World Test Championship III: Implementing the Proposed Points Table
After the conclusion of the England-Pakistan Test series, we decided to update the World Test Championship Table based on our new proposed system in Part II of the segment, WTC: Good Structure But Needs Structural Improvement.
Earlier in Part I, How can the World Test Championship improve?, we described how the Big 3 is creating an imbalance in the World Test Championship via ‘marquee’ series’ like The Ashes and what can be done to improve it.
World Test Championship: Current System
Let us recall why we are discussing changing the World Test Championship (WTC) Table in the first place. Here are some of the flaws that WTC possesses today:
Number of Tests Played is uneven: England play 22, while Pakistan/Sri Lanka play 13 each.
Currently no distinction is made for Home/Away advantage: So far, England have played 11/4 (H/A), while New Zealand have played 2/5 (H/A).
Number of points fluctuate depending on # of games per series: Unfair to shorter series, and hence, discriminating against lower-ranked (and less financially stable) teams.
All-or-Nothing System:Test matches occur over 5 days or a max-of-15 sessions. One session can have a huge impact on the series, as the First Test of Eng-Pak exhibited. Yet, the points are awarded on an all-or-nothing basis.
Table I: Current World Test Championship Table
Team
Series
Tests
Points
P
W
L
D
P
W
L
D
T
India
4
3
1
0
9
7
2
0
0
360/480
Australia
3
2
0
1
10
7
2
1
0
296/360
England
4
3
0
1
15
8
4
3
0
292/480
New Zealand
3
1
1
1
7
3
4
0
0
180/360
Pakistan
4*
1
2
0
8
2
3
3
0
166/420
Sri Lanka
2
0
1
1
4
1
2
1
0
80/240
West Indies
2
0
2
0
5
1
4
0
0
40/240
South Africa
2
0
2
0
7
1
6
0
0
24/240
Bangladesh
2*
0
1
0
3
0
3
0
0
0/180
World Test Championship Table: Current System
*Note: Bangladesh tour of Pakistan was postponed after 1 Test match (out of a 2-Test series) due to COVID. Points are calculated as if the 2-match series will be completed eventually.
Brief Review – WTC Points Table Proposed System
Recall, our points distribution proposal is a two-tiered system, based on (1) session by session data and (2) Home/Away respectively.
In our proposed system, each team plays 12 Home/12 Away tests for a total of 24 matches over 2 and a half years, where the total points possible for each team is 1200 points, for an average of 50 points per match. The criteria is as follows:
In the last article, we displayed the process for computing the session by session and overall total score for the West Indies-England series.
After the completion of the England-Pakistan series, we went back and similarly computed session by session points for every Test match in the WTC thus far…by hand.
After analyzing the 34 Test matches completed so far (with maximum of 510 sessions), we came up with the following summary:
Table II: (New) Series and Session Summary
Teams
Matches
Sessions
Played (H/A)
Won (H/A)
Lost (H/A)
Drawn (H/A)
Won
Drawn
WO/BL
Sessions Left
India
9 (5/4)
7 (5/2)
2 (0/2)
0 (0/0)
56
19
3
30
Australia
10 (5/5)
7 (5/2)
2 (0/2)
1 (0/1)
68
18
9
15
England
15 (11/4)
8 (5/3)
4 (3/1)
3 (3/0)
77
45
32
16
Pakistan
8 (3/5)
2 (2/0)
3 (0/3)
3 (1/2)
26
17
20
7
New Zealand
7 (2/5)
3 (2/1)
4 (0/4)
0 (0/0)
26
14
7
12
Sri Lanka
4 (1/3)
1 (1/0)
2 (1/1)
1 (0/1)
11
11
14
2
West Indies
5 (2/3)
1 (0/1)
4 (2/2)
0 (0/0)
7
21
8
0
South Africa
7 (4/3)
1 (1/0)
6 (3/3)
0 (0/0)
20
13
4
4
Bangladesh
3 (0/3)
0 (0/0)
3 (0/3)
0 (0/0)
2
5
0
0
Proposed World Test Championship Table: Session Points
*WO/BL – Wash out/Bad Light
II. Updated Points System – Total Points Based on H/A
After computing the (I.) total session points, we add the (II.) base Home and Away score. Hence, the updated World Test Championship Table looks as follows:
Table III: New Points Table
I.Session Points (H/A)
II.Points (Home)
II.Points (Away)
Points Total
%
Rank (By %)
Rank (By Total)
Rank by Session (without H/A)
India
194 (130/64)
210/230
112/216
322/446
72.19%
1
3
2
Australia
193 (118/75)
198/230
135/270
333/500
66.6%
2
2
3
England
267 (196/71)
284/506
143/216
427/702
60.83%
3
1
1
Pakistan
127 (63/64)
103/138
78/270
181/408
44.36%
4
4
4
New Zealand
97 (49/48)
80/92
73/270
153/362
42.27%
5
5
5
Sri Lanka
51 (29/22)
45/92
34/108
79/200
39.5%
6
7
7
West Indies
43 (8/35)
8/92
59/162
67/254
26.37%
7
8
8
South Africa
65 (49/16)
65/184
16/162
81/346
23.4%
8
6
6
Bangladesh
9 (-/9)
N/A
9/162
9/162
5.55%
9
9
9
Proposed World Test Championship Table: Session Points – Based on Home and Away
Observations
We went ahead with percentage (%) of points won for the time being, since each team has not (and will not) play the same number of Test matches.
Pakistan and New Zealand switch positions as compared to Table I (4/5).
The most recent series, Eng-Pak actually received 66-26 points. According to our method, the scores would have been 82-62, which is a much better reflection of the series (and given that Pakistan was the away team).
If we had utilized Rank (By Total) as in the current system, we would have England #1, Australia #2, India #3, and South Africa up to #6, who have not had a good WTC so far.
Australia has one extra Test match drawn away from home compared to India. Hence, they are rewarded and are ahead based on total points. If we disregard H/A, India would be #2.
*Fun Fact: 32 sessions involving England (both home and away) were impacted by wash-outs or rained out, which is more than 2 Test matches or almost 11 days.
Conclusion
Note, at this point in time, the Proposed Table and the Actual Table look quite similar, but we attribute it to the small sample size, especially for teams ranked below 5.
We conjecture that as teams play similar amount of matches, our table will benefit the lower ranked teams and hence make the championship more competitive.
We will continue to update this table as more WTC matches are played.
In the meanwhile, let us know what suggestions you have to improve this table. Comment below, and we will see if it is possible to implement the idea!
Anyway, share, subscribe, and follow us on social media!
Source: Sincere Thanks to Vandit for helping in analyzing session by session data and computing overall points.
Image Courtesy: South Africa vs England, at Newlands, Cape Town Jan 2005, Test Day 3 Louis Rossouw /CC via 2.0
Lasith Malinga. 3 ODI hat-tricks of which 2 came in World Cups. 2 T20I hat-tricks. 4 wickets in a row twice, once each in ODI and T20I. Enough said.
Alright, let me break that down a little more.
Taking 4 wickets in a match is considered good. He has done that in 4 consecutive deliveries multiple times. One hat-trick in a lifetime is a golden achievement. He has taken 3 wickets in 3 deliveries on five separate occasions.
Lasith Malinga has hat-tricks for breakfast. He is just that good.
Sri Lankan cricket has been struggling since the golden generation of Jayasuriya-Dilshan-Sangakkara-Jayawardane-Vaas-Muralitharan-Malinga came to an end. With Sri Lanka recently folding out for 91 in a T20I match against England, we cannot help but look back at one of the stars of the golden days of Sri Lankan cricket.
Malinga turned 37 last year. He has been playing international cricket for 16 years. It seems he has been playing cricket forever.
Same rocking hairstyle, same slinging action, and the same drive to excel. Lasith Malinga has not changed one bit.
The Beginning
Mali, as he is affectionately called, debuted way back in 2004 in a test match against Australia, picking six wickets in the match.
Among a rising golden generation of Sri Lankan cricket that followed the ’96 generation with mellow characters like Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Muttiah Muralitharan, Chaminda Vaas, and Tillakaratne Dilshan, Sri Lanka had found a rockstar.
He was just so different from the rest. That rockstar hair, the left-eye piercing, the in-swinging yorker, and of course, the slinging action.
Different turned into unique, which became something truly special.
With the introduction of Ajantha Mendis and Angelo Mathews, the new entrants to the M-factor: Malinga, Mendis, Muralitharan, and Mathews, Sri Lanka’s golden generation was complete.
Together, Sri Lanka would win the 2014 T20 World Cup, make it to the finals of 2007 & 2011 ODI World Cup as well as the 2009 & 2012 T20 World Cup along with semi-final appearances in the 2003 ODI WC and 2010 T20 WC.
Sri Lanka have been struggling recently. We cannot help but look back at the golden generation.
The Memory
Although I had seen Malinga a few times before, the first moment which caught my eyes was that match against South Africa in the 2007 CWC.
Chasing 210, South Africa were cruising 206-5 in 44.4 overs. Enter Lasith Malinga.
206-6. 206-7. 207-8. 207-9.
First person to take four wickets in four consecutive deliveries in an ODI.
South Africa squeezed to victory with just 10 balls remaining. Although South Africa narrowly escaped, this was the type of spell that would be associated with Malinga.
If Mali gets into his zone, a flurry of wickets, a moment of inspiration, and a comeback is right around the corner.
The Statistics
Due to knee troubles, Malinga had to take a premature retirement from Test match cricket, playing his final test in 2010, at the age of 26. Still ended up with 101 Test wickets.
But when one door closes, another opens. He utilized his short bursts effectively in T20 cricket, becoming arguably the best T20 bowler of all-time in this new era.
Furthermore, Malinga saved his best for the ODI World Cups. Apart from the two hat-tricks, he took 56 world cup wickets, 3rd highest of all time.
The shorter the format, the more lethal Malinga is, as the statistics demonstrate below:
Tests: 30 matches, 101 wickets, 33.15 average, Best Innings – 5/50, Best Match – 9/210
He featured in Cricinfo’s Team of the Tournament in the 2011 World Cup, the 2011 IPL (where he was also the Purple Cap holder), and the 2011 Champions League among others.
The cherry on top of the cake would occur in 2014, when he would captain Sri Lanka to 2014 T20 World Cup glory.
The IPL
No discussion on Malinga is complete without the IPL. Malinga is the highest wicket-taker in all IPLs,even while playing one season less than the next 4 on the list.
Only one of few players to have played for one team, Malinga is synonymous with the rise of Mumbai Indians as he was an instrumental force in their championship wins- 2013, 2015, 2017, and 2019.
Even after a not-that-great IPL, he would comeback and defend an amazing final over in the IPL Final 2019.
Apart from being their bowling spearhead, he has played a crucial role in mentoring the next generation of fast bowlers from around the world. Most notably, Jasprit Bumrah’s rise has been credited with Malinga’s influence at MI.
Later in his career, he has been seen on numerous occasions meeting players from opposition camps and giving them tips. Sign of a truly great player and leader.
What Makes Malinga So Great?
The consistency, accuracy, and longevity.
Bowling a yorker is hard. A bouncer even harder. Four World campaigns later, bowling consistently with recurring injury issues for 16 long years? A miracle.
Malinga’s skill set is an envy of the world. Slower yorker, fast yorker, in-swinging yorker, out-swinging yorker, wide-yorker, slower bouncer, fast-bouncer—he has it all. The astonishing part is he can bowl any of these at will. The Australians will testify to that.
Malinga’s bowling has become an art form. He perfected his yorkers by aiming just at a shoe in the nets. Slingy bowling style does not help the batsmen either.
More than the bowling style, it has been his ability to out-think the batsman. In the age of technology and video recordings, everyone knows what Malinga can bowl. They just do not seem to figure out when he will bowl what and still end up getting tricked.
The Legacy
One of the less talked about characteristics of Malinga has been his commitment to the Sri Lankan cricket team. Since the retirement of the golden generation, Sri Lanka’s fortunes have nosedived. Once guaranteed semi-finalists, Sri Lanka now ranks 7th and 8th in T20I and ODI respectively.
Amidst the nosedive, Mali stayed with the national team. He captained them in dire circumstances, even starring in their 2019 World Cup campaign and a little after to help in the transition.
Did he have to do that? Not really. With bad knees and paunch belly showing up, he could have retired from international cricket and enjoyed successes with various T20 leagues around the world.
But Mali being Mali, he decided to stay and give back to the team that has taken him to greatness.
That is what Lasith Malinga teaches us.
There will good times and tough times. Ups and downs will occur, but you need to stay true to your sport, art or profession. Never give up, continue to improve and develop new skills, and most importantly, mentor and help anyone and everyone out. Give back to the sport and your country.
Happy Birthday, Mali. You have given us great memories to cherish.
Rock that IPL 2020 (whenever you get there), and give it one final shot.
The Moments
Apart from the links above in the article, here are some of the hat-trick clips and other favorite memories of Malinga.
This week in our segment, Cricket ABCs -For New Future Fans, we will relive some of the most popular cricket videos in the last decade. The goal of this section is to try to explain the game of cricket to your new friends. And the best way to explain is by Videos.
Last time, we went over the rules of cricket. So now, let us learn cricket by watching some videos in different categories – fielding, bowling, and batting.
We are only using videos over the last 10 years for two reasons: (1) since the game has evolved over the years, and (2) enhanced video quality.
Below each video is a description and the number of views on YouTube (and still rising) for your reference. Here is my compilation of the most popular cricket videos.
Comment below on your favorite videos, and share this with new fans who are trying to learn cricket.Enjoy!
Videos
1. Best Catches – WC 2019 Edition
Starting where we left off in our last article over Best Fielders, we relive some of the best catches of the 2019 Cricket World Cup. There were diving catches, acrobatic boundary efforts, wicket-keeper excellence, and much more.
Views: 10 million
2. Best Yorkers – WC 2019 Edition
Moving on tobowling. One of the ways of getting batsmen outis by hitting the wickets, known as – ‘bowled.’The most pleasing way for a bowled is for a toe-crushing ‘yorker.’ Enjoy this video on the Best Yorkers from the 2019 Cricket World Cup.
Views: 20 million
3. Mitchell Johnson – Bouncer Compilation
Continuing with bowling, we look at the ‘Bouncer.’ This is a tactic used by bowlers to intimidate the batsman, and in the process, driving a mistake out of them. Mitchell Johnson in 2013-14 became one of the best and scariest bowlers, when he single-handedly destroyed a generation of the English team.
Views: 1.7 million
4. Biggest Sixes – WC 2019 Edition
Moving to batting. While bowlers and fielders try to restrict the number of runs the batting team can score, the batting team tries to score as many as possible. The most runs that a team can get from one ball is from a six, when the ball goes out of the stadium without bouncing. Here are the biggest sixes from the 2019 cricket world cup.
Views:4.6 million
5. Dinesh Karthik’s Day Out
This one is also batting excellence.One of the best viewings of a cricket match happens when a game is thriller. This video is on a T20 game, where after 4 hours, there was little to separate the two sides. Bangladesh were ahead with just about 15 minutes to go in the Final of the Nidahas Trophy, when Dinesh Karthik scripted a once-in-a-lifetime comeback.
Views: 98.9 million (Let us see if we can take to a 100 million views!)
6. Dinesh Karthik Part II
Oh and that was not the end. You thought 98 million is a lot. How about 169 million views and counting? Watch Dinesh Karthik seal the tournament final with a last ball six.
7. The Most Epic Ending of All
Speaking of last-ball thrillers, how about leave the best for last? World Cup FinalSuper Over tie. For all the non-cricketing fans, both the actual match and the overtime, called the Super Over, were tied.
Ian Smith, the commentator, summarized it best, “7 weeks of cricket, 48 games, and one ball.”
Who are the best fielders in cricket history? Today, we answer that exact question.
Discussing the best fielders in cricket history is hardly a debate. Jonty Rhodes is the best cricket fielder of all-time, with Paul Collingwood, Ravindra Jadeja, Andrew Symonds, Ricky Ponting, Brendon McCullum, AB De Villiers, and Herschelle Gibbs coming close behind.
There have been plenty of great fielders in cricket—Great slip catchers, forward short leg specialists, direct hitters, etc. Today we create a list of 32 best cricket fielders of all-time and produce a modern day XI comprising of just fielding legends. Here is a quick preview of the Top 32 Cricketers of All Time (by country): India surprisingly makes #1 with 9 best cricket fielders of all time, South Africa with 6, Australia with 5, and New Zealand with 4 in the best fielders in cricket history list.
Best Fielders in Cricket History (By Country)
Country
Number of Players
Players
South Africa
9
Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammad Kaif, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, Eknath Solkar, Kapil Dev, Virat Kohli, Rahul Dravid, Mohammad Azharuddin
India
6
Jonty Rhodes, AB De Villiers, Herschelle Gibbs, Colin Bland, Faf du Plessis, Jacques Kallis
Australia
5
Ricky Ponting, Steven Smith, Andrew Symonds, Glenn Maxwell, Mark Waugh
New Zealand
4
Martin Guptill, Trent Boult, Brendon McCullum, Ross Taylor
West Indies
3
Kieron Pollard, Roger Harper, Gus Logie
England
2
Paul Collingwood, Ben Stokes
Sri Lanka
2
Tillakaratne Dilshan, Mahela Jayawardene
Pakistan
1
Shahid Afridi
Today’s Twist – Best Fielders in Cricket History Who Can Form a Playing XI
Suresh Raina’s retirement received numerous tributes, especially on his fielding. In a conversation with Harsha Bhogle, Raina was asked from a list of 10 great fielders, which 5 would he choose to field in the inner circle.
This inspired us to do another post on World XI: With Twists, this time made up of the best fielders in cricket history.
Create a World XI consisting of the best fielders in the modern game. The twist is that these best fielders should be able to play together in a match. Hence, we need to have at least one player who could also be a wicket-keeper (2nd skill) as well as five players who could bowl, preferably two fast bowlers.
There have been numerous wonderful fielders in the past, so to narrow our search, we also have the following constraints:
We make a distinction between fielding and catching. Fielding consists of direct-hits, diving stops, and acrobatic catches. Rahul Dravid, Mahela Jayawardene, and Jacques Kallis have stellar records as catchers and are in the extended squad.
Specialist wicketkeepers like Adam Gilchrist and Mark Boucher are not considered. However, AB De Villiers, Brendon McCullum, and Dravid are considered since they regularly played both roles.
Catches Win Matches
There have been several middle-order batsmen with great fielding skills, but then who would bowl? We would love to stack our line-ups with the great South African and Australian batsmen, but we need to keep the balance of the side in mind.
Best Fielders in Cricket History: Modern Era
Here is our XI. We have an XI consisting of 3 Australians, 2 South-Africans and Kiwis, along with 1 player each from Sri Lanka, India, England, and the West-Indies.
We have a left-arm pace bowler (Boult), Collingwood and Pollard with their medium pace dibbly-dobblies, Jadeja the left arm spinner, and Symonds/Dilshan contributing part-time off spin overs. AB De Villiers will keep the gloves. I would love to have Herschelle Gibbs or Mohammad Kaif in my XI—a useful lower order batsman, but then we would have to either drop a wicket-keeper or a bowler.
Martin Guptill is known for his incredible fielding skills, which include taking diving catches, running out opponents and snatching boundary catches. He was also the hero of several match-saving moments like his direct hit against MS Dhoni in the 2019 Cricket World Cup Semi-Final. His ability to play any position on the field, combined with his quick reflexes, make him one of the best fielders in the world.
Tillakaratne Dilshan is known for his brilliant fielding skills, especially at the backward point position, where he frequently takes catches and bowleds as well as diving saves. His quick reflexes are what makes him one of the best fielders in the game.
Ricky Ponting, the pillar of Australian national cricket team, was known for his stellar fielding skills, especially in the mid-on and mid-off positions. He was capable of taking direct hits and making spectacular run outs with accurate throws from any part of the field. His hat-trick of run-outs against South Africa in a Test match in 2006 is one of the best examples of his fielding prowess. He was also capable of taking catches and saving boundaries with ease. His ability to read the game and anticipate the play ensured that he was always in the right position when it mattered.
Steven Smith’s fielding skills are often overlooked due to his batting prowess. He is a brilliant fielder and takes one-handed diving catches with ease, especially at the 2nd slip or backward point position. His agility and quick reflexes have made him one of the best fielders in cricket and he has pulled off some stunning catches over the years.
Jonty Rhodes single-handedly revolutionized fielding, with his diving catches and direct hits becoming the stuff of legends. His amazing reflexes combined with his agility made him one of the best fielders in the game. He was capable of taking spectacular catches at backward point or third man, making running run-outs almost effortless and snatching direct hits while everyone else could only watch in awe. He was truly a master of his craft and the perfect example for modern fielders to look up to. He has left an indelible mark on the game with their sublime fielding skills. He will always be remembered as the best fielder in cricket history.
South African national team will forever be indebted to Rhodes for establishing the fielding legacy that is now associated with them.
The Proteas have another great fielder in Ab De Villiers. He is an all-rounder, known for his acrobatic diving catches and incredible reflexes. His ability to take spectacular catches at 2nd/3rd slip, wicketkeeper and backward point made him a vital part of the South African team’s fielding unit.
Paul Collingwood deserves a mention as one of the best cricket fielder the world has ever seen. His exemplary fielding skills at backward point made him an invaluable asset to the English team over the years. He was known for his incredible reflexes and acrobatic one-handed diving catches, like the famous Matthew Hayden catch during an Ashes series.
Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds was a brilliant fielder in his own right. His fielding prowess at short cover/short mid-on, and short mid-off positions was legendary, known primarily for his direct hits. He had an uncanny ability to anticipate the play and execute perfect run-outs even from seemingly impossible situations.
No list of the best fielders in cricket is complete without Ravindra Jadeja. The all-rounder from the Indian cricket team has been a vital part of their fielding unit since his debut, known specifically for his rocket throws from backward point and direct hits. From Indian Premier League to international cricket, he has made his name with fielding heroics.
Kieron Pollard is one of the most athletically gifted fielders in cricket. His ability to take boundary-rider catches, or pull off one-handed dives to save runs has been a key part of West Indies’ fielding display over the last decade. Former captain and a retired international now, he can play with freedom for the rest of his career.
Trent Boult is a valuable asset to the New Zealand cricket team. His fielding skills at boundary and cover point are remarkable, known for taking sensational catches on the ropes or sprinting back from deep mid-wicket for spectacular one-handed grabs. He has also taken some of the greatest caught & bowled wickets in recent years as well.
One of the most memorable fielders in cricket, Brendon McCullum is a special mention for his superhuman fielding skills. His catching ability at cover-point and wicketkeeping was second to none. He was known for taking amazing diving saves in tight situations, no matter how hard the ball was hit, making him an outstanding ground fielder. One of the most charismatic cricket personalities at the Brisbane Cricket Ground in the Big Bash, India in the IPL, and back at home as captain.
Mohammad Kaif was one of the most important fielders for the Indian team and his contribution towards revolutionizing their fielding standards will always be remembered. His ability to take catches at backward point, cover, long on, or long off were exemplary. His catch diving over Dinesh Mongia against Pakistan in 2004 still gives me chills.
Yet another South African cricketer in the list. Herschelle Gibbs was a brilliant fielder during his playing days and his name is still remembered for his outstanding run-outs and diving catches. He was known for taking some spectacular catches at backward point or cover, and then there were the run-outs which helped South Africa win many important matches. One of the most electric fielders in the history of cricket.
The former Indian cricketer, Suresh Raina is remembered for his energy and enthusiasm on the field. He was the perfect example of how a fielder should be. His catches at backward point or cover are still talked about, particularly those sensational one-handers which he made look so easy. His quick reflexes at short mid-wicket made him a valuable asset to the Indian team.
The Aussie all-rounder, Glenn Maxwell is an outstanding fielder and has pulled off some miraculous catches and saves in the deep. His passion for the game and his high energy levels on the field make him a fan favorite. He is undoubtedly one of the greatest modern-day fielders in cricket history.
Another Indian international cricket on the list, Yuvraj Singh will always be remembered as a great fielder alongside Kaif & Raina. He was an exceptional fielder at backward point and his catches were often described as ‘effortless’. His fielding contributed to many of India’s victories.
The former Indian cricketer Eknath Solkar was one of the greatest short leg fielders in the world. He was an outstanding fielder at the forward short leg position. He is remembered as one of the finest.
The former Indian captain, Virat Kohli needs no introduction. He is probably the most complete cricketer in the world right now and an outstanding fielder to add to it. His low-diving catches, quick reflexes and athleticism are unmatched. Probably the greatest ODI player, the Indian international cricketer is an inspiration to many aspiring cricketers out there.
The former South African cricketer, Faf du Plessis is world-renowned for his boundary saves and acrobatic catches. To be able to take those seemingly impossible catches without any effort, he will be regarded as one of the excellent fielders of the era.
Gus Logie was an outstanding fielder at the forward short leg position. He would be placed directly at the batsman’s feet and this would make it difficult for them to get past him.
The former Australian national team cricketer, Mark Waugh was an excellent fielder. He was known for his diving catches at the slip and cover positions.
The former Indian captain, Kapil Dev was known for his running catches at the square leg position. He was an outstanding fielder and had a great eye to judge where the ball was going. His catch in the 1983 World Cup final has gone down as one of the best ever seen on a cricket field.
The former Pakistani cricketer, Shahid Afridi was an excellent fielder at mid off, long on and long off. He had the ability to judge the flight of the ball accurately and take running catches. One of his most memorable catches was the 2009 T20 World Cup where he took a spectacular catch diving forward.
The current English cricketer, Ben Stokes is an outstanding fielder. He has the ability to take one-handed catches at the boundary and deep cover positions with ease. His unbelievable catch against South Africa during the 2019 World Cup is one of the best ever seen in cricket history. Nasser Hussain’s “You Cannot Do That, Ben Stokes” captured that moment vividly in history.
Rahul Dravid was the first cricketer to 200 Test catches. He was well renowned for his slip-catching ability, regularly taking catches with both hands in the most difficult of positions. He set a benchmark for others to follow and is one of the greatest ever slip fielders. He also lead India numerous times, as a captain, fielder, and the unbreakable Wall. Now, Team India’s current coach.
29. Mahela Jayawardene (Sri Lanka, 218 ODI Catches, 205 Test Catches, 17 T20I Catches)
Mahela Jayawardene is the most prolific fielder across formats.
He holds the record of 218 ODI catches, 205 Test catches, and 17 T20I catches. He was an outstanding fielder at the slip with a safe pair of hands. Jayawardene set the benchmark for modern day cricket in terms of fielding in all three formats.
30. Jacques Kallis (South Africa, 200 Test catches)
Truly an all-round cricketer. Kallis was a fine fielder at the slip position and holds the record for most catches taken by a South African cricketer in Test cricket – 200. He took some outstanding catches during his illustrious career and is one of the best slip fielders ever.
Honorable Mentions: Yajurvindra Singh, Alastair Cook, Tim Southee, Lockie Ferguson, Jimmy Anderson, Stephen Fleming
Cricket Philosophy: T20 Cricket Has Helped Improve Fielding Standards
Ever since T20 cricket came into existence, there has always been a debate between Test vs T20— traditional vs newer ideas.
I think there is space for both formats to coexist. Regardless, the one benefit from 21st century technology and T20 cricket is the focus on fitness. In a fast-paced T20 game, a run-out or diving save can change the outcome of the match.
Therefore, we have witnessed a large number of incredible efforts on the boundary in recent years. Fielding is no longer an ‘extra’ skill—it is now the norm.
Anyway, slightly older video, but I am going to leave you with few of the best catches in cricket below. Enjoy, SUBSCRIBE, and comment below who your favorite fielders/ best fielding memories are.
Best Fielders in Cricket History – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Who is the best fielder in cricket history?
Jonty Rhodes from South Africa is considered the best fielder of all time in cricket.
Who are the Top 5 fielders in cricket history?
Jonty Rhodes (South Africa), Paul Collingwood (England), Andrew Symonds (Australia), Ricky Ponting (Australia), and Herschelle Gibbs (South Africa) are considered the Top 5 cricket fielders in the history of the game.
Which fielder has the most catches in Test match cricket?
Rahul Dravid (210), Mahela Jayawardene (205), Jacques Kallis (200), Ricky Ponting (181), and Alastair Cook (175) took the most catches in Test match cricket.
Which fielder has the most catches in ODI cricket?
Mahela Jayawardene (218), Ricky Ponting (160), Mohammad Azharuddin (156), Ross Taylor (142), and Sachin Tendulkar (140) has the most catches in ODI cricket.
Who was the best cricket fielder in the slip position?
Rahul Dravid, Mahela Jayawardene, and Jacques Kallis are considered the best slip fielders of all-time.
Who was the best cricket fielder in cover position?
Colin Bland from South Africa is considered the best fielder in the cover position.
Who was the best cricket fielder in the forward short-leg position?
Eknath Solkar from India is considered to be the best fielder in the forward short leg position.
Sources: YouTube (Videos) Image Courtesy: JontyRhodes8 JontyRhodes8 / CC BY-SA, (Featured Image) – Paul Venter via CC SA 3.0
Is Babar Azam in the Fab Five? Does he join Kane Williamson, Steven Smith, Virat Kohli, and Joe Root or replace Root altogether? This was the talking point in the first test of the ongoing England-Pakistan Test series.
The debate will continue. In the meantime, I offer a counterargument.
Who are the true Fab 5 of this era? None of the above.
I argue that the Fab 5 of this decade is not a combination of stars. Rather, it is the core of a single team: The Bangladesh Fab 5—Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah Riyad, Tamim Iqbal, and Mashrafe Mortaza.
The Argument
The Golden Period of The 2000s
In the 2000s, each team had a golden generation or a solid core.
Australia, South Africa, and Sri Lanka had world-beating teams. Pakistan had Younis-Yousuf-Inzi. Similarly, India had Sehwag-Tendulkar-Dravid-Ganguly-VVS, NZ had Fleming-Astle-McMillan-Vettori, and even a declining West Indies team had Gayle-Sarwan-Lara-Chanderpaul.
Although Australia were the standout team of the generation, all the other teams had multiple match-winners and could challenge Australia on their day. Over the past decade, though, most of the teams have undergone a transition as older generations retire.
The Current Generation
Sure, Williamson-Smith-Kohli-Root/Azam are all great. They have consistently dominated the batting charts across formats both at home and abroad. However, teams consisting of a group of playersconsistently winning games over all the formats in the past decade has been a rarity.
New Zealand had a brief period of stability with the McCullum-Guptill-Williamson-Vettori-Boult/Southee era. Likewise, England were just beginning to develop a side that could sustain its dominance on one-day cricket before the pandemic intervened. Sri Lanka and South Africa have yet to recover from the transition, while most others revolve around one or two individuals.
Hence, the only team in the past decade with a golden generation has been Bangladesh.
The Team: Bangladesh Cricket Fab 5
Today’s Bangladesh team is a competitive force. Maybe even second best in Asia. It is no longer considered an upset when they win. This was not always the case.
First Memory
1999 and 2007. Years that Bangladesh fans remember fondly.
Bangladesh first burst onto the scene in the 1999 Cricket World Cup (CWC) when they stunned Pakistan. Although that game caught the eye of the world and paved their Test cricket dreams, it was the 2007 WC victory against India that would usher a new era for Bangladesh altogether.
Mashrafe Mortaza rocked India with his opening spell and 4 wickets. Tamim, Shakib, and Musfiq all made crucial 50s. 17-year old Tamim’s running-down-the-wicket assault to Zaheer Khan was the highlight, and Mushfiqur stayed till the very end to deliver victory.
Wisden cricketer of 2011, Tamim Iqbal established himself as Bangladesh’s opener between 2007-2011. After a brief slow patch, Iqbal has become the symbol of consistency since the 2015 World Cup. Earlier in his career, he was known for his aggressive stroke play. As he gained experience, he has taken more responsibility and curbed the aggression.
Result: Test centuries and longer ODI innings. Accumulated hundreds in all formats, highest Bangladeshi run-scorer across formats, and the first to 10000 international runs.
Test: 4405 runs, 38.64 average, best of 206, 9-100s/27-50s
ODI: 7202 runs, 36.74 average, best of 158, 13-100s/47-50s
T20I: 1758 runs, 24.08 average, best of 103*, 1-100/7-50s
Shakib is, perhaps, Bangladesh’s first cricket superstar. One of the best all-rounders of all-time and certainly of this era. Coveted by worlds T20 franchises and Ranked No. 1 in all three formats for the majority of the decade. He has rescued Bangladesh time and again. Whether it is finishing a innings, taking 5-fors as a hobby, or taking responsibility as No.3 at the 2019 World Cup, scoring over 600 runs and taking 10 wickets— he has done it all.
Records: Fastest to 6000 runs + 250 wickets, 2nd Bangladeshi to 10000 international runs, and more
Test: 3862 runs, 39.4 average, best of 217, 5-100s/24-50s + 210 wickets at 31.12
ODI: 6323 runs, 37.86 average, best of 134*, 9-100s/47-50s + 260 wickets at 30.21
T20I: 1567, 23.74 average, best of 84, 9-50s + 92 wickets at 20.58
Only wicket-keeper to score two or more double centuries in test-cricket (he has 3), Mushfiqur has become the pillar of Bangladesh’s line up and an energetic presence behind the wicket. Short in stature, he has become one of the best players of the pull shot and the reverse sweep. Always preserving his best against India, he most recently finished the T20I game in 2019 to exorcise the ghost of Bangalore in 2016. Will go down as one of all time best wicket-keeper batsman.
Test: 4413 runs, 36.77 average, best of 219*, 7-100s/21-50s + 119 dismissals
ODI: 6174 runs, 36.31 average, best of 144, 7-100s/38-50s + 225 dismissals
T20I: 1282 runs, 20.03 average, best of 72*, 5-50s + 62 dismissals
A late-entrant into the Fab 5, Mahmudullah is Bangladesh’s shock absorber. Has been involved in almost all of their famous victories. Most famously, promoted to No.3 in the 2015 World Cup, he scored back-to-back centuries. The turning point in Bangladesh cricket was the 2017 Champions Trophy match against New Zealand when he and Shakib combined a partnership to go from 33/4 to chase 265. Later in his career, he has become a finishing specialist. Also a handy off-spinner and astute captain in the BPL.
Test: 2764 runs, 31.77 average, best of 146, 4-100s/16-50s
ODI: 4070 runs, 33.63 average, best of 128*, 3-100s/21-50s
T20I: 1475 runs, 24.18 average, best of 64*, 4-50s
Debuted in 2001, the longevity of Mortaza’s career as a fast bowler itself is an incredible achievement. Began his career as someone who could bowl in the late 140s Km/hr. Ended as a line-and-length control bowler with speeds down in the low 120s. Started the fast bowling revolution in Bangladesh, but his claim to fame is his captaincy. Kept the team united for the last 5 years of his career, providing a period of growth for Bangladesh cricket. Also a handy lower-order batsman.
Test: 78 wickets at 41.52 + 1/1 win as captain
ODI: 270 wickets at 32.93 + 50/88 wins as captain
T20I: 42 wickets at 36.35 + 10.28 wins as captain
What Makes Them Great?
The beauty of this generation is in the variety of the roles they play.
Tamim Iqbal is an opener. Mushfiqur Rahim is a middle-order wicket-keeper. Shakib Al Hasan their premier spinner and all-rounder. Mahmudullah the calm finisher. Mortaza—once the pace spearhead, now the ace captain.
They have all been vice-captain and captain at some points in time. Shakib-Musfiq-Mahmudullah have batted in all the positions in the middle order. Hence, the fluidity in the batting order and experience is why they have become a consistent team.
Regardless of the selections around them, the Fab 5 have been a reliable presence for the past 10-15 years.
The opening batting partners of Tamim and bowling partners of Mortaza might change, the understudies to Mushfiq’s wicket-keeping and Riyad’s finishing might come and go, others from Bangladesh’s left-arm-spin-factory might briefly complement Shakib, but these five themselves have remained a constant.
The Moments
After India were defeated in 2007 CWC, South Africa also faced defeat against the mighty Tigers. Subsequently, they knocked out England in 2011 and 2015. They truly became a global force in 2016 with series victories against India, South Africa, England, and Australia across formats at home.
Recently, with the 2018 Asia Cup final almost ending in a tie, Bangladesh winning their first tri-series, and a memorable 2019 CWC campaign with an inspirational superhuman display from Shakib Al Hasan, Bangladesh have definitely elevated their status in world cricket.
Furthermore, Bangladesh U-19 team has shown immense progress. They went to the semi-finals in 2016 under Mehidy Hasan Miraz and last February, they lifted the U-19 WC trophy when captain Akbar Ali kept his nerve. The new generation of Bangladesh are talented and hungry to win.
The Legacy
Imagine this squad for the 2023 Cricket World Cup:
Openers: Tamim Iqbal, Mohammad Naim, Soumya Sarkar
Wicket-Keepers: Liton Das, Musfiqur Rahim, Mohammad Mithun
Middle-Order: Mahmudullah, Afif Hossain, Akbar Ali
All-Rounders: Shakib Al Hasan, Mohammad Saifuddin, Mehidy Hasan Miraz
Fast-Bowlers: Rubel Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Abu Haider, Taskin Ahmed
Liton Das has been earmarked as a destructive batsman for the future. The Fizz has already made a name in T20 leagues around the world. Saifuddin and Miraz have taken the baton from Shakib for the future all-rounder spot.
In addition, with Mosaddek Hossain, Taijul Islam, Sabbir Rahman in-and-out of the side and the likes of Saif Hassan and Rakibul Hasan waiting in the wings, this squad looks potentially dangerous. All-rounders, solid openers, variety of fast bowlers, and choking spinners, this squad has it all.
Mortaza has said on numerous occasions they are targetting 2023 semifinals at least. Maybe they will go far in the 2023 world cup. Maybe they won’t. In any case,
Whatever Bangladesh cricket accomplish in the future from now, it will be built on the shoulders of these giants.
What The Future Holds
With the advent of T20, overkill of cricket, increasing injuries to fast bowlers, mental pressure the players need to deal with, we may no longer have sides that play together for a long time across formats. Heck, we may now have different teams playing different formats on the same day, an idea Eoin Morgan recently alluded to.
What we can do, is to enjoy the final stretch of these players that have given Bangladesh cricket and world cricket whole loads of joy.
Earlier this week, MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina hung their boots. Tributes flew from all over the world, cricketers from different countries, and fans on Twitter.
This week on Twitter Special, we did a #FirstMemory reflecting on our first memory of MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina respectively.
Here are some of the responses we have received so far. Enjoy the ride and comment below on your own #FirstMemory of Dhoni and Raina.
“My first memory of MS DHONI which i can recall very fondly is…that Innings against Sri Lanka at Jaipur…I remember after returning from school…”
“I saw the scorecard of the Sri Lanka batting..it read as 298 runs after 50 overs…those days it was a massive total.. Everyone had the hopes that Sachin & Sehwag duo can change the things for India..As Indian Innings got underway..Sachin was dismissed in the very first over..”
“By Vaas after scoring 2 runs…it couldn’t have a been worse start than this…then walks MS DHONI in at number 3..We have seen what he can do against Pak at Vizag..but can he deliver under immense pressure in a massive run Chase…he started his Innings in blazing fashion..”
“Hitting Vaas over extra cover for 2 massive sixes…i was Literally amazed how easily he’s hitting those out of the park..then it was all MS show from there on…Smashed Farvez Maharoof for four just straight over the Umpires head…that was brute power..I tell you..”
“He was hitting sixes with ease…bashed Upul Chandana all over the ground…hitting 10 sixes in an Innings those days were massive massive achievement..when he hit that winning six against Dilshan…whole India knew…this man is special.. he’s not afraid of the runs.”
“No pressure during run-chase..calm cool & composed…and he’s having the brute power..on his day he can murder any bowling line-up..from that day..I always wanted to see MS bat..as the time passed..his legacy continued to grow..and now as he has bid aideu to this game..”
“Only one thing I can say is…there can’t be another MS DHONI..the void will be always there…”He was once a generation player”
“my first fond memory of msd was during the Pakistan series when Pervez Musharraf who was Pak president appreciated him and told him to keep the hairstyle. For Raina its not a particular match but his fielding stood out very early”
4. Vandit
“It was about a month later [of Dhoni’s 183], when we visited India, and my grandparents had saved some newspaper cuttings from that ODI series. I went through all of the newspapers, and this Dhoni innings stood out (India won that series 6-1 so it was hard for one thing in particular to stand-out).
“I remember adding up the number of runs he made from boundaries and realising he made as many runs from sixes as from fours (unheard of at the time). But I only thought of him as a wicketkeeper batsman and would never have imagined the impact he would eventually have with his captaincy.”
“Coming on to Raina…his first memory which i can recall is his match Winning Innings against England at Faridabad in 2006… India were chasing 230 odd runs and We were at 92/5..then MS & Raina joined in the Middle…MS played the supporting role to Raina in that game…”
“Very fluently Raina took the attack to the English bowlers…on his day Raina was a pure match winner in the shorter formats..and that was his day..that day he announced to the World Cricket that a guy from UP is going to be a hero in the future…he made 81* in that game…”
“And took India to a victory in that tough run Chase…till 2008..his place in the side was not fixed..after that Asia Cup in 2008..where he tonked then second fastest hundred by an Indian against Hong Kong..he was a permanent member in the side…”
“That was my #FirstMemory of those two legends..hope you enjoyed reading this…Thanks mate…”
@ImRaina “I remember the day when you scored your first century (2008), I was 7 years old ……when u got out I write your name in my hand and keep telling everyone that Raina hits a hundred #firstmemory. Thanks for the millions of memories u gave us to celebrate.” #rainaretires
That is all from this week! Share your own #FirstMemory or #BrokenDreams in the comments below! And as always, share with your friends, subscribe, and follow us on Twitter!
Few batsmen score over 10000 runs with an average above 50 in ODI cricket. Fewer still contribute 444 dismissals as wicket-keeper. Hardly anyone can be credited with captaining teams to World Cup victories in T20s and ODIs, No.1 Test ranking, and multiple IPL championships. [1]
MS Dhoni did all three.
After Martin Guptill’s run-out of Dhoni that effectively ended India’s World Cup dreams in 2019, Dhoni’s retirement was on everyone’s mind. Will he? Won’t he?
A year on down in times of COVID-19, MS Dhoni delivered the news in classic MS Dhoni style—in a subdued Instagram post. Shortly thereafter, his partner in crime, Suresh Raina, joined in retirement on Twitter.
Thala and Chinna Thala, or leader and juinor leader, as they are known in Chennai, MS Dhoni and SK Raina were synonymous with the Indian 2011 world cup winning team and numerous CSK victories. We look back at the illustrious careers of this dynamic duo, Dhoni and Raina—the stalwarts of Indian cricket team over the past decade and a half.
The Stats
Raina and Dhoni both hailed from small towns in Ghaziabad and Ranchi respectively. Their rapid rise to international cricket is an inspirational story with hardwork and overcoming obstacles. In Dhoni’s case, the story captured by the late-Sushant Singh Rajput in M.S. Dhoni – The Untold Story.
Both Dhoni and Raina were multi-dimensional cricketers. While the Indian team revolved around Dhoni’s finishing ability, wicket-keeping skills, and captain cool nature, it was Raina’s fielding and off-spin that provided the team balance. Here are brief snippets of their statistics:
ODI: 5615 runs, 35.51 average, best of 116*, strike rate 93.5, 36 wickets
T20I: 1605 runs, 29.18 average, best of 101, strike rate of 134.67, 13 wickets
Test: 768 runs, 26.48 average, best of 120, 13 wickets
Although the numbers do not convey everything, Dhoni’s 50+ average and 84 not-outs reveals why he was considered the best finisher of the generation. As long as Mahi is there at the end, India was still in the game.
While Dhoni was India’s finisher, Suresh Raina was India’s insurance policy. If the top-order needed support, Raina was there. Jitters in the middle order? Raina was there. Need to score quick runs and accelerate? Raina was there. His consistently high strike rates reflect how good he was at reading situations and executing accordingly.
The legendary trio of Yuvi-Mahi-Raina rescued India on numerous occasions from dire situations.
My First Memory
My first memory of MS Dhoni in international cricket that caught my eye…did not actually involve watching Dhoni at all. I was on a road trip when an India-Sri Lanka ODI match was taking place.
We were listening to the commentary on a patchy radio station and checking the scores via paid text messages with spotty networks (yep, those days). The new kid on the block was promoted to No.3. Next thing you knew, he started to hit it out of the park.
He scored some runs, and then some more. The network disappeared and came back again. More sixes, more fours. Network out, back again. Eventually, with boundaries galore, India successfully chased 299 (which in 2005 was a huge score). Dhoni 183 not out.
Similarly, my first Suresh Raina memory did not actually involve his batting. Or his bowling. Or his catching. It was the one and only time I have ever seen a wicket by obstructing the field to Inzamam Ul-Haq.
That incident caught my eye. Like Mohammad Kaif, another captain from Uttar Pradesh before him, Suresh Raina was a marvelous fielder at backward point.
The Championships
MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina were pillars of India’s ascent to the top between 2007 and 2013. An era that started with MSD captaining a bunch of unknown youngsters to the 2007 World T20 finals (although Raina was not in that team) and extending till the 2016 T20 world cup.
Victories at the 2007 T20 World Cup, 2011 ODI World Cup at home, 2013 Champions Trophy along with semi-finalists at the 2015 ODI and 2016 T20 world cups. Not a bad record, I would say.
Even though Suresh Raina made his name in ODI cricket, he had an impact in each format. With a century on Test debut in Sri Lanka and a century in the 2010 World T20, he was the first Indian to score centuries in all three formats.
The Highlights
There are several records and victories associated with these two, but what highlights of Dhoni and Raina will I remember the most? I will remember:
MSD’s glovework was second to none. Whether it is lightning-fast stumpings, between the legs-run out, the DRS calls, or that last ball run-out in the T20 World Cup, he redefined wicket-keeping.
The trademark helicopter shots, that 91* in the World-Cup final, finishing off with a six for a fun. And finally, out of nowhere, in a middle of the test series in 2014, the retirement in Australia.
And Raina? For me, personally, I will remember his hoicks over mid-wicket and his absurd 87 off 25 in IPL 2014 Qualifiers. The best IPL innings of all time in my opinion. Regardless,
The beauty of a great Suresh Raina innings is you remember the impact, not the score.
More often then not, Raina was unbeaten at the end. Raina’s 34*(28) and 36*(39) in the quarter-finals and semi-finals chases were just as important as Gambhir’s 97 or Dhoni’s 91 in the final.
The Legacy
But every good thing has to come to an end, right? Dhoni’s distinguished career had to end anti-climatically with a run-out. Raina, marred by injury issues, retired at the age of 33, only playing 3 ODIs after the age of 29, when batsmen are usually at the prime.
Their legacy though would be determined by their partnership. MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina remind me of the movie, Ratatouille. Okay, let me explain.
Both of them, were great cricketers in their own right. Together, though, they were like cheese and strawberry.
Combined together, something really special was created.
As dependable finishers in the middle-order, one of the best runners-in-between the wickets, wicket-keeper and off-spin bowling partners, or as captain and #3 batsman at CSK as Thala and Chinna Thala, it was their partnerships together that made this journey memorable.
It is only fitting that they retire from international cricket together. Let us sit back nicely and watch them in the IPL while we can for a few more days.
The Videos:
To conclude, here is are some nice videos by the ICC and Cricket Australia on Dhoni and Raina:
What were your favorite Dhoni and Raina memories? Comment below, share, and subscribe! If you like to read more about cricketing heroes, check out our tribute to Rahul Dravid.
In our childhood, we have all dreamt of playing sports at one time or another, whether that is cricket, football, basketball, tennis, etc.
But then, life happens. We can all relate.
As a motivation to our website, Broken Cricket Dreams, we started a #BrokenDreams on Twitter to share our broken cricket or sports stories. Some stories might be hilarious, while other more injurious and serious.
Who knows, maybe by sharing these stories and looking back, some deep down wounds can be healed. In any case, sit back, enjoy, and comment below on your broken dreams stories!
“Made 3rd grade as an 18-year old, despite a shortened season due to a stress fracture in my foot. So, was looking forward to the next season, until a badly torn hamstring and regular injuries resulted in me having to stop playing.” #BrokenDreams
“It was during the first year in college. After training hard for 6 months, didn’t get picked in the squad due to politics and favoritism” #Brokendreams
“Didn’t realize my love for basketball until later in high school. Missed playing on team and missed watching so much of 2000s Lakers/Spurs/Celtics. Missed out on prime AI, Kobe, KG, Tim, Shaq, Yao, Nash, and T-Mac.”#Brokendreams
6. M. Borrie
“My broken dream in cricket, can’t bat, bowl, or field! Just sticking to the spectator seat for the summer of cricket! NZ playing continue to play great cricket. Test matches, ODIs, T20s – now good at all of them!”
More Such Stories – Coming Soon!
What Can We Learn?
I hope you had a laugh or even a tear drop. Maybe we all could not become professional sports players. Maybe just a random cricket blogger or a fan (me). Or chose another profession-engineer and artists, or doctors and musicians, or started our own business.
But that is completely okay! We should not have regrets.
Everyone has his or her own journey, and we should appreciate life just as it is. Just look back, smile, and enjoy the small moments.
Anyway, send in your stories, and we will publish it on your next iteration of Twitter Specials: Broken Dreams. Follow us on twitter, please subscribe below to our blog, and share along!
Who do you think is the most stylish batsman of the century? Tendulkar, Lara, Ponting, or the Fab 5?
Let’s have some fun today. Instead of just picking 11 today, we will pick an entire squad of 15 members with 7 reserves, similar to the guidelines for the COVID-19 bio-security bubble age.
Today’s Twist – Most Stylish Batsman:
Pick a squad of 22 members, where each player plays the best of a certain shot. The constraint is that you can only pick 1 player per shot. Who would you pick for the best cover drive, the best square cut, etc.? Note, we only pick players from the past 25 years for the current iteration.*
The Catch:
Babar Azam vs Virat Kohli was all over twitter this past week, but who do you think plays the best cover drive? For someone like Sachin Tendulkar who has all the shots in the game, if you were to only pick one, which shot would it be?
Almost all shots are linked next to a video, so have fun watching some of our favorite shots!
Which players would you pick? Which is your favorite video?
Who is the most stylish batsman in your opinion? Comment below with some of your favorite videos, share, and don’t forget to subscribe!
Well, that is it for right now. Stay tuned for more coming up later this week!
Sources: Youtube (Videos), cricket.com.au
*The article has been edited to only include the players of the recent past for the current iteration. We will do a sequel to this article considering players from earlier eras in our future iterations.
At the 2019 Cricket World Cup (CWC) held in England, all 10 teams played against each other. In the 29th match at Manchester, New Zealand faced the mighty West Indies. Until that point of the tournament, West Indies had won 1, lost 3, and 1 no-result. New Zealand, on the other hand, were unbeaten with 4 wins and 1 no-result. With each team having 4 games in hand, the tournament was still wide open.
The Moment:
Chasing 291, West Indies collapsed to 164-7.
Comes in Carlos Brathwaite. Remember his name? Braithwaite and the tail launches a remarkable comeback. Twists and turns, wickets fall, spectators at the edge of their seats.
Brathwaite hits 3 consecutive sixes in the 48th over. Brathwaite scores his maiden ODI century. Brathwaite can do no wrong.
Brathwaite’s dream is alive. One wicket left, West Indies need 6 off 7 balls, Brathwaite on strike. Surely, it is their game now…
What Actually Happened:
The dynamic duo of Brathwaite and commentator, Ian Bishop, from that 2016 T20 World Cup final are back together. Jimmy Neesham runs it and bowls a short ball, Brathwaite heaves, and Trent Boult is near the boundary. (Yes, the same Trent Boult who would later do this in the Final). All you can see is the ball in the blue sky.
Ball comes down. Gravity happens. Boult catches it. West indies 286-10. New Zealand win with an over to spare.
Ian Bishop exclaims, “New Zealand win! The dream is diminished for Carlos Brathwaite here in Manchester!”
This is the turning point of the tournament. New Zealand go to the top the table. They qualify for the semi finals due to net run-rate despite losing 3 against Pakistan, England, and Australia. West Indies lose momentum and would eventually crash out at 9th place.
Carlos Brathwaite: The Dream Is Diminished
Just Imagine:
If Carlos Brathwaite had managed to hit the ball a yard further, or if Boult had lost his balance, what would have happened?
48.6 – Neesham to Brathwait, SIX!
Has he done it? Yes! Boult tips the ball over the boundary at long on for six. West Indies wins.
The Consequence:
West Indies wins, joins the middle-muddle in the Points Table, and sprints to the semi-finals. New Zealand lose momentum and fail to qualify for the semi-finals.
It is England vs West Indies in the finals. Stokes batting vs Brathwaite bowling final over—a reversal of fortunes from 2016. Stokes attempts to take his revenge. 15 needed from 6.
49.1 – Six, 49.2 – Six. He wants to finish with 3 sixes and complete the revenge.
49.3 – OUT! One shot too many. Still 3 needed from 3.
49.4 – 1, 49.5 – 0, 49.6 – Run OUT!
West Indies win by one run! West Indies have won by the barest of margins. By the barest of all margins.
Brathwaite’s dream is realized. Carlos Brathwaite is the Man of the Match. He is hailed as the best all-rounder of the century. Stokes is dropped from the England squad. Eoin Morgan plays out the rest of his career for Ireland.
Jofra Archer returns to the Barbados. He spearheads the West Indies attack.
West Indies returns to its glory days.
YouTube Link:
From Remember the Name to Diminished Dream
Inspired by Conversations with Vandit Trivedi and ESPNCricinfo’s Alternate Universe series.
