scored an unbeaten 100 (8 Fours and 2 Sixes). Virat Kohli looked in fine touch that day as he scored in every part of the ground.  To be honest everyone was glued to the game when King was batting in the middle. The moment he reached his hundred with a boundary there was a huge cheer in the ground. King Kohli has done it again. It was his second ton in Optus Stadium in his 2nd test there. 

Even though post this test everything went down the slope, but his fans will forever remember this knock of his. It was truly a moment of joy in the times of crisis. 

To watch that knock of Virat Kohli, Click Here. 

WEST INDIES SCRIPT HISTORY

 

Image Credit- ESPN CricInfo.

Venue- Multan Cricket Stadium, Multan [January 2025].

On Monday, January 27, at Multan Cricket Stadium in Multan, the West Indies crushed Pakistan by 120 runs on Day 3 of the second Test. With his second five-wicket haul of his Test career, Jomel Warrican was the visitor's star. The left-arm spinner caused a stunning collapse in the first session itself by spinning a web around Pakistan's batters and recording statistics of 5/27 in 16 overs.

Pakistan won the first Test by a margin of 127 runs, although Warrican, the player of the match, gave the hosts a taste of their own medicine on sharply spinning pitch with nine wickets in the match and 19 in the series. After going winless on their tours in 1997 and 2006, the West Indies last triumphed in a Test match in Pakistan in November 1990 at Faisalabad wherein Desmond Haynes was the captain. So, it was quite a special win for the visitors as the series ended in a 1-1 draw. 

Saud Shakeel was the key to Pakistan's victory when they resumed at 76-4 and were chasing 254, but Kevin Sinclair put the left-hander in the slip for 13 to severely hurt the home team's waning hopes. Pakistan was swept out for 133, with Babar Azam scoring the highest at 31 and Mohammad Rizwan at 25.

With the loss, the West Indies ended eighth in the World Test Championship standings, while Pakistan fell to ninth and last. The teams which once used to dominate the world cricket are now reeling in the bottom position. How the Mighty have fallen. 

THE DESERT STORM

 

Image Credit- Firstpost.

Venue- Sharjah Cricket Association Stadium, Sharjah [April 22, 1998].

One of cricket's most famous performances took place in the scorching heat of April 1998 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in the United Arab Emirates. This series would later be dubbed "Desert Storm."  Cricketing legends were being created at the moment, and Sachin Tendulkar gave a performance that would go down in the history books.  India's cricketing great, Sachin Tendulkar, achieved his peak with a brilliant innings of 143 off 130 balls against the finest in the world in the middle of a desert where temperatures soar that the heat can be felt through shoes and socks. For Indian cricket fans, Tendulkar's magnificent performance is still remembered 27 years after.

The game was a part of the Coca-Cola Cup, which is a triangular series between Australia, New Zealand, and India. Prior to this game, New Zealand had only won one of their four games and appeared to be eliminated from the tournament, with net run rate serving as their only remaining hope. India had only won one of their previous three games. Australia had won all three of its games, earning a spot in the finals. For India, the game was crucial since a win would guarantee their place as Australia's opponents in the championship match. The net run rate might have destroyed the Men in Blue's prospects of winning the trophy in the event of a defeat.

Even though Venkatesh Prasad scored 2/41 in his 8 overs, Australia ultimately built up a daunting total of 284 for 7 in their 50 overs. One of the best finishers in history, Michael Bevan, helped the Australians to a high total with 101 off 103 balls.

Tendulkar responded with what is considered to be one of the greatest knocks ever made in a One-Day International. Tendulkar attacked everyone and spared no one in the face of a strong Australian attack that included players like Shane Warne, Michael Kasprowicz, Damien Fleming, and Tom Moody.

That day, Sharjah was attacked by two sand storms: the real one that stopped play and gave India a revised target of 276 in 46 overs, and the symbolic one that came off Sachin's bat and nearly destroyed the powerful Australians. Fleming completed a masterclass with an innings of 143 off 131, but Tendulkar was unable to lead India over the finish line, as India's scoreboard read 242/5. Although India required 34 runs from 18 balls to win the match, the remaining batters were only able to score 8 runs in the final 3 overs, giving Australia a 26-run victory. However, his 143 off 131 increased India's net run rate, giving them an advantage over the Kiwis, as New Zealand is known, and if Australia were to sweep the points table with four straight victories, even India would have a chance to compete against the powerful Aussies for the Coca-Cola Trophy. India advanced to the championship finals thanks to an increase in their net-run rate.

On April 24, Tendulkar's 25th birthday, the final was held. In their 50 overs, Australia managed to reach a score of 272/9. On his birthday, Tendulkar produced another outstanding performance, chasing down the target in 48.3 overs and winning the Coca-Cola Cup with 134 off 131 deliveries. Tendulkar's exploits during the Sharjah series are frequently regarded as some of the best in one-day cricket history. His innings demonstrated both his skill and his capacity to perform well under duress. Tendulkar is still regarded as one of the best cricket players of all time, and the "Desert Storm" serves as a reminder of his brilliance. Last but not least, Tony Greig's analysis during this game made this inning sound like a masterpiece. 

To watch the Highlights of that Innings, Click Here.  

THE RETURN OF THE KING

 

Image Credit- ESPN CricInfo.

Venue- Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi [January-February, 2025].

On 30th January, 2025 the mood in the Arun Jaitley Stadium was nothing short of a festival. There were injuries attempting to enter (a Ranji group match), yet admission was free! and 4 am became a consensus in conjecture regarding the start time of the line. At the Arun Jaitley Stadium, the excitement was palpable as Virat Kohli made his 12-year comeback to domestic cricket. When Delhi played Railways in the Ranji Trophy, fans flocked to the stands to watch the star batter in action.  

After Delhi decided to bowl first, Kohli was in a good mood and acknowledged the sea of fans as he fielded. On Day 2, it was his turn to bat. As the former India skipper made his approach to the middle, roaring applause erupted when Yash Dhull was dismissed by Rahul Sharma in the 24th over. However, Virat Kohli, India's great batsman, only managed to score 6 runs off of 15 balls in the first innings of the Delhi vs. Railways match. Thus his Ranji Trophy comeback didn't go as expected. Himanshu Sangwan of the Railways undid Kohli with a beauty of a delivery that sent the batter's off-stump soaring. With the dismissal, Kohli's terrible form took yet another unimpressive hit.

In the 28th over, he drove a delivery right down the ground for four, displaying his trademark stroke play. It was more of a forced shot than a powerful straight drive, though, and was a far cry from the precise execution that fans are accustomed to from Kohli. As he cautiously prodded at deliveries, his troubles outside the off-stump, which were reminiscent of his previous issues against Australia, reappeared.

Even though Kohli did not perform well, but his team did as they blew away the Railways by an innings and 19 runs. Furthermore at the end of second day's play Kohli was awarded by the Delhi Cricket Association for his contribution in Test Cricket. Though it would have been wonderful had Kohli scored a ton, but even his presence on the ground brought cheer in the face of his people. Everyone was glued to a Ranji Group Match till the time Kohli was on the ground.