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An Open Letter to the ICC: 14 Points & Cricket’s League of Nations Proposal for Survival of the Sport

In 1918, US President Woodrow Wilson gave a speech in the US Congress that would be regarded as the “Fourteen Points.” It proposed potential resolutions to end the ‘Great War’ (World War I), outlined how the world could move towards peace and prevent future wars, and was a key factor during the Treaty of Versailles.

Now I know what you may be thinking. What kind of comparison is this? Cricket is not war!

It definitely isn’t, but we can all agree that cricket has its share of problems.

Two years ago, I wrote an article about 15 Problems that will plague cricket in the next decade. It’s time to provide actionable solutions and remedy some of those problems.

Background – The Economics of Cricket

As much as we don’t like to talk about it, money is the center of most issues facing cricket.

Over the past year, I have worked on investigating approximately how much money it takes to host a Test match, why teams like New Zealand lose money, and learn about the economics of modern-day cricket. This includes:

Yesterday, the West Indies and England reminded us how special Test cricket truly is. The ebbs and flows, last day drama, the inspiration of an injured Shamar Joseph and Jack Leach fighting for their countries, the comeback of Tom Hartley, the camaraderie between the teams, and much, much more.

It reminded me why I started watching cricket in the first place, and I would love more of days like yesterday.

Hence, without further ado, here are my Fourteen Points to help preserve Test cricket, reduce the conflicts in the current cricketing calendar, and help fuel the growth of cricket in smaller nations.

Table of Contents

I. Creation of the ICC Test Match Fund

A Test match fund shall be formed from ICC’s annual budget to support the endeavors of Test cricket around the world. This budget shall, at a minimum, include match fees (players, support staff, ground staff, umpires, administrators), minimum set of cameras to support the DRS (decision review system), miscellaneous finances (hotel, food, and travel), advertising & marketing costs, and all such costs which shall be deemed necessary and proper for carrying into execution a proper Test match. The distribution of the budget shall be approximately proportional to the number of Tests a cricketing nation hosts per year.

How will it work?

In 2015, the Test Match fund was pondered, where the ICC would offer $12.5 million to the non-Big 3 Test playing countries to support Test matches over a few years.

This idea, however, never materialized. In our research, we found that it takes anywhere from $350,000-$1.4 million to host just a single one Test match, which is often a burden on the smaller nations. If a team hosts 2 three-match Test series in a year, that could incur a cost ranging from $2 million-$8.5 million per year.

Potential Problems

Even at the lower estimates, $2 million for 12 Test playing nations would cost the ICC about $24 million per year. That is a lot of money.

This will be a huge effort on the part of the ICC, which may require additional sponsorships, broadcast rights expansions, etc.

To start off this process, the ICC Test match fund could be piloted among the cricketing nations who are losing money to host a Test (ex: New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka, West Indies, Pakistan, etc.).

Who Said What?

“Unless the boards change the economic model, I don’t think Test cricket will thrive outside of the Big 3.”

Johnny Grave, Cricket West Indies’ CEO

II. Establishment of the Minimum Test Match Fees

An adequate minimum Test match fees shall be established to players across all nations for both women’s & men’s Test cricket, the monetary value of which should be updated every two years based on inflation and market economics. Boards are free to provide additional bonuses to their players.

How Will it Work?

Currently, India pays its men’s Test players $18,800 per Test, Australia pays about $12,500-$17,725 USD per Test, and England pays its players around $17,600. On the other hand, a New Zealand men’s Test match fee is about $6,600 USD.

The ICC will need to setup a committee and decide what a decent minimum Test match fee is and then work with each of the cricket boards to split duties on minimum fees.

For example, if we decide that $ 17,600 (like England) is a good enough Test match fee and NZ cricket board are already paying their players $6,600, then the ICC would jump in and make up the deficit of $11,000 per Test per player. Hence, the Big 3 may not need support from the ICC (and will be allowed to pay their players bonuses on top of the minimum fee), but the ICC would need to help the other countries out.

Potential Problems

Once again, we are asking ICC to bear a potentially high cost, but does the ICC even have this much money?

If not, how can they bring in more money? If this causes the ICC to host more World Cups and tournaments, then this will crowd the already crowded cricket calendar. We do not want to create more issues to solve one problem.

Who Said What

South Africa sending a second-string squad to New Zealand in favor of a strong domestic SA20 franchise tournament is now a well-documented phenomenon and caused reactions from several players like Steve Waugh.

“We’ve got to figure out a way for them [other countries] to be incentivized to play international and particularly Test cricket. That requires transparency from all cricket boards around the world to try to figure out how to pay the players the best way they can.”

– Usman Khawaja

“…Similarly to save Test wicket they should introduce standard match fee for all the boards, so that all players of Test cricket nations can have the same match fee.”

Mohammad Hafeez

III. Introduction of Test Match Windows

Two Test match windows, one each for the Northern & Southern hemispheres respectively, shall be implemented for three months of the year.

How Will it Work?

A few people have suggested having 3-month window where only Test cricket is played. However, I think this is an incomplete solution since the Northern and Southern hemispheres have different seasons for cricket.

What could happen is from May-July, there should be a window to play Tests in England, West Indies, and the subcontinent nations while December-February should have a window for Test cricket in New Zealand, South Africa, and Australia. In these windows, we may simultaneously see the Ashes, Ind-SA Tests, and NZ-Pak Tests for example. So the focus of the fan base is solely on Test cricket.

Now we cannot stop franchise cricket for six months, so what can be done?

We can customize the window per nation. For example, when a country is hosting or touring for Test cricket within those two larger windows, they are not allowed to host a franchise league. This will help avoid clashes that we are seeing with South Africa and the SA20. On the flip side, leagues like the BBL can benefit because the BBL will have all their international players to choose from.

Potential Problems

This will definitely cause backlash by the franchises because prime time will be taken away from them.

For example, this rule would mean The Hundred cannot be scheduled in the summer months when Test cricket takes priority. This is the time that students have vacations, the weather is decent, and there is time to spend with family. The broadcasters may also suffer due to lower television ratings.

Who Said What

IV. Abolishment of the Bilateral ODI Series

The bilateral ODI series shall be abolished from the cricket calendar.

How Will it Work?

As simple as, no more bilateral ODI series.

Don’t worry, I am not advocating the ‘Death of ODI cricket’ or anything like that. We saw in the 2023 ODI World Cup that fans still enjoy ODI cricket albeit in a smaller dose. Removing ODI bilaterals will provide space in the calendar to accommodate Test cricket, franchise leagues, and qualification matches (more on this, a few sections later).

Potential Problems

Loss of sponsorships and advertising revenues for host countries.

V. Abolishment of the Bilateral T20I Series

The bilateral T20I series shall be abolished from the cricket calendar.

How Will it Work?

Read point IV. Same as above.

This year, India will only have the 3-match T20I series against Afghanistan and the IPL to choose its players for the World Cup. The franchise tournaments will be enough to assess the player pool for T20 World Cups.

Potential Problems

India does not allow their players to play in foreign leagues, so players will not have opportunities to improve and fight for their places in the World Cups.

VI. Transformation of the two-year World Test Championship cycle into a Concentrated Test World Cup

Every four years, the league of Test nations shall assemble to play in a Test World Cup during the two 3-month Test windows. The top eight ranked teams shall compete, four winners proceed to a round-robin semi-final, and the Top 2 compete in the Best of 3 final series at a pre-determined venue.

How Will it Work?

Four 3-match series will occur for the Top 8 ranked teams during the first six months of the year in two different neutral countries (ex: Aus v WI (#1 v#8), Ind v SL (#2 v #7), Eng v Pak (#3 v #6), SA v NZ (#4 v #5)).

The four winners will then play 6 Tests in a round-robin format in the ‘Final Stage’ of this Test World Cup. The Top 2 teams will then play a 3-match series for the World Cup Final.

Note: During this Test World Cup year, regular bilateral Test series will not take place since this will take place during the Test windows.

Potential Problems

The teams that did not qualify in the Top 8 or lost in the first stage may not play much Test cricket that year.

Who Said What

VII: Two-Tiered Test League with Relegation & Promotion

Relegation and Promotion shall be established in Test cricket that will feed into the Test Match World Cup. Teams will be promoted and relegated at the end of every two-year cycle.

How Will it Work?

The 12-Test playing nations will be divided into two brackets (#1-6 in Bracket A and #7-12 in Bracket B). At the end of each two-year league, the bottom two of Bracket A will be demoted to Bracket B and vice-versa.

The detailed rules are outlined here: Relegation & Promotion Proposal in World Test Championship. Each team will play 18 Tests and 5 series during this time (against each member of their bracket).

The top eight-teams (all 6 teams in Bracket A and top 2 of Bracket B) will compete in the Test World Cup.

Potential Problems

Since we are proposing Test match windows, some windows may have too much Test cricket if that’s even possible.

VIII: 4-Day 3 Match Series instead of 2 Tests

The two-match Test series shall no longer be in existence. If for some reason, due to calendar conflicts, financial reasons, or unforeseen circumstances, there is only space for 15-20 days, then a three-match four-day Test series shall take place with the approval of the cricket boards of the interested parties.

How Will it Work?

If the Test match fund and calendar problems are solved with the above solutions, then there will not be a need for a 2-Test series (since teams will have enough money to host Tests).

However, if the situation arises that only 2-Tests are possible, then instead a 3-match 4-day Test series should take place. This will only add two days to the overall match time and maybe an additional week for the overall tour.

Potential Problems

This could result in too many draws if multiple teams agree on this approach.

Who Said What

“I’m not sure whether it’s changing it to four-day Test matches, so you can have an extra day to make sure that you play that third Test match.”

– Faf du Plessis

IX. Advertising Revenue and ICC Funding for County Cricket, Sheffield Shield, Ranji, and other domestic four-day tournaments.

The cricket boards will have to allocate their respective annual budgets to the betterment of domestic cricket. This includes, but is not limited to, advertising, recruiting, providing better facilities, etc. The ICC shall subsidize cricketing boards with a poor financial situation.

How Will it Work?

Franchise cricket is popular because the best players play in these leagues and sponsorship/TV revenue is high. On the other hand, County Cricket is shown on some YouTube channels, if at all.

The ICC should have a mandate to oversee that cricket boards are actively publicizing domestic cricket. This could be done by providing boards additional capital for domestic tournaments, having free to air channels, or by marketing domestic tournaments on social media channels.

Potential Problems

This could take additional manpower and resource, which will increase the costs of all parties involved.

X: Mandatory Practice Games with Similar Pitches

Each visiting team will be provided at least one practice match (for a 3-Test series) and two practice matches (for a series with 4 or more Tests). An impartial inspector from the ICC shall monitor practice pitches to ensure they are closely aligned with the pitches that the series will offer.

How Will it Work?

I have no problems with India coming up with rank turners or South Africa’s bounce troubling batters. I do, however, have a problem with multiple Tests finishing within two to three days and the lack of practice matches.

England have gone to India for a 5-match Test series without a practice match!

What should happen are at least 2 mandatory practice 4-day matches on pitches with similar conditions. If India plan on putting up rank turners, they need to make rank turners for these practice matches. If the series will have a variety of surfaces (for example, Dharamsala and Chennai), then the two practice matches need to have different surfaces. The ICC need to get involved as the impartial spectator to ensure consistency in pitches.

Potential Problems

This could mean longer tours for visiting teams and time away from home.

XI. Revival of the ODI Super League, Revamping of Qualification Systems & ICC Rankings

The ODI & T20 World Cup qualification systems shall be revamped and the ODI Super League shall be revived. No country, with the exception of the host nation, will be guaranteed a place in an ICC tournament. The space provided by the abolishment of bilateral series will be replaced by qualifying rounds that feed into the ODI Super League and World Cup qualifications.

How Will it Work?

The ODI Super League shall be revived for the benefit of ‘Associate’ nations like the Netherlands and Scotland.

Unlike the first edition of the ODI Super League, the Super League will be divided into a few groups (for example, 18-team Super League with 3 groups of 6). Every few months, a country will hold a Qualification round to play some of the matches. After a couple of rotations, each team in the group have played against each other twice (at least 10 matches per team before the World Cup).

These matches will be all be a part of World Cup qualification. No additional friendly bilateral games.

Potential Problems

Scheduling could be a problem with the various franchise leagues going around.

XII. Staggered ODI & T20 World Cups every 2 years, Removal of the ICC Champions Trophy

Each ICC World Cup tournament for both men’s & women’s cricket shall be held every four years, staggered by two years for the format. The Test World Cups will occur in the years there is no bilateral World Cups.

How Will it Work?

There are too many World Cups happening now. T20 World Cups in 2021 & 2022, an ODI World Cup in 2023, and another T20 WC coming up in 2024.

That’s an overkill. Rather, we can have ODI World Cups in 2027, 2031, 2035, etc. while T20 World Cups are hosted in 2029, 2033, 2037, etc. – also every four years. Then there will be space for the Test World Cup in 2028, 2032, 2036, etc.

This should also be implemented in the women’s game (One idea could be to stagger all 4 – 2027 Men’s ODI, 2028 WODI, 2029 – MT20, 2030 – WT20, etc.).

Potential Problems

Players might retire earlier if they know they cannot make it to the next ICC tournament.

XIII. Maximum Leagues Cap for Nationally Contracted Players

If a player is nationally contracted by their national cricket boards, they are limited to a maximum of three leagues (IPL, domestic league, and one other) per year or four leagues per year (if no IPL contract provided) or risk being fined their match fees. If a player does not have a national contract, they are not obligated to follow this limit.

How Will it Work?

We can come up with a compromise so that nationally contracted players can play a maximum of 3 leagues per year (including the IPL), any 4 leagues (if no IPL deals), and no restrictions if without a contract.

If Test windows and minimum Test match fees is implemented, then this should benefit both international cricket and the players themselves.

Potential Problems

Players may not sign the national contract at all and be franchise freelancers if that benefits them in the long run.

XIV: Re-Establish Champions League, Limit Expansion of the IPL

The Indian Premier League (IPL) shall not expand beyond the three-month window it is currently provided. The franchises are free to invest in other leagues around the world and a one-month window will be allocated for an annual Champions League.

How Will it Work?

It is clear that IPL franchises are starting to own stakes in other leagues. In the past, the Champions League did not provide value because a single player would have conflicts over multiple franchise but end up playing for their IPL teams.

If the IPL team starts doing year long contracts (for example, the same player plays for MI, MI Cape Town, MI NY, etc.), then there shouldn’t be a conflict of interest as before.

Potential Problems

For yet another competition to be in the cricket calendar, the IPL has to stop at the 10 teams, 3-month format. If the IPL is any longer, international cricket may cease to exist.

Final Thoughts

I was trying to write this article for a couple of weeks but for some reason, couldn’t find the words and ideas. But on a day where Shamar Joseph and Tom Hartley created history and Test cricket came to life, the idea just magically flowed through.

Much like Woodrow Wilson’s Fourteen points and the League of Nations (precursor to the United Nations), I fully expect the ICC to not pay attention to any of this and lead to major chasms in cricket in the coming years (much like the US themselves did not join the League of Nations, thereby weakened it, and ultimately were not able to prevent World War II).

This article may sound a bit quixotic in nature, but we have to start somewhere, don’t we? The world can only change if conversations begin.

The future of cricket is at stake. Will the ICC do something about it?

What are your thoughts? I want to know, comment below! How would you solve the problems that cricket faces today?

If you like reading about potential solutions to problems in cricket, do read the following:

© Copyright @Nitesh Mathur and Broken Cricket Dreams, LLC 2023. Originally published on 01/29/2024. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Broken Cricket Dreams with appropriate and specific direction to the original content (i.e. linked to the exact post/article).

Top 31 Highest Scores in Test Cricket: Brian Lara 400, Matthew Hayden 380, Can You Guess Who Has the Most Triple Centuries in Test Cricket?

Who has the highest scores in Test cricket?

We all know the record of Brian Lara 400, but just like Neil Armstrong and the moon landing, who is second?

Everything you need to know about the Test triple centurions and the highest scores in Test cricket.

Key Takeaways

  • There have been 31 Test triple centuries (including one quadruple century, Brian Lara 400).
  • Brian Lara 400*, Matthew Hayden 380, Brian Lara 375, Mahela Jayawardene 374, and Sir Garfield Sobers 365 are the Top 5 Test individual scores in Test cricket.
  • Don Bradman, Brian Lara, Virender Sehwag, and Chris Gayle each have two Test triple centuries, the most in Test cricket. Don Bradman (299*) and Virender Sehwag (294) came close to three triple centuries.
  • Hanif Mohammad (970 minutes) played the longest innings, while Sanath Jayasuriya (799 minutes) and Len Hutton (797 minutes) are the other longest Test triple centurions.
  • The breakdown of triple centuries in Test cricket as follows: Australia (8), West Indies (6), England (5), Pakistan (4), India & Sri Lanka (3), and South Africa & New Zealand (1).

List of Test Cricket Triple Centuries: Top 31 Highest Individual Scores in Test Cricket

1. Brian Lara (West Indies): 400* vs England, 2004

  • Minutes Played: 778 minutes (12 hrs, 58 minutes)
  • Score: 400* (582)
  • Ground: St. John’s, Antigua

Scorecard: WI vs ENG, England tour of West Indies 2003/04, 4th Test at St John’s, April 10 – 14, 2004

Embed from Getty Images

2. Matthew Hayden (Australia): 380 vs Zimbabwe, 2003

  • Minutes Played: 622 minutes (10 hrs, 22 minutes)
  • Score: 380 (437)
  • Ground: WACA Ground, Perth

Scorecard: AUS vs ZIM, Zimbabwe tour of Australia 2003/04, 1st Test at Perth, October 09 – 13, 2003

Embed from Getty Images

3. Brian Lara (West Indies): 375 vs England, 1994

  • Minutes Played: 766 minutes (12 hrs, 46 minutes)
  • Score: 375 (538)
  • Ground: St. John’s, Antigua

Scorecard: WI vs ENG, England tour of West Indies 1993/94, 5th Test at St John’s, April 16 – 21, 1994

Embed from Getty Images

4. Mahela Jayawardene (Sri Lanka): 374 vs South Africa, 2006

  • Minutes Played: 752 minutes (12 hrs, 32 minutes)
  • Score: 374 (572)
  • Ground: Colombo (SSC)

Scorecard: SA vs SL, South Africa tour of Sri Lanka 2006, 1st Test at Colombo, July 27 – 31, 2006

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5. Sir Garfield Sobers (West Indies): 365* vs Pakistan, 1958

  • Minutes Played: 614 minutes (10 hrs, 14 minutes)
  • Score: 365* (balls data not recorded)
  • Ground: Sabina Park, Kingston

Scorecard: PAK vs WI, Pakistan tour of West Indies 1957/58, 3rd Test at Kingston, February 26 – March 04, 1958

Embed from Getty Images

6. Len Hutton (England): 364 vs Australia, 1938

  • Minutes Played: 797 minutes (13 hrs, 17 minutes)
  • Score: 364 (847)
  • Ground: The Oval, London

Scorecard: ENG vs AUS, Australia tour of England 1938, 5th Test at London, August 20 – 24, 1938

Embed from Getty Images

7. Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka): 340 vs India, 1997

  • Minutes Played: 799 minutes (13 hrs, 19 minutes)
  • Score: 340 (578)
  • Ground: Colombo (RPS)

Scorecard: IND vs SL, India tour of Sri Lanka 1997, 1st Test at Colombo, August 02 – 06, 1997

Embed from Getty Images

8. Hanif Mohammad (Pakistan): 337 vs West Indies, 1958

  • Minutes Played: 970 minutes (16 hrs, 10 minutes)
  • Score: 337 (balls data not recorded)
  • Ground: Kensington Oval, Bridgetown

Scorecard: WI vs PAK, Pakistan tour of West Indies 1957/58, 1st Test at Bridgetown, January 17 – 23, 1958

Embed from Getty Images

9. Wally Hammond (England): 336* vs New Zealand, 1933

  • Minutes Played: 318 minutes (5 hrs, 18 minutes)
  • Score: 336* (balls data not recorded)
  • Ground: Auckland

Scorecard: NZ vs ENG, England tour of New Zealand 1932/33, 2nd Test at Auckland, March 31 – April 03, 1933

Embed from Getty Images

10. David Warner (Australia): 335* vs Pakistan, 2019

  • Minutes Played: 554 minutes (9 hrs, 14 minutes)
  • Score: 335* (418)
  • Ground: Adelaide

Scorecard: AUS vs PAK, ICC World Test Championship 2019-2021, 2nd Test at Adelaide, November 29 – December 02, 2019

Embed from Getty Images

11. Mark Taylor (Australia): 334* vs Pakistan, 1998

  • Minutes Played: 720 minutes (12 hrs)
  • Score: 334* (564)
  • Ground: Peshawar

Scorecard: AUS vs PAK, Australia tour of Pakistan 1998/99, 2nd Test at Peshawar, October 15 – 19, 1998

Embed from Getty Images

12. Sir Donald Bradman (Australia): 334 vs England, 1930

  • Minutes Played: 383 minutes (6 hrs, 23 minutes)
  • Score: 334 (448)
  • Ground: Leeds

Scorecard: AUS vs ENG, Australia tour of England 1930, 3rd Test at Leeds, July 11 – 15, 1930

Embed from Getty Images

13. Graham Gooch (England): 333 vs India, 1990

  • Minutes Played: 628 minutes (10 hrs, 28 minutes)
  • Score: 333 (485)
  • Ground: Lord’s, London

Scorecard: ENG vs IND, India tour of England 1990, 1st Test at London, July 26 – 31, 1990

Embed from Getty Images

14. Chris Gayle (West Indies): 333 vs Sri Lanka, 2010

  • Minutes Played: 653 minutes (10 hrs, 53 minutes)
  • Score: 333 (437)
  • Ground: Galle

Scorecard: WI vs SL, West Indies tour of Sri Lanka 2010/11, 1st Test at Galle, November 15 – 19, 2010

Embed from Getty Images

15. Michael Clarke (Australia): 329* vs India, 2012

  • Minutes Played: 609 minutes (10 hrs, 9 minutes)
  • Score: 329* (468)
  • Ground: Sydney

Scorecard: IND vs AUS, India tour of Australia 2011/12, 2nd Test at Sydney, January 03 – 06, 2012

Embed from Getty Images

16. Inzamam-ul-Haq (Pakistan): 329 vs New Zealand, 2002

  • Minutes Played: 579 minutes (9 hrs, 39 minutes)
  • Score: 329 (436)
  • Ground: Lahore

Scorecard: PAK vs NZ, New Zealand tour of Pakistan 2002, 1st Test at Lahore, May 01 – 03, 2002

Embed from Getty Images

17. Andy Sandham (England): 325 vs West Indies, 1930

  • Minutes Played: 600 minutes (10 hrs)
  • Score: 325 (640)
  • Ground: Sabina Park, Kingston

Scorecard: ENG vs WI, England tour of West Indies 1929/30, 4th Test at Kingston, April 03 – 12, 1930

Embed from Getty Images

18. Virender Sehwag (India): 319 vs South Africa, 2008

  • Minutes Played: 530 minutes (8 hrs, 50 minutes)
  • Score: 319 (304)
  • Ground: Chennai

Scorecard: SA vs IND, South Africa tour of India 2007/08, 1st Test at Chennai, March 26 – 30, 2008

Embed from Getty Images

19. Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka): 319 vs Bangladesh, 2014

  • Minutes Played: 551 minutes (9 hrs, 11 minute)
  • Score: 319 (482)
  • Ground: Chattogram

Scorecard: SL vs BAN, Sri Lanka in Bangladesh Test Series 2013/14, 2nd Test at Chattogram, February 04 – 08, 2014

Embed from Getty Images

20. Chris Gayle (West Indies): 317 vs South Africa, 2005

  • Minutes Played: 630 minutes (10 hrs, 30 minutes)
  • Score: 317 (483)
  • Ground: St. John’s, Antigua

Scorecard: SA vs WI, South Africa tour of West Indies 2005, 4th Test at St John’s, April 29 – May 03, 2005

Embed from Getty Images

21. Younis Khan (Pakistan): 313 vs Sri Lanka, 2009

  • Minutes Played: 760 (12 hrs, 40 minutes)
  • Score: 313 (568)
  • Ground: Karachi

Scorecard: SL vs PAK, Sri Lanka tour of Pakistan 2008/09, 1st Test at Karachi, February 21 – 25, 2009

Embed from Getty Images

22. Hashim Amla (South Africa): 311* vs England, 2012

  • Minutes Played: 790 minutes (13 hrs, 10 minutes)
  • Score: 311* (529)
  • Ground: The Oval, London

Scorecard: ENG vs SA, South Africa tour of England 2012, 1st Test at London, July 19 – 23, 2012

Embed from Getty Images

23. Bob Simpson (Australia): 311 vs England, 1964

  • Minutes Played: 762 minutes (12 hrs, 42 minutes)
  • Score: 311 (743)
  • Ground: Manchester

Scorecard: AUS vs ENG, Australia tour of England 1964, 4th Test at Manchester, July 23 – 28, 1964

Embed from Getty Images

24. John Edrich (England): 310* vs New Zealand, 1965

  • Minutes Played: 532 minutes (8 hrs, 52 minutes)
  • Score: 310* (450)
  • Ground: Leeds

Scorecard: ENG vs NZ, New Zealand tour of England 1965, 3rd Test at Leeds, July 08 – 13, 1965

Embed from Getty Images

25. Virender Sehwag (India): 309 vs Pakistan, 2004

  • Minutes Played: 531 minutes (8 hrs, 51 minutes)
  • Score: 309 (375)
  • Ground: Multan

Scorecard: IND vs PAK, India tour of Pakistan 2003/04, 1st Test at Multan, March 28 – April 01, 2004

Embed from Getty Images

26. Bob Cowper (Australia): 307 vs England, 1966

  • Minutes Played: 727 minutes (12 hrs, 7 minutes)
  • Score: 307 (589)
  • Ground: Melbourne

Scorecard: ENG vs AUS, England tour of Australia 1965/66, 5th Test at Melbourne, February 11 – 16, 1966

Embed from Getty Images

27. Sir Donald Bradman (Australia): 304 vs England, 1934

  • Minutes Played: 430 minutes (7 hrs, 10 minutes)
  • Score: 304 (473)
  • Ground: Leeds

Scorecard: ENG vs AUS, Australia tour of England 1934, 4th Test at Leeds, July 20 – 24, 1934

Embed from Getty Images

28. Karun Nair (India): 303* vs England, 2016

  • Minutes Played: 565 minutes (9 hrs, 25 minutes)
  • Score: 303* (381)
  • Ground: Chennai

Scorecard: ENG vs IND, England tour of India 2016/17, 5th Test at Chennai, December 16 – 20, 2016

Also Read: Top 13 Unlucky Indian Cricketers Who Were Dropped for No Reason

Embed from Getty Images

29. Azhar Ali (Pakistan): 302* vs West Indies, 2016

  • Minutes Played: 658 minutes (10 hrs, 58 minutes)
  • Score: 302* (469)
  • Ground: Dubai (DSC)

Scorecard: PAK vs WI, West Indies tour of UAE 2016/17, 1st Test at Dubai, October 13 – 17, 2016

Embed from Getty Images

30. Lawrence Rowe (West Indies): 302 vs England, 1974

  • Minutes Played: 612 minutes (10 hrs, 12 minutes)
  • Score: 302 (430)
  • Ground: Bridgetown

Scorecard: ENG vs WI, England tour of West Indies 1973/74, 3rd Test at Bridgetown, March 06 – 11, 1974

Embed from Getty Images

31. Brendon McCullum (New Zealand): 302 vs India, 2014

  • Minutes Played: 612 minutes (10 hrs, 12 minutes)
  • Score: 302 (559)
  • Ground: Wellington

Scorecard: NZ vs IND, India tour of New Zealand 2013/14, 2nd Test at Wellington, February 14 – 18, 2014

Embed from Getty Images

Honorable Mentions: Sir Donald Bradman (299*), Martin Crowe (299), Sir Alastair Cook (294), Virender Sehwag (293), Sir Vivian Richards (291), Ramnaresh Sarwan (291), Ross Taylor (290)

Final Thoughts

These are some of the finest innings in Test cricket.

From Brian Lara’s 400 & Garfield Sobers’ 365 to Hanif Mohammad’s 337 & Brendon McCullum’s 302, each triple century holds legendary folklore.

Who will be next?

Oh and by the way, Buzz Aldrin was the second person to walk on the moon in that Apollo 11 mission.

Frequently Asked Questions – Highest Scores in Test Cricket

How many triple centuries have been scored in Test cricket?

There have been 31 triple centuries in Test cricket.

Who has the most Triple centuries in Test cricket?

Sir Donald Bradman, Brian Lara, Virender Sehwag, & Chris Gayle each have two Test triple centuries in Test cricket.

Who played the longest Test innings?

Hanif Mohammad (970 minutes) played the longest Test cricket. Sanath Jayasuriya & Len Hutton are the other triple centurions who spent more than 13+ hours in an innings.

© Copyright @Nitesh Mathur and Broken Cricket Dreams, 2021. Originally published on 7/31/2023. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Broken Cricket Dreams with appropriate and specific direction to the original content (i.e. linked to the exact post/article).

Top 20 Highest Batting Averages in Test Cricket: Where Does Steve Smith’s Test Average Rank?

Which cricketers have the highest batting averages in Test cricket? Sir Donald Bradman (99.94), Adam Voges (61.87), Graeme Pollock (60.97), George Headley (60.83), and Herbert Sutcliffe (60.73) have the Top 5 highest Test batting averages in cricket.

Batting average has been the historic indicator of batting excellence in Test cricket over the years. Steve Smith is the only modern cricketer flirting with the 60 average and is currently at #6 with 59.76. Can he end up at #2 of all-time by the end of his career?

While we are discussing Steve Smith, here is the list of the Top 20 highest batting averages in Test cricket!

Also Read: Greatest 155 Cricketers of All-Time (Men’s), Most Centuries in Test Cricket

Key Takeaways

  • There are 7 England cricketers, 4 Australians & West Indians each, 2 from South African & New Zealand, 1 Sri Lankan rank in the Top 20 highest averages of all-time in Test cricket. No Indian or Pakistani batter make the Top 20 as of 2023.
  • Comparing different eras is usually an issue of debate while discussing batting averages. 7 batters in the pre-1950s era, 6 batters in the 1940s-70s, 6 in the modern era (1995-present), and 1 from pre-1900s made this list.
  • We did not apply any filters on the amount of Test matches played. Jacques Kallis (166) & Kumar Sangakkara (134) played the highest number of Test matches while maintaining the high average, while George Tyldesley (14) and Daryl Mitchell (20) are at the lower end. Steve Smith, Daryl Mitchell, Kane Williamson, and Marnus Labuschagne are the only active cricketers in this list.
  • From the Fab 4, only Steve Smith (59.76) and Kane Williamson (54.89) are in the Top 20 of the highest batting averages in Test cricket. Joe Root (50.87) and Virat Kohli (48.72) are much further down the list. Overall, 17 cricketers average above 55.00 in Test cricket as of now.

List of Highest Test Batting Averages: From Don Bradman to Marnus Labuschagne

Note: * signifies the cricketer is still active

1. Sir Donald Bradman (Australia) – 99.94

  • Matches: 52
  • Years Played: 1928-1948
  • Runs: 6996
  • 100s/50s: 29/13

The legend of 99.94 will remain immortal forever.

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2. Adam Voges (Australia) – 61.87

  • Matches: 20
  • Years Played: 2015-2016
  • Runs: 1485
  • 100s/50s: 5/4

Better late than never. Debuted at 35 and within a year, he scored 269*, 239, 130*, 119, 106*, 83*, 76, 60, 51*.

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3. Robert Graeme Pollock (South Africa) – 60.97

  • Matches: 23
  • Years Played: 1963-1970
  • Runs: 2256
  • 100s/50s: 7/11

Graeme Pollock: a cricket genius cut short by history’s innings. Only played 23 Tests due to South Africa’s isolation.

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4. George Headley (West Indies) – 60.83

  • Matches: 22
  • Years Played: 1930-1954
  • Runs: 2190
  • 100s/50s: 10/5

The shining star of West Indies’ cricket. The beginning of the great West Indies legacy.

Also Read: Death of West Indies Cricket? An Open Letter

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5. Herbert Sutcliffe (England) – 60.73

  • Matches: 54
  • Years Played: 1924-1935
  • Runs: 4555
  • 100s/50s: 16/23

Wisden’s Almanack describes “his off drive wore a silk hat.”

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6. Steve Smith* (Australia) – 59.76

  • Matches: 99
  • Years Played: 2010-Present
  • Runs: 9085
  • 100s/50s: 32/37

Fab Four? More like the Fab 1. Miles apart in modern Test cricket.

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7. Eddie Paynter (England) – 59.23

  • Matches: 20
  • Years Played: 1931-1939
  • Runs: 1540
  • 100s/50s: 4/7

Averaged 84.42 in his seven Tests in the Ashes. Absolutely brilliant.

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8. Ken Barrington (England) – 58.67

  • Matches: 82
  • Years Played: 1955-1968
  • Runs: 6806
  • 100s/50s: 20/35

ESPNCricinfo stated that Barrington “abandoned his natural attacking style to become one of cricket’s most notorious stonewallers.” Lovely!

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9. Everton Weekes (West Indies) – 58.61

  • Matches: 48
  • Years Played: 1948-1958
  • Runs: 4455
  • 100s/50s: 15/19

Dominated the entire decade of the 1950s.

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10. Wally Hammond (England) – 58.45

  • Matches: 85
  • Years Played: 1927-1947
  • Runs: 7249
  • 100s/50s: 22/24

7249 runs are all well and good but Hammond’s truly legacy is in first class cricket. Over 50,000 runs and 167 centuries.

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11. Garfield Sobers (West Indies) – 57.78

  • Matches: 93
  • Years Played: 1954-1974
  • Runs: 8032
  • 100s/50s: 26/30

One of the usual contenders as the greatest all-rounder or even the greatest player of all-time.

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12. Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka) – 57.40

  • Matches: 134
  • Years Played: 2000-2015
  • Runs: 12400
  • 100s/50s: 38/52

To play 134 Tests over 15 years and still average over 57 is utterly mind-boggling. Had golden years toward the end of his career.

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13. Daryl Mitchell* (New Zealand) – 57.21

  • Matches: 18
  • Years Played: 2019-Present
  • Runs: 1316
  • 100s/50s: 5/8

Too soon to say if he will stay in the list, but a worthy addition to New Zealand’s line up across formats.

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14. Jack Hobbs (England) – 56.94

  • Matches: 61
  • Years Played: 1908-1930
  • Runs: 5410
  • 100s/50s: 15/28

His international career might be good, but his first-class career is just WOW – 61760 runs with 199 hundreds. Played 834 first class matches.

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15. Clyde Walcott (West Indies) – 56.98

  • Matches: 44
  • Years Played: 1948-1960
  • Runs: 3798
  • 100s/50s: 15/14

Made up the 3 W’s with Weekes & Worrell. The trio defined the decade for West Indies.

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16. Sir Leonard Hutton (England) – 56.67

  • Matches: 79
  • Years Played: 1937-1955
  • Runs: 6971
  • 100s/50s: 19/33

Two decades of excellence. One of the greatest ever.

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17. Jacques Kallis (South Africa) – 55.37

  • Matches: 166
  • Years Played: 1995-2013
  • Runs: 13289
  • 100s/50s: 45/58

Averages 55.37 with the bat and 32.65 with the ball. The Greatest. Everything – Batter, Fielder, Bowler, Human Being.

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Highest Test Batting Averages – Honorable Mentions

The players in the honorable mentions below average 55.00 or below in Test cricket.

18. George Earnest Tyldesley (England) – 55.00

  • Matches: 14
  • Years Played: 1899-1909
  • Runs: 990
  • 100s/50s: 3/6

Not the one you are thinking of. That is Johnny Tyldesley. George was his brother. Just 990 runs and 14 Tests for George, but still impactful.

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19. Kane Williamson* (New Zealand) – 54.89

  • Matches: 94
  • Years Played: 2010-Present
  • Runs: 8124
  • 100s/50s: 28/33

Kane Williamson: Calm surface, intense underneath, true gentleman of the game.

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20. Marnus Labuschagne* (Australia) – 54.63

  • Matches: 40
  • Years Played: 2018-Present
  • Runs: 3551
  • 100s/50s: 10/15

If he continues playing the way he is in Ashes 2023, he might drop out of this list soon…but a brilliant beginning to his career nevertheless.

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Final Thoughts

From Sir Donald Bradman to Marnus Labuschagne, which ones surprised you the most? Here were the Top 20 batters with the highest average in Test cricket.

If Steve Smith continues his spectacular run, could we be witnessing the journey of another legend who could make it to the top 3? Time will tell!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Which cricketer has the highest batting average in Test cricket?

Sir Donald Bradman has the highest average in Test cricket (99.94). He is followed by Voges (61.87), Graeme Pollock (60.97), George Headley (60.83), and Herbert Sutcliffe (60.73).

What is Steve Smith’s Test average?

Steve Smith’s Test average is 59.76. He can end up at #2 of all-time.

© Copyright @Nitesh Mathur and Broken Cricket Dreams, LLC 2023. Originally published on 06/30/2023. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Broken Cricket Dreams with appropriate and specific direction to the original content (i.e. linked to the exact post/article).

Who Has Taken The Most Wickets in Test Cricket? | List of The Top 26 Highest Wicket Takers In Test Cricket History

Who has taken the most wickets in Test cricket?

Muttiah Muralitharan (800), Shane Warne (792), Jimmy Anderson* (688), Anil Kumble (619), Stuart Broad* (600), Glenn Mcgrath (563), and Courtney Walsh (519) have taken the most wickets in Test cricket.

Today, we go in-depth and discuss the stats and characteristics of the highest wicket-takers in Test cricket. Here is the comprehensive list of the Top 26 cricketers with the most wickets in Test cricket.

Also Read: Who Has the Most Test Centuries in Cricket History?| List of Top 25 Cricketers with Test Hundreds, 155 Greatest Cricketers of All Time (Men’s), List of Top 35 Run Scorers in Test History

Key Takeaways

  • 26 bowlers have taken 350 or more wickets in Test cricket. From this, 17 bowlers have taken 400+ wickets, while only 7 have scaled the 500+ mountain.
  • 18 fast bowlers, six off-spinners, and two leg-spinners make up the list of 26 highest wicket-takers in Test history. 23 of them are right-arm bowlers while three are left-arm bowlers.
  • Australia and India (4) have produced the most bowlers with 350+ Test wickets, while Sri Lanka, South Africa, West Indies, England, and New Zealand (3) are tied for second place.
  • Jimmy Anderson (688), Stuart Broad (589), Nathan Lyon (496), and Ravichandran Ashwin (474) are the only active cricketers on this list.

*still playing

Test Cricket Bowling Records: Top 25 Highest Wicket-Takers in Test Cricket History

Test cricket is one of the oldest and most revered forms of the game.

Through its long and storied history, some truly great bowlers have emerged, with many of them going on to become the greatest wicket-takers in Test cricket history. In this article, we’ll look at a list of the highest wicket-takers in Test cricket history, and what makes them among the best bowlers that ever played the game.

Let’s take a look.

1. Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka) – 800 Test Wickets

  • Years Played: 1992-2010
  • Test Matches Played: 133
  • Average: 22.72, Strike Rate: 55.04
  • 5-fer/10-fer: 67/22

Muttiah Muralitharan, a Sri Lanka offspinner, is the leading wicket-taker in Test cricket. He achieved these feats throughout his career between 1992 and 2010 — his bowling average was a spectacular 22.72. With an unusual action, fear in his eyes, and skill on display, Murali regularly blew the opposition away.

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2. Shane Warne (Australia) – 708 Test Wickets

  • Years Played: 1992-2007
  • Test Matches Played: 145
  • Average: 25.41, Strike Rate: 57.49
  • 5-fer/10-fer: 37/10

Shane Warne was considered one of the best bowlers of all time. He made leg spin cool and bowled some of the balls of the century.

RIP Legend.

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3. James Anderson (England) – 688* Test wickets

  • Years Played: 2003-
  • Test Matches Played: 182*
  • Average: 26.27, Strike Rate: 56.4
  • 5-fer/10-fer: 32/3

James Anderson is probably the golden standard of swing bowling in Test cricket. He started playing bowling in 2003 and is still going strong. His longevity is one to admire, and his consistency one to emulate. We can just hope this journey continues for a few more Tests.

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4. Anil Kumble (India) – 619 Test Wickets

  • Years Played: 1990-2008
  • Test Matches Played: 132
  • Average: 29.65, Strike Rate: 65.99
  • 5-fer/10-fer: 35/8

Anil Kumble was known for his accurate leg-spin skills. Fortitude and desire were the main elements in Kumble’s game. ‘Jumbo’ as he was referred to, was a mainstay for Indian cricket for more than a decade. He will always be remembered for the 10-fer vs Pakistan at the Feroz Shah Kotla.

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5. Stuart Broad (England) – 600* Test Wickets

  • Years Played: 2007-
  • Test Matches Played: 166*
  • Average: 27.60, Strike Rate: 55.6
  • 5-fer/10-fer: 20/3

Since starting his Test match career in 2007, England’s Stuart Broad has been regarded as a favorite by many. With Jimmy Anderson, Broad formed a formidable partnership for years to come. When he is in form, Broad’s spells are a joy to witness.

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6. Glenn McGrath (Australia) – 563 Test Wickets

  • Years Played: 1993-2007
  • Test Matches Played: 124
  • Average: 21.64, Strike Rate: 51.95
  • 5-fer/10-fer: 29/3

Australian quick bowler Glenn McGrath has become a cult figure with his length and his line. An iconic cricketer, he created a destructive combination with Shane Warne during Australia’s golden generation.

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7. Courtney Walsh (West Indies) – 519 Test Wickets

  • Years Played: 1984-2001
  • Test Matches Played: 132
  • Average: 24.44, Strike Rate: 57.84
  • 5-fer/10-fer: 22/3

Courtney Walsh, a West Indian Indian fast bowler, is well known for his longevity, speed, and precision. His fast-bowling relationship with Curtly Ambrose was an aggressive and intimidating experience.

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8. Nathan Lyon (Australia) – 496* Test Wickets

  • Years Played: 2011-
  • Test Matches Played: 122*
  • Average: 31.00, Strike Rate: 63035
  • 5-fer/10-fer: 23/4

In 2011 Nathan Lyon made his first appearance as Australia’s leading spin bowler. Lyon is known for his enduring tenacity and has been one of the iconic off-spinners of his generation.

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9. Ravichandran Ashwin (India) – 474* Test Wickets

  • Years Played: 2011-
  • Test Matches Played: 92*
  • Average: 23.93, Strike Rate: 51.84
  • 5-fer/10-fer: 32/7

Ravichandran Ashwin is the most successful spin-bowling all-rounder India has ever produced. His range of spinning deliveries has consistently earned him wickets and is one of the great thinkers of the game. In addition to his impressive bowling stats, Ashwin also boasts 5 Test centuries.

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10. Dale Steyn (South Africa) – 439 Test Wickets

  • Years Played: 2004–2019
  • Test Matches Played: 93
  • Average: 22.95, Strike Rate: 42.38
  • 5-fer/10-fer: 26/5

Dale Steyn was one of the most feared fast bowlers in Test cricket for over a decade, and his stats prove it. With an impressive strike rate of 42.38, Steyn consistently took wickets throughout his career to become South Africa’s most successful bowler since Allan Donald and Shaun Pollock. His ability to swing the ball both ways made him as dangerous as any bowler in the world.

Also Read: Dale Steyn, The Embodiment of Simplicity and Intensity, Retires—The Greatest Fast Bowler of Them All

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11. Kapil Dev (India) – 434 Test Wickets

  • Years Played: 1978–1994
  • Test Matches Played: 131
  • Average: 29.64, Strike Rate: 63.91
  • 5-fer/10-fer: 23/2

Kapil Dev is considered by many to be India’s greatest-ever cricketer. Although not a traditionally fast bowler like Dale Steyn or Malcolm Marshall, Kapil had a great ability to extract bounce from any pitch and was capable of bowling long spells of accuracy with great success – something that often goes unrecognized.

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12. Rangana Herath (Sri Lanka) – 433 Test Wickets

  • Years Played: 1999–2018
  • Test Matches Played: 93
  • Average: 28.07, Strike Rate: 60.03
  • 5-fer/10-fer: 34/9

Rangana Herath is one of the most successful spin bowlers to ever play Test cricket and was a mainstay in the Sri Lankan team since his debut in 1999. His ability to extract turn from even the driest of pitches made him one of the toughest bowlers to face, as did his commitment to bowling accurate line and length for long periods of time. In addition, Herath was also capable of picking up wickets in quick succession, making him a dangerous bowler in the fourth innings.

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13. Sir Richard Hadlee (New Zealand) – 431 Test Wickets

  • Years Played: 1973–1990
  • Test Matches Played: 86
  • Average: 22.29, Strike Rate: 50.85
  • 5-fer/10-fer: 36/9

Sir Richard Hadlee is one of the greatest all-rounders to grace the cricket field and was a regular in the New Zealand Test team from 1973 until 1990. A genuine fast bowler with great swing and accuracy, Sir Richard picked up 431 wickets over his career at an outstanding average of 22 – making him one of the most successful bowlers in Test cricket history.

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14. Shaun Pollock (South Africa) – 421 Test Wickets

  • Years Played: 1995–2008
  • Test Matches Played: 108
  • Average: 23.11, Strike Rate: 57.84
  • 5-fer/10-fer: 16/1

In spite of his relative lack of pace, Pollock was able to compensate with impeccable accuracy and line & length, and the result was 421 Test wickets at an impressive average of 23. His ability to swing the ball both ways, combined with his knack for picking up wickets in clusters, saw him play a crucial role in South Africa’s rise as a cricketing superpower.

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15. Harbhajan Singh (India) – 417 Test Wickets

  • Years Played: 1998–2015
  • Test Matches Played: 103
  • Average: 32.46, Strike Rate: 68.53
  • 5-fer/10-fer: 25/5

Harbhajan Singh is one of India’s most famous spinners and was central to India’s famous series win over Australia on home soil in 2001. With 417 Test wickets under his belt and an economy rate of just under three runs per over, Harbhajan consistently proved himself to be a valuable asset for the Indian team. His ability to take wickets in clusters, combined with his sharp off-breaks and top spinners, made him one of the most successful spinners in Indian Test cricket history.

Also Read: Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT): The Definitive Guide (Updated 2023), Complete History, Most Runs, Most Wickets, and BGT 2023 Schedule

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16. Wasim Akram (Pakistan) – 414 Test Wickets

  • Years Played: 1985–2002
  • Test Matches Played: 104
  • Average: 23.62, Strike Rate: 54.65
  • 5-fer/10-fer: 25/5

Wasim Akram is widely regarded as one of the greatest fast bowlers ever to have graced a cricket field and it is no surprise that he is also amongst the highest wicket-takers in Test cricket history with 414 scalps throughout his illustrious career. His ability to swing the ball both ways, combined with his nagging accuracy and excellent control made him a nightmare for batsmen all over the world. He is certainly a legend of the game.

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17. Curtly Ambrose (West Indies) – 405 Test Wickets

  • Years Played: 1988–2000
  • Test Matches Played: 98
  • Average: 20.99, Strike Rate: 54.57
  • 5-fer/10-fer: 22/3

Curtly Ambrose had an exceptional ability to extract bounce from any surface. One of the most dangerous bowlers of his time, he produced some of the most devastating spells of all time. Also a decent musician.

Also Read: 24 Cricketers with Musical Talent Who Will Rock You Ft. Don Bradman, Sreesanth, and AB De Villiers

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18. Makhaya Ntini (South Africa) – 390 Test Wickets

  • Years Played: 1998–2009
  • Test Matches Played: 101
  • Average: 28.82, Strike Rate: 53.42
  • 5-fer/10-fer: 18/4

Makhaya Ntini was one of South Africa’s most successful bowlers in Test cricket and a mainstay in the Proteas team since his debut in 1998. With Pollock, Kallis, Donald, and later Steyn, Morkel, Rabada, Ngidi, & Nortje, his influence on South Africa’s pace bowling cannot be understated.

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19. Ian Botham (England) – 383 Test Wickets

  • Years Played: 1977–1992
  • Test Matches Played: 102
  • Average: 28.40, Strike Rate: 56.95
  • 5-fer/10-fer: 27/4

Sir Ian Botham is undoubtedly one of the greatest all-rounders ever to play cricket. Along with Kapil Dev, Imran Khan, & Sir Richard Hadlee, these four formed the golden generation of all-rounders.

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20. Malcolm Marshall (West Indies) – 376 Test Wickets

  • Years Played: 1978–1991
  • Test Matches Played: 81
  • Average: 20.94, Strike Rate: 46.76
  • 5-fer/10-fer: 22/4

Malcolm Marshall boasts an envious bowling strike rate of 46.76 and was one of the core bowlers in THAT West Indies side.

Also Read: Top 5 Greatest Cricket Teams Ever To Be Assembled

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21. Waqar Younis (Pakistan) – 373 Test Wickets

  • Years Played: 198902003
  • Test Matches Played: 87
  • Average: 23.56, Strike Rate: 43.49
  • 5-fer/10-fer: 22/5

Apart from Malcolm Marshall & Dale Steyn, Waqar Younis is the other fast bowler with a bowling strike rate in the low forties. With the ability to break stumps at will and bowl deadly yorkers, he formed the perfect foil with Wasim Akram.

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22. Tim Southee (New Zealand) – 370 Test Wickets

  • Years Played: 2008–
  • Test Matches Played: 94*
  • Average: 28.98, Strike Rate: 58.40
  • 5-fer/10-fer: 15/1

Tim Southee is one of New Zealand’s most successful bowlers in Test cricket and has been a mainstay in the Black Caps team since his debut in 2008. He is best known for his ability to swing the ball both ways, combined with his accurate line & length and good control. After 2014, it was the partnership of Southee-Boult that would plant the seeds for the 2021 World Test Championship victory.

Also Read: World Test Championship Final Review 2021, Prediction Results, WTC XI, and Stats: It Is New Zealand’s Time

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23. Imran Khan (Pakistan) – 362 Test Wickets

  • Years Played: 1971–1992
  • Test Matches Played: 88
  • Average: 22.81, Strike Rate: 53.75
  • 5-fer/10-fer: 23/6

Imran Khan is one of the greatest icons of Pakistan cricket. He holds the distinction of leading a nation to a World Cup victory…as well as leading a nation as a Prime Minister.

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24. Daniel Vettori (New Zealand) – 362 Test Wickets

  • Years Played: 1997–2014
  • Test Matches Played: 113
  • Average: 34.36, Strike Rate: 79.59
  • 5-fer/10-fer: 20/3

Daniel Vettori was New Zealand’s sole spin sensation in a land of fast bowlers, swing kings, and dibbly-dobbler specialists. Although his strike rate is a bit on the high side, it was the economy of 2.59 that helped the Kiwis to maintain control.

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25. Dennis Lillee (Australia) – 355 Test Wickets

  • Years Played: 1971-1984
  • Test Matches Played: 70
  • Average: 23.92, Strike Rate: 52.01
  • 5-fer/10-fer: 23/7

Perhaps the original star of the art of fast bowling in modern-day Test cricket, Lillee would become an inspiration for future generations.

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26. Chaminda Vaas (Sri Lanka) – 355 Test Wickets

  • Years Played: 1994–2009
  • Test Matches Played: 111
  • Average: 29.58, Strike Rate: 66.02
  • 5-fer/10-fer: 12/2

The final bowler on the 350+ Test wicket list is none other than Chaminda Vaas. Central to Sri Lanka’s rise into the upper echelons of Test cricket, Vaas became their most successful fast bowler.

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Final Thoughts

The list of the highest wicket-takers in Test cricket history is a testament to the skill, determination, and excellence that each of these great players has shown throughout their careers.

Each bowler has left an indelible mark on the game, making them all true legends of the sport.

These bowlers have set a high standard for future generations to strive for and will undoubtedly be remembered as some of the greatest Test cricketers ever.

Who is your all-time favorite bowler in Test cricket?

Frequently Asked Questions

Who has taken the most wickets in Test cricket?

Muttiah Muralitharan has taken the most wickets in Test cricket (800).

Can Jimmy Anderson take 700 Test wickets?

Yes, Jimmy Anderson is currently on 685 wickets and will play the 5-match Ashes series against England at home. He may not play all the matches but should still get to the coveted 700-wicket mark.

Who has 4000 runs and 400 wickets in Test matches?

Kapil Dev is the only Indian player with 4000 Test runs and 400 Test wickets in Test history.

How many cricketers have taken 300 wickets or more in Test cricket?

37 bowlers have taken 300 or more wickets in Test cricket. From this, 26 have gone on to take 350 wickets, 17 have taken 400 wickets, and only 7 bowlers have taken 500+ Test wickets.

Who is the leading wicket-taker in Test for England?

Jimmy Anderson is the leader wicket-taker for England in Test cricket with 685 wickets to his name.

© Copyright @Nitesh Mathur and Broken Cricket Dreams, LLC 2023. Originally published on 06/10/2023. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Broken Cricket Dreams with appropriate and specific direction to the original content (i.e. linked to the exact post/article).

Cricket Thought of the Day #2: Is Sachin Tendulkar’s 15921 Test Runs Record in Danger?

31 Years, 157 days.

The number of days it took both Sir Alastair Cook & Joe Root to break the 10,000 run barrier, incidentally the only two English two cricketers to do so. In comparison, it took the great Sachin Tendulkar 31 years & 326 days to breach that mark.

What a moment. 10,000 runs with the same shot as his 100 at Lord’s. Nasser Hussain, as he always does, chose the best possible words to sum it up,

“10,000 Test Runs for Joe Root. He joins the pantheon of all-time great batters and he does it, as ever, with a smile on his face.”

– Nasser hussain

The Tale of Three Legends—Joe Root, Sachin Tendulkar, and Alastair Cook

By Nitesh Mathur, Broken Cricket Dreams, 06/08/2022

Root’s Run

What’s better? Since his debut, it has only taken Root 9 years & 171 days to achieve this landmark. In comparison, Jayawardene-Tendulkar-Gavaskar took about 14-15 years after their debuts and Younis-Chanderpaul about 17-18 years (And yes yes, you’re right. Root took 218 innings, Cook took 229, and England play more Tests than anybody else, but that is another story).

Joe Root is definitely in the prime of his career. There was a time when Root was going to be uprooted from the Fab 4. With Root inability to convert fifties into hundreds, Babar Azam’s glorious entry, Kane Williamson’s prime, & the god-level cricket Steven Smith & Virat Kohli were producing between 2016-2018, surely Root’s status was being questioned.

Post the pandemic, Smith, Kohli, and Williamson’s needles have barely moved, both in terms of runs and hundreds.

Joe Root, on the other hand, has been on a different level. 21 Tests, 41 innings, 9 hundreds, 4 fifties, 56.23 average since January 2021. And these 9 hundreds include 5 daddy hundreds—228, 218, 186, 180*, and 153. The fact that he did this as England’s Test captain, when they only won 1 out of 17 Tests, in conditions such as Sri Lanka, India, West Indies, and Australia makes his run even more unbelievable.

So naturally the question arises. In the prime of his career, relieved of captaincy pressure, with possibly another 5-10 years ahead of him, can Joe Root break Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 15,921 Test runs?

Sir Alastair Cook

Let’s come back to Alastair Cook for a moment.

Cook scored his first hundred at at the age of 21. In the next 7 years, he racked up 25 total. In his prime, his record read:

  • 2009: 3 Tons
  • 2010: 5
  • 2011: 4
  • 2012: 4
  • 2013: 2

Tons in overseas Ashes win & subcontinental hundreds, Cook was at the top of the world. Even though he slowed down after 2013, by the time he climbed the 10K runs mountain, he had already amassed 28 Test centuries. And he was still young.

It looked like he was meant to break Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 51 Test hundreds.

But then he didn’t.

He fell short. In fact, very, very short. Not by one, or two, or even 10 hundreds. By 18 hundreds.

Alastair Cook would only score 5 more centuries and retire from international cricket at the age of 33.

Sachin Tendulkar

In comparison, when Tendulkar was about 31 years & 157 days old, he had 33 centuries already.

However, his form was about to take a dip. Between December 2004 & May 2007, Tendulkar only scored one Test century, a 109 vs Sri Lanka in 2005.

Questions were asked. Retirement calls surrounded the media. He couldn’t seem to go past the nervous nineties in ODI cricket. Tennis elbow injuries, Greg Chappell controversy, 2007 ODI WC horror—you name it, it looked like the end for legend Sachin Tendulkar.

But then Sachin Tendulkar had a second wind (almost as long as other people’s entire career). From 2008-2011, he scored 14 Test centuries. That is 14 hundreds after the age of 35.

The rest, as they say, is history.

There is still a long way to go.

As Mark Puttick pointed out, Trescothick scored 5825 runs in his entire 76-Test career. Mushfiqur Rahim, Bangladesh’s most prolific Test run-scorer, has scored 5235 runs after 82 Tests and 15 years.

Root needs 5906 more.

He either needs to continue his golden touch for couple more years or needs to have a Tendulkar-esque final phase.

So, Can Joe Root Overtake Sachin Tendulkar’s Test Run Tally?

Cook retired early not because cricket had left him. He retired because he had given his everything to the game and achieved what every aspiring English player would dream of. He might even have been burnt out.

It was just a personal choice. Maybe he just wanted to give back to the roots at Essex. He is still going strong at County Cricket. Currently standing at 72 first class tons and having a stellar season.

Life is nonlinear.

Unlike statistics on a chart, real-life will have its share of twists and turns. There will be bumps on the road. Us armchair critics just jump to conclusions too quickly. No individual can continue to be at the peak of powers infinitely.

Add COVID-19, bio bubbles, media pressure, mental health, and overkill of cricket, how much can a modern cricketer take?

Only time will decide if Root can overtake Tendulkar. We can just hope to enjoy this legendary presence while it lasts.

****

Records are meant to be broken…or are they?

****

From the heavens, Don Bradman smiles.

© Copyright @Nitesh Mathur and Broken Cricket Dreams, 2021. Originally published on 06/08/2022. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Broken Cricket Dreams with appropriate and specific direction to the original content (i.e. linked to the exact post/article).

15 Cricket Problems That Needs to Be Solved in the Next Decade | How to Fix Cricket 101

Let’s talk about cricket problems, shall we?

In 1900, German mathematician David Hilbert proposed a list of 23 unsolved mathematics problems that would keep mathematicians busy for the next century.

And indeed, they did. Over the next hundred years, several of these challenging problems were either completely answered or partially solved. However, some of these problems remain unsolved even after a few centuries and failed attempts by great mathematicians.

So, at the turn of the 21st century, the Clay Institute of Mathematics put a $1 million reward (the hardest way to get a million dollars, I would say) for anyone who would solve any of the 7 proposed problems, known as the legendary Millennium Prize Problems [Millenium Maths Problem Explained in 90 Seconds].

So far, only one of them has been successfully solved (and the mathematician Grigori Perelman rejected the monetary award).

With Inspiration from my friend, Vandit

Table of Contents

Why Cricket Needs to Solve Problems?

At this point, you must be thinking, “Why I am reading four paragraphs of math when I signed up for cricket?”

Don’t worry. Here comes the cricket.

2021 had a fair share of its problems for cricket—The Azeem Rafiq scandals, Tim Paine’s sexting exit, Thailand women losing a spot in the World Cup due to a flawed system, Glenn Maxwell, Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes, Tom Banton taking time off due to mental health, Quinton de Kock’s kneeling issue in the T20 World & then retiring from Test cricket at the age of 29, the dissolution of the ODI Super League, New Zealand & England pulling out of Pakistan, the Afghanistan crisis, The Hundred Vs County Cricket debate, and just a general overdose of the IPL & cricket.

For a full read on these issues, check the following articles out:

The Structure of the Proposed Problems

Today I propose a list of 15 problems that will keep the cricket community (ICC, administrators, and cricketers themselves) busy for the next decade.

This is by no means an exhaustive list. Neither do I have any monetary reward for you. I offer possible solutions—some of them you might like. Others? Not so much. So, then what is the point of all this?

The point is to churn up debate and conversations in the cricket community so eventually some of these solutions reach the upper echelons of the cricket boards and ICC. Comment below on your thoughts and ideas. Who knows, your idea might one day change cricket altogether.

If you like this content on Captain Virat Kohli, please subscribe above for FREE and follow us on our social media accounts.

Follow us here if you are on Medium or Bloglovin‘.

I. Global Expansion of Cricket

1. Need for a Global Cricket Calendar and T20 Leagues

The Problem: How can the cricket calendar provide space to the three international formats—Test, ODI, and T20I—as well as the growing T20 leagues?

These days, cricket is here, there, and everywhere. Today, we have the BPL, PSL, IPL, Global T20 Canda, T20 Vitality Blast, The Hundred, CPL, Shpageeza Cricket League, T10 League, SLPL, MSL, Super Smash, and the Big Bash running from January to December.

Cricket will hit its ceiling in the next 5-10 years. With new T20 leagues growing around the world, IPL becoming a 10-team venture (twice a year IPL also proposed), T10 leagues, The Hundred, a ‘Ninety-90 Bash’, & other retired professional leagues adding to the calendar, what is the limit?

And don’t get me wrong. Leagues are not necessarily a bad thing—more opportunities for Associate cricketers, professional life for players who cannot make their international XIs, and more match practice & auditions to make comeback cases, but it does threaten the existence of international cricket as a whole.

Possible Solutions

  1. In The Need For Champions League & a T20 League Calendar article, we proposed that
    1. Two-Three month reservation for the pinnacle of international cricket (T20/ODI WC, WTC Final), without T20 leagues during this period.
    • Reinstatement of the Champions League as the center of the T20 yearly calendar.
    • Enforcement of maximum of 3 leagues per year for a nationally contracted player.
  2. Eventually, cricket may need to adopt the soccer (European football) model.
    • International games reserved only for ODI World Cup qualification, WTC matches, and some friendlies/warm-ups. As many have suggested, bilateral T20Is should be scrapped totally.
    • Players contracted by year-long leagues. They take leave to play a couple of international games every now and then until the World Cup, which dominates the summer every couple of years.
  3. Experimental formats like T10 cricket and ‘Ninety-90’ Bash should end. Who knows, we might be playing a Super Over league at this rate.

Possible Pitfalls

The Indian Premier League and the BCCI holds a bit of influence over the cricket finances. If they reject any of the calendar limits, that may the end of any negotiations even though all the other cricketing nations might agree.

2. Decisiveness and Pathways on Olympics

The Problem: The ICC on cricket’s inclusion in the Olympics—Yes, No, maybe so?

For too long, cricket has dabbled with the idea of being in the Olympics and are closer than ever in making a decision. The 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games will include a women’s 8-team T20 tournament. USA Cricket hopes for the inclusion of cricket in the 2028 LA Olympics and the 2032 Brisbane Olympics being ICC’s long-term goal.

However, what format will it be? T10? T20? If it is T10, does that mean cricket will have a fourth international format? How will qualification work? At this point, there are way too many questions and zero details on a path forward.

If cricket is serious about being in the Olympics, the administrators need to get their acts together. One or two meetings a year just doesn’t cut it.

Possible Solutions

It is worth a try regardless of the format. Ideally T20 cricket, starting from the 2028 LA Olympics (building upon USA’s Major League Cricket) would be great for the game.

The format of soccer’s 4 group of 4 is a good template (16 teams in the Olympics instead of 32 in the FIFA World Cup to keep the WC as the pinnacle product). If the T20I WC expands to 16-24 teams (both men/women) in the next decade, the Olympics can start with 8-12 teams with the best 2-3 teams qualifying from each region.

Also Read: T10 Cricket in Olympics? You Have Got to Be Kidding; USA Cricket: The Next NFL Or NBA – Trillion Dollar Bet?

Possible Pitfalls

  1. Not every country has cricketing infrastructure. To create a consistent following, cricket at Olympics can only succeed if it is at every iteration. Unless cricket stadiums are built in every nation on earth, the ICC will have some complications in the early years at the Olympics.
  2. Another tricky slope to navigate is the West Indies. Since each nation like Jamaica and Barbados will play the Olympics as its own nation, those teams will be significantly weaker in strength than the West Indies cricket team.

3. Expansion of the Women’s Game and Need for WIPL

The Problem: Women’s cricket is now mainstream, but is the structure in place to take the game forward?

Between 2017- March 2020, women’s cricket enjoyed a sort of golden era. The quality of cricket and broadcast in the 2017 ODI World Cup brought new fans to the game, and a record 86,174 attendance at the MCG for the 2020 WT20 Final proved that women’s cricket was on the rise.

However, the pandemic has exposed several gaps in the women’s game. For almost 12 months, women’s international cricket was largely halted around the world while the men’s IPL happened twice. Several smaller boards like Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have not seen much gameplay. Although India have played a few internationals, there does not seem to be a plan for women’s domestic cricket. And a request for the women’s IPL is falling on deaf ears.

Add to that, the crisis faced by Thailand, one of the rising teams in women’s cricket. When omicron abruptly cancelled the qualifying tournament, it was tough to not see them qualify for the ODI World Cup despite being #1 in the group since their ODIs were not given ODI status.

Surely the structure and expansion in women’s cricket needs more thought, structure, and investment.

Also Read: #Controversy Alert: Who Cares About Women’s Cricket Anyway?

Possible Solutions

  1. Multi-format series have been a brilliant idea but should become the standard across all teams.
  2. The Hundred was a huge success for the women’s game in terms of awareness and equal split of men’s/women’s game. Each top league needs to adopt the same structure.
  3. More teams to qualify for the T20 World Cup.

Also Read: History of Women’s Cricket World Cup

Possible Pitfalls

In order for the multi-format series to become the standard, more Test cricket and 3-day practice matches have to become the norm, which will take time.

4. Planned T20 Exposure for Cricket’s Growth

The Problem: Roadmap and resource management needed for the rapid growth of T20I cricket in emerging markets.

While women’s cricket and the Olympics are avenues to cricket’s global expansion, the ICC is utilizing T20 cricket for the spread of the game. In 2018, T20I status was granted to every cricket team (As of January 2022, 91 men’s teams and 53 women’s teams are in the T20I rankings). Further, a regional qualifier structure was provided for future T20 World Cups, which will be held every two years.

All this is good, but how are the resources going to be divided among these nations? Will they get professional international stadiums, broadcasting rights, DRS, and facilities? Will they be able to host tournaments? (like the earlier ICC Knockout tournaments). Step in the right direction, but a lot of work to do in the decade ahead.

Possible Solutions

  • Just like a major Asia Cup tournament, each continent should set up their own major tournament (separate from the regional qualifiers). This will ensure that there is a systematic ranking/room to grow for the newer teams in each continent, and they are not here just to make up the numbers.

Possible Pitfalls

If teams ranked at the very bottom continue to lose, they might leave the game altogether. Some sort of incentive needs to be provided to these lower ranked newer cricketing nations.

II. Standard of Cricket

5. Standardization of Pitches in Test Match Cricket

The Problem: How Can We Balance Pitches to Minimize Boring Draws and 2-Day Tests?

In the 2000s, stellar middle orders and flat pitches combined for some high scoring matches and boring draws. Over the last 5-10 years, a great crop of fast bowlers (and spinners in the subcontinent) combined with pitches suited to the home side has made 2-day and 3-day Tests a recurring event.

Possible Solutions

  1. Keep the pitches suited to home teams with 4-Day Tests (more on this later)
  2. Preparing pitches suited to overseas conditions in domestic cricket (example: More spin tracks – weather permitting – in England’s county circuit) or encouraging/funding spin from an age group level (How India progressively became a better fast bowling nation, England can do that in the long run).
  3. ICC standardize the pitches across the globe.

Possible Pitfalls

The beauty of Test cricket is in its variety. If the batters cannot overcome the challenge, so be it. That is life.

6. The Toss

The Problem: Is the toss leading to too many predictable results?

It was clear in the IPL and the 2021 T20 World Cup in the UAE that teams winning the toss and batting second had a higher probability of winning.

The beauty of the toss is in the uncertainty, and when things start to get predictable, innovation becomes the need of the hour.

Possible Solution

Tosses impact T20Is and Test cricket more than ODIs. So, one thought is to start experimenting with various ideas (listed below and more) in T20 leagues or domestic 4-day cricket, while leaving ODI cricket the same as it is now.

  1. Each team alternates decision to bat/bowl in a series. (If an odd number, last match is decided by a coin toss…)
  2. The bat flip idea like the Big Bash League.
  3. Away Teams in Tests get to choose

Possible Pitfalls

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Cricket is already complicated, why make it more complicated?

7. Bat Vs Ball Debate

The Problem: The Eternal Debate—How Can We better balance bat vs ball advantage?

This is the Riemann Hypothesis of cricket. A seemingly intuitive problem that is always up for discussion, has never been solved, and is the unproven underlying assumption that is the basis of strategy for the rest of cricket.

In limited overs cricket, the bat dominates (bigger bats, flat pitches, stronger players, etc.). In Test cricket over the last decade, the ball has dominated.

Possible Solutions

I have a truly marvelous solution to this, but the margins are too narrow to contain for my answer [Fermat’s Last Theorem].

Just kidding! Here they are:

  1. Abolish wide behind leg side in limited overs. Small margins really do hurt the bowlers.
  2. In Test cricket, one more review to the batting side instead of the bowling side.
  3. In limited overs, one bowler can bowl a couple of overs more than the maximum limit of 10 overs (ODI) or 4 overs (T20I)

Possible Pitfalls

As players get physically stronger and technology increases, the balance will always remain one side or another. However, as spinners have shown in the middle overs in a T20 or fast bowlers during the death with the slower balls, adaptation of skill is required, not so much the mechanics of the bat and ball.

III. Survival of Test & ODI Cricket

8. Disparity Between Level of Performance in Test Cricket

The Problem: How can the gap between top and mid-tiered teams be reduced?

The gap between top and mid-tiered Test nations is gradually eroding confidence in Test cricket. Even though some spectacular matches in the last five years have reinvigorated Test cricket, gaps in skill level between the top sides and mid-tiered/bottom ranked teams makes for a boring viewing on the other end of the spectrum.

Social media’s pendulum swings from “Test cricket is the best format” claims to “Is Test cricket dying?” every few months.

Case and point: Men’s Ashes 2021-2022. Except for Jonny Bairstow’s 4th Test, there was absolutely no resistance. There have been several subsequent calls for the 5-Test Ashes to be reduced to a 3 or 4 match affair. If England, who play 10-15 Tests a year, are not properly utilizing resources and are behind the golden standard, how can we expect the likes of Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, West Indies, Zimbabwe, Ireland, and Afghanistan to compete?

Possible Solutions

  1. Regularized international schedule should dominate bilateral agreements. Australia’s refusal to host Bangladesh, Zimbabwe, and now Afghanistan (for other reasons) does not help smaller teams get the experience. The more the Top 4 countries play the mid-tiered teams, the better they will get in the long run.
  2. Prioritizing domestic funding over white ball funding (County cricket vs white ball dominance)
  3. Abolishment of two-Test series (The smaller countries only get to play 2 Tests while the Big 3 and South Africa gets 4-5 matches per series).
  4. Relegation-Promotion system (details outlined below) in three brackets: Bracket A (#1-6), Bracket B (#7-12), and Bracket C (non-Test playing nations)

Also Read: Relegation & Promotion Proposal in World Test Championship: Make Test Cricket Great Again Part III

Reducing the Influence of the Big 3 | How Can the World Test Championship Improve?

Possible Pitfalls

Money, money, money. Even the World Test Champions like New Zealand cannot afford to host more than two Tests due to finances. Ideally, we would like an equal distribution of Test match cricket, but if there are no finances, there is no cricket.

9. Associate nations, the ODI Super League, and the Expansion of Test Cricket

The Problem: Lack of clarity is hurting the survival of Associate nations, the backbone of global cricket.

The ODI Super League provided Ireland and Netherlands much needed game time against the top eight teams. Ireland actually has done a pretty decent job and Netherlands’ cricketers received much needed stability, but the inexplicable cancellation of the ODI Super League has stumped many. The World Test Championship has flaws, but the ODI Super League was a step in the right direction.

Yes, T20I is the right vehicle for growth in globalization of cricket, but should teams like Ireland be alienated, who have invested in ODI cricket and want to play Test cricket?

Possible Solutions

The ICC suggested that they may trial teams like Scotland and Netherlands into Test cricket as a temporary Test status. That might be a good move if it actually happens, but here are some other solutions:

  1. Touring Associate and new Test nations before embarking on a 4-5 Test tour (playing ODIs/T20Is vs Scotland/Netherlands & 1-off Test vs Ireland before a series in England, vs Afghanistan before India, vs PNG before NZ & Aus, Namibia/Zimbabwe vs SA). This is happening more and more with Ireland’s progress, but it is only the beginning.
  2. Revival of the Tri-Series? Similar idea as above, but to reduce logistic and travel issues, two full members plus an Associate nation for an ODI tri-series in a common location.
  3. Mandatory 1-2 Associate players per squad per T20 league. Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, Tim David, and Sandeep Lamichanne are great templates. These players will be a boon for the franchises, not a burden.

Possible Pitfalls

10. 4-Day Tests for Men, 5-Day Tests for Women?

The Problem: Making Test cricket accessible for spectators without jeopardizing the game.

The Decision Review System (DRS) and pink-ball day-night Tests have now been adopted as major innovations in the game which had resistance in the early days. In the age of technology and innovation, cricket has to find ways to re-invent itself and stay relevant every 5-10 years.

One such suggestion is 4-day Tests (plus a 5th day for rain affected games) for men’s cricket, while expanding to 5-day Tests in women’s cricket, especially since they do not play as many Tests.

Possible Solutions

  • Just like D/N Tests were tested one Test per series every now and then, similarly one of the Tests can be scheduled as a 4-day game (and vice-versa for women)

Possible Pitfalls

Draws. One of the major drivers for 5-matches in women’s Tests are the number of draws. This forces teams to declare early (even when they are trailing) and enforce follow-on more often. If men’s game introduces 4-day Tests, then strategies will similarly begin to change and/or draws will increase.

11. Fixes to the World Test Championship

The Problem: Test matches are now better contextualized, but a lot is still left to be desired in achieving a better system.

We have already provided several solutions for World Test Champions in our earlier articles (shown below), so here is a summary:

  • Number of Tests Played is uneven: In the first WTC cycle, England played 21 Tests, while West Indies, South Africa, and New Zealand played 11 each. Marquee series like Ashes, Border-Gavaskar, Basil D’Oliveira Trophy, etc. are 4-5 Tests each while SL & NZ only play 2 Tests regularly.
  • Currently no distinction is made for Home/Away advantage: Bangladesh winning in NZ, West Indies winning in Bangladesh, India winning in Australia, or Australia drawing in England should be worth more than home wins.
  • 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. Yet, the points are awarded on an all-or-nothing basis.

Possible Solutions

My solution is detailed in Alternative World Test Championship Points Table.

Possible Pitfalls

No system is every going to be perfect, but at least more of an attempt can be made. One of the other pitfalls is the pandemic. This has severely restricted travels between countries and longer, more straining quarantine rules. Hence, even more uneven number of Tests are begin played.

IV. Other Concerns

12. Mental Health Support & Overkill of Cricket

The Problem: Mental Health Awareness A Necessity in Today’s sport

Non-stop cricket alongside heavy quarantine is changing the commitments of a professional cricketer. It is no longer feasible to play three international formats, travel around the world, away from family, and still have a sane mental health.

Marcus Trescothick, Glenn Maxwell, and Ben Stokes are some of the many high-profile players who have taken time off the game to focus on their health. They have paved a way for many others in the future to follow. The real question is, does the cricket fraternity have the support each player needs and deserves?

Possible Solutions

  1. Support Groups/Staff, Paid Leave
  2. Separate teams for separate formats (Maximum of two formats per player)

Possible Pitfalls

Mental health is still looked as taboo in many cultures. Even though awareness is increasing, some players may still keep things to themselves, which is detrimental.

In addition to mental health, physical health is also a concern as more research is done on concussions in general. Concussion substitutes were a great innovation to the game, but it took the death of Phillip Hughes for the radical change. Let us make sure to be proactive before any such incidents. Injury prevention and player health should be duly monitored.

13. Spot Fixing and Associate Nations

The Problem: Match-Fixing for the Next Decade

Brendan Taylor’s story illustrates that even in the year 2022, match fixing & spot-fixing is still an issue cricket needs to be careful against. After the spot fixing that emerged from Pakistan’s tour of England in 2010 and the growth of T20 leagues, there is a lot more education and maturity in ICC’s anti-corruption unit.

However, teams like Zimbabwe and Associate nations, whose players do not earn a survivable income or cash flow from leagues, are easy targets for corruptors (as seen in the UAE). So the nature of match fixing might have changed since the 1990s, but it is still a problem that threatens the core fabric of the sport in one way or another.

Possible Solutions

The structure of the ICC anti-corruption unit and education before every major tournament shows that cricket has already matured in most of this regard. The real responsibility now lies on the players for self-reporting such approaches.

Healthy compensation for Associate players can also prevent such instances.

Possible Pitfalls

In the age of technology, new forms of corruption might appear (cyberattacks, ransomwares, NFTs?) ICC needs to be proactive and take actions earlier.

Also Read: Netflix ‘Bad Sport’ Fallen Idol Review: Must Watch for All Cricket Fans – How Will History Judge Hansie Cronje?

14. The Afghanistan Crisis

The Problem: ICC and cricket boards’ philosophical stand on the Afghanistan women’s team and the status of the men’s team.

Post the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in September, cricket’s stakeholders have been sending mixed messages. Australia rescinded their invitation to Afghanistan for a Test match due to a lack of a women’s team/Taliban’s stance on women. However, requirement for a women’s team was waived off when Afghanistan became a Full member four years ago.

The ICC allowed Afghanistan in the 2021 T20 World Cup at UAE and many Afghani players are contracted around the world despite the drama. On the other hand, Zimbabwe was not allowed to qualify for the 2019 ODI World Cup due to crisis in the Zimbabwean government.

Why are players/ sports’ teams penalized for government interference? Why is different approach taken against different countries? Who sets the precedent?

Possible Solutions

  • Afghanistan is a cricket-loving country, and we should not stop its growth despite political tensions. They have now qualified for their 2nd U-19 semi-finals in the last three attempts. Let the men’s team continue to blossom while promoting cricket in age levels for women’s cricket if situation allows.

Possible Pitfalls

Each country might have a different political relationship with Afghanistan, which may mean a conflict of interest. As a byproduct, the relationship between other cricket boards can get strained.

15. Player Behavior

Problem: Similar Player Behavorial Issues, Different Consequences

As players gain more power over administrators due to financial security and unions, there have been some side-effects. Players have been acting up a lot lately.

Shakib Al Hasan’s antics (not much backlash), Ollie Robinson’s tweets (socially alienated), Alex Hales & Joe Clarke (not selected in the national side), Sri Lanka’s players in England (suspended for six months), Steven Smith, David Warner, & Cameron Bancroft’s sandpaper gate ball tampering scandal (banned by Cricket Australia for 1 year), Netherlands’ ball tampering (4 matches ICC), Quinton de Kock defying teammates (kneeling and not playing) and Virat Kohli shouting at the stumps (no consequence).

Possible Solution

  • Digging up old tweets should be removed as a cultural practice.
  • For major offences, a uniform code of conduct that applies to every player regardless of the cricket board they are playing under.
  • An impartial body assigned to monitor and judge player behavior for uniform convictions

Possible Pitfalls

Each circumstance is different. Uniform offences might not be ideal. On the other hand, ICC vs national boards hierarchy will become muddled if ICC centralizes power.

Also Read: Gentleman’s Game No More: Shakib Al Hasan & Ollie Robinson Highlight Larger Disciplinary Issue

This is not the end. More avenues and ideas to explore for sure. Please bring in your comments. Would love to hear YOUR opinion. Thanks everyone for reading ❤ Anyway, time to go the duel or swim across the shores of France…

*Thank You Credit: In conversation with my friend, Vandit. Thanks for listening to my ideas and engaging in meaningful discussion.

Further Reading:

Make Test Cricket Great Again Articles:

Analysis Articles

© Copyright @Nitesh Mathur and Broken Cricket Dreams, 2021. Originally published on 01/29/2022. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Broken Cricket Dreams with appropriate and specific direction to the original content (i.e. linked to the exact post/article).

Top 11 Cricketers Who Retired Too Early – The Lost Generation of Alastair Cook, Kevin Pietersen, AB De Villiers, Hashim Amla, and Michael Clarke

Greatness.

A simple word that carries immense burden. What defines greatness in sports? Statistical brilliance, nostalgia, longevity? In cricketing terms, 99.94, memories like Brett Lee vs Sachin Tendulkar, 100 Tests, or 15 years+ career?

Also Read: 22 Unlucky Cricketers, Most Underrated Cricketers

Table of Contents

To Retire Or Not to Retire, That is the Question

Legacies are largely depended on the final days in the international arena. Retirement has always been a tricky issue in cricket.

Sourav Ganguly’s Ian Chappell saga tarnished his otherwise positive legacy. A poor 2007 Cricket World Cup ended dreams for Brian Lara & Inzamam ul-Haq. Simon Jones’ career ended before it could start due to injuries.

Some overstay and risk going out on a low. Others like German soccer captain Philipp Lahm retired internationally at the age of just 30 after winning the FIFA World Cup in 2014.

The Lost Generation

Today we dive deep into the careers of the lost generation of 2005—Alastair Cook, AB De Villiers, Michael Clarke, and Hashim Amla, all of them would retire prematurely.

With the triple retirement of Dale Steyn, Brendon Taylor, and Lasith Malinga, the legendary class of 2004-06 is coming to a close. Only Broad-Anderson & Ross Taylor remain from the greats of this era.

Sandwiched between the 90s golden generations of Sangakkara-Jayawardene-Muralitharan, Tendulkar-Laxman-Ganguly-Dravid, Kallis-Pollock-Boucher-Ntini, Inzamam-Yousuf, Ponting led Australia, & the Fab 4 (Kane Williamson, Virat Kohli, Joe Root, Steve Smith), there was the class of 2004 & 2005.

Why did these cricketers retire so soon? How does the future look like? Read till the end for our in-deptj analysis & final thoughts.

11 Cricketers Who Retired Too Early

While legends of the past played 12-15 years, the cricketers in this list only had about 9-12 years of international cricket. The fact that they followed the golden generation lead to slightly later debuts and hence, even shorter careers.

One of the clear indications of the early retirement for the batters is the statistics. Most did not cross 10,000, their averages fell below 50, and the centuries hovered between 25-27 (although at one stage it seemed each of these players would break them all).

Anderson’s long career seems like he is on another level (which he is) but in all reality, at one stage, all of these players would have careers as long as Jimmy Anderson.

The players in this list were not dropped. They retired on their own terms or because of other circumstances. Hence, we exclude players like Ian Bell, Virender Sehwag, Umar Gul, Suresh Raina, and Gautam Gambhir who were available for selection but were unfortunately dropped from the team plans later in their career.

1. Michael Clarke (Australia)

Tests: 115 Matches, 8643 runs, 49.10 average, 329* best, 100s/50s – 28/27, 31 wickets

ODIs: 245 Matches, 7981 runs, 44.58 average, 130 best, 100s/50s – 8/58, 57 wickets

T20Is: 34 Matches, 488 runs, 21.21 average, 103.17 SR, 67 best, 50-1, 6 wickets

Cricketers Who Retired Trivia

  • Debut: January 18, 2003 (ODI)
  • Last Match: August 19-22, 2015 (Test)
  • Age Debuted: 21
  • Age Retired: 33
  • Why Did He Retire?

Retiring on a high is every cricketer’s dream. Captaining Australia to a victory at home in front of the MCG crowd must have been a surreal experience. A few months later, the Ashes would be his final appearance. One of the bests #4 batters of all-time with a godly conversion rate in Tests. The 2012-13 season would always be remembered as Clarke’s year, the only batter to score 4 double centuries in a year.

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2. Ryan Harris (Australia)

Tests: 27 Matches, 113 wickets, 23.52 average, 50.70 SR, best of 7/117 & 9/106, 4w/5w – 4/5

ODIs: 21 Matches, 44 wickets, 18.90 average, 5/19 best, 5w – 3

Cricketers Who Retired Trivia

  • Debut: January 17, 2009 (ODI)
  • Last Match: January 5-9, 2015 (Test)
  • Age Debuted: 29
  • Age Retired: 35
  • Why Did He Retire?

Harris’ career was a classic cases of fast bowling injuries. Whenever he was fit, he bowled his heart out and made an indelible impact. Could not make the XI in Australia’s golden generation and had to leave early due to chronic knee injury. Retired 3 days before the Ashes because he could not recover even after surgery. Will always be remembered for the ball of this century to dismiss Alastair Cook.

“I played 27 more Tests than I ever thought I would and I have relished every single moment of them.”

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3. Sir Alastair Cook (England)

Tests: 161 Matches, 12472 runs, 45.35 average, 294 best, 100s/50s – 33/57

ODIs: 92 Matches, 3204 runs, 36.40 average, 137 best, 100s/50s – 5/19

Cricketers Who Retired Trivia

  • Debut: February 28 – March 4, 2006 (Test)
  • Last Match: September 6-10, 2018 (Test)
  • Age Debuted: 21
  • Age Retired: 33
  • Current Age:36
    • Still playing for Essex and hitting centuries
  • Why Did He Retire?

At one point in time, he was touted to overtake Sachin Tendulkar as the highest run-scorer and century maker having scored 5000 runs at 26. Will always be remembered for the 2010-11 Ashes series down under. However, loss of form and inconsistency creeped in. Tougher playing conditions, 159 Tests in a row, and the KP saga probably got to him. Century in his first and last Tests against India showed that he still had it in him. Still the best opener in England?

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4. Sir Andrew Strauss (England)

Tests: 100 Matches, 7037 runs, 40.91 average, 177 best, 100s/50s – 21/27

ODIs: 127 Matches, 4205 runs, 35.63 average, 158 best, 100s/50s – 6/27

Cricketers Who Retired Trivia

  • Debut: November 17, 2003 (ODI)
  • Last Match: August 15-19, 2018 (Test)
  • Age Debuted: 27
  • Age Retired: 35
  • Why Did He Retire?

Due to his late debut, it was inevitable that Strauss would not have an extremely long career, but England fans learned how great Andrew Strauss was after his retirement, for both his captaincy & batting. Since the Cook-Strauss partnership ended, England could not find a stable partner for Cook (and Cook’s effectiveness also decreased). KP himself said in an interview that the text-messaging scandal on the eve of Strauss’s 100th Test was one of his biggest mistakes, which tarnished Strauss’ last match. Later became ECB’s Director of cricket and subsequently received knighthood for his service to English cricket.

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5. Kevin Pietersen (England)

Tests: 104 Matches, 8181 runs, 47.28 average, 227 best, 100s/50s – 23/35

ODIs: 136 Matches, 4440 runs, 40.73 average, 130 best, 100s/50s – 9/25

T20Is: 37 Matches, 1176 runs, 37.93 average, 141.59 SR, 79 best, 50s – 7

T20s: 200 Matches, 5695 runs, 33.89 average, 136.89 SR, 115* best, 100s/50s – 3/35

Cricketers Who Retired Trivia

  • Debut: November 27, 2004 (ODI)
  • Last Match: January 02-04, 2014 (Test)
  • Age Debuted: 24
  • Age Retired: 33
  • Why Did He Retire?

See Strauss above. Jokes aside, KP’s career had always been hampered by controversies. Although he had to leave South Africa and debuted relatively late, he quickly established himself as one of the greatest in his generation. Key contributor to the 2005 Ashes, 2012 India series, and 2010 T20 World Cup victories, he was a key component of driving English cricket forward. Although he was England’s highest scorer in the Mitchell Johnson 2015 series, he was a casualty of the 5-0 defeat. Poor relationship with Strauss & coach Andy Flower did not help as the management decided that KP’s career is over.

KP might have been controversial off the field, but there is no doubt he changed cricket for the better. Fast forward 15 years, everybody has an inner KP with the switch hits & aggressive mindset. Paved the way for English cricketers to join the IPL & other T20 leagues, thereby moving England one step closer to their eventual 2019 World Cup winning campaign.

Also Read: South African Cricketers Who Play For Other Countries: Labuschagne, Neil Wagner,…Can you Guess the Rest?

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6. Graeme Swann (England)

Tests: 60 Matches, 255 wickets, 29.96 average, 60.10 SR, best of 6/65 & 10/132, 4w/5w/10w – 14/17/3

ODIs: 79 Matches, 104 wickets, 27.76 average, 5/28 best, 4w/5w – 3/1

T20Is: 39 Matches, 51 wickets, 16.84 average, 3/13 best

T20s: 80 Matches, 98 wickets, 18.88 average, 3/13 best

Cricketers Who Retired Trivia

  • Debut: January 22, 2000 (ODI), December 10-14, 2008 (Test)
  • Last Match: December 12-16, 2013 (Test)
  • Age Debuted: 29 (Test), 20 (ODI)
  • Age Retired: 34
  • Why Did He Retire?

Statistically, Swann does not make the best bowlers of all-time list, but what he did in his 5-year Test career was continued the art of off-spin. After T20 cricket & ODI Powerplay rule changes, leg spinners flourished in the 2010s. Except for Daniel Vettori, finger spin was a dying art. Swann took off-spin forward and became a cog of the famed 2010-11 English lineup. Late Test debut, an elbow injury, and Johnson 2013 ensured that he retired mid-series (after the 3rd Test).

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7. Saeed Ajmal (Pakistan)

Tests: 35 Matches, 178 wickets, 28.10 average, 65.10 SR, best of 7/75 & 11/111, 4w/5w/10w – 9/10/4

ODIs: 113 Matches, 184 wickets, 22.72 average, 5/24 best, 4w/5w – 6/2

T20Is: 64 Matches, 85 wickets, 17.83 average, 4/19 best

T20s: 195 Matches, 271 wickets, 17.36 average, 4/14 best

Cricketers Who Retired Trivia

  • Debut: July 1, 2008 (ODI)
  • Last Match: April 23, 2015 (T20I)
  • Age Debuted: 31
  • Age Retired: 37
  • Why Did He Retire?

Another one who debuted late, but made an immediate impact. From the cricketers who retired too early, Saeed Ajmal’s ending was probably the saddest. During Pakistan’s toughest days, Saeed Ajmal & Umar Gul took Pakistan to great heights, especially in T20 cricket. However it was his action that was his downfall. Unlike Mohammad Hafeez & Sunil Narine, Ajmal’s remodeled action was not effective enough without the doosra. Will definitely go down as a Pakistani great.

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8. Morne Morkel (South Africa)

Tests: 86 Matches, 309 wickets, 27.66 average, 53.30 SR, best of 6/23 & 9/110, 4w/5w – 18/8

ODIs: 117 Matches, 188 wickets, 25.32 average, 5/21 best, 4w/5w – 7/2

T20Is: 44 Matches, 47 wickets, 25.34 average, 4/17 best

T20s: 190 Matches, 207 wickets, 25.29 average, 4/17 best

Cricketers Who Retired Trivia

  • Debut: December 25-29, 2006 (Test)
  • Last Match: March 29-April 2, 2018 (Test)
  • Age Debuted: 22
  • Age Retired: 33
  • Current Age: 36
    • Plays with Brisbane Heat in the BBL; Was at Surrey from 2018-2020
  • Why Did He Retire?

When Morne Morkel left international cricket after that Australia series for the Kolpak deal in England (with Surrey), it signaled the beginning of the end of the great 2008-2015 South Africa generation. From 2015-2019, each one slowly retired, and it was painful to watch South Africa collapse to new lows. What was not painful, however, was Morne Mornel’s bowling. High arm action, pace & bounce, & most importantly, consistent line & length. Dale Steyn would not have been as successful had he not had Morne on the other end as the ideal foil. Morkel, in his own right, will go down as a South African great. With 309 wickets at age 33, who knows, he could have gone past Steyn himself. Now a resident of Australia and plays in the BBL as a local cricketer.

9. Hashim Amla (South Africa)

Tests: 124 Matches, 9282 runs, 46.64 average, 311* best, 100s/50s – 28/41

ODIs: 181 Matches, 8113 runs, 49.46 average, 159 best, 100s/50s – 27/39

T20Is: 44 Matches, 1277 runs, 33.60 average, 132.05 SR, 97* best, 50s – 8

T20s: 164 Matches, 4563 runs, 30.83 average, 126.04 SR, 104*, best, 100s/50s – 2/30

Cricketers Who Retired Trivia

  • Debut: November 27-December 1, 2004 (Test)
  • Last Match: June 27, 2019 (ODI)
  • Age Debuted: 21
  • Age Retired: 35
  • Current Age: 38
    • Plays for Surrey in County Cricket
  • Why Did He Retire?

Fastest to 10, 15, 16,17, 18, 20, 27 centuries & 2000, 3000, 4000, 5000, 6000, and 7000 ODI runs, he was the only contemporary of Virat Kohli who could challenge him. South Africa’s fall from grace was confirmed in the 2019 Cricket World Cup, and it was especially painful to watch Amla being hit in the head by Jofra Archer and retiring hurt. He would retire at the end of the tournament. Sublime cricketer, wonderful human being, he still architects blockathons on the County Circuit. You just help but wonder if South Africa should have persisted a year or so more for his form to come back.

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10. AB De Villiers (South Africa)

Tests: 114 Matches, 8765 runs, 50.66 average, 278* best, 100s/50s – 22/46

ODIs: 228 Matches, 9577 runs, 49.46 average, 176 best, 100s/50s – 25/53

T20Is: 78 Matches, 1672 runs, 26.12 average, 135.16 SR, 79* best, 50s – 10

T20s: 333 Matches, 9318 runs, 37.57 average, 150.46 SR, 133*, best, 100s/50s – 4/69

Cricketers Who Retired Trivia

  • Debut: December 16-20, 2004 (Test)
  • Last Match: March 29-April 2, 2018 (Test)
  • Age Debuted: 20
  • Age Retired: 34
  • Current Age: 37
    • Plays for RCB in the IPL
  • Why Did He Retire?

Will he? Won’t he? Speculation about AB De Villiers’ retirement has been as spicy as Hollywood gossip. It all began with the ghost of 2015 semi-finals loss, which he captained. He would then get the Test captaincy job, a dream for a long time. However, workload management & administrative struggles became a hassle. Picking & choosing on a series-by-series basis followed by an indefinite break was a sign of what was to come. He came back in brilliant home with Test series against India and Australia.

However a video retirement a year before the ODI World Cup took everyone by surprise. Since then, he has been in multiple conversations about coming for the 2019 ODI World Cup or 2021 T20 World Cup, but those conversations have not gone too far. He can still be seen smashing it out of the park in the IPL. He is still fit, takes mind boggling catches, and plays match changing innings even after no game practice for a year. Although ABD & Amla played 14 years, they could have been Tendulkar-esque with a career of 17-21 years in another era.

The best batter of the generation and the face of “Cricketers Who Retired Too Early.”

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11. Graeme Smith

Tests: 117 Matches, 9265 runs, 48.25 average, 277 best, 100s/50s – 27/38

ODIs: 197 Matches, 6989 runs, 37.98 average, 141 best, 100s/50s – 10/47

T20Is: 33 Matches, 982 runs, 31.67 average, 127.53 SR, 89* best, 50s – 5

T20s: 86 Matches, 2389 runs, 29.86 average, 123.08 SR, 105, best, 100s/50s – 1/11

Cricketers Who Retired Trivia

  • Debut: March 7-11, 2002 (Test)
  • Last Match: February 27-March 4, 2014 (Test)
  • Age Debuted: 21
  • Age Retired: 33
  • Why Did He Retire?

Given captaincy at a young age, Smith began the rebuilding of a squad that would take South AFrica to #1 Test rankings. One of the best openers of this era, his courage & leadership came to the fore. Batting with a broken hand to save a Test will in fans’ memories forever. Now the director of cricket for South Africa.

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Chris Gayle (West Indies)

Tests: 103 Matches, 7214 runs, 42.18 average, 333 best, 100s/50s – 15/37

ODIs: 301 Matches, 10480 runs, 37.83 average, 215 best, 100s/50s – 25/54

T20Is: 74 Matches, 1854 runs, 29.42 average, 139.18 SR, 117 best, 100s/50s – 2/14

T20s: 446 Matches, 14261 runs, 36.94 average, 145.87 SR, 175*, best, 100s/50s – 22/87

  • Debut: September 10, 1999 (ODI)
  • Last Match: August 2, 2021 (T20I)*
  • Age Debuted: 20
  • Current Age: 42
    • Plays for RCB in the IPL, SKNP in CPL, and the West Indies

*subject to change. He is selected in West Indies’ 2021 T20 World Cup squad

Surprised? Well, you should be.

Chris Gayle is the antithesis to the 2005 generated. Debuted in 1999, and he is still playing at the age of 42. 100 Test matches, a triple century, an ODI double century, 10000 ODI runs, 14000+ T20 runs (with 22 100s!), he is a legend. So how did he survive so long even though he can barely run?

The answer is enough breaks. While the 2005 generation succumbed to continuous burnout, Gayle was in-and-out of the international side, played T20 leagues around the world, and gave up first class/Test cricket in 2014 to prolong his career. A couple of World Cup wins also helps keeping the fire going.

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The Ones Who Survived

Here is an exhaustive list of players that served between 12-15+ years in international cricket. Notice that as we get further along, the list gets smaller.

Late 90s Generation: Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Rahul Dravid (India), Sanath Jayasuriya, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka), Ricky Ponting (Australia), Jacques Kallis (South Africa), Daniel Vettori (New Zealand), Shivnarine Chanderpaul (West Indies), Inzamam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Yousuf, Shahid Afridi (Pakistan)

2000-02 Generation: Chris Gayle, Shoaib Malik (Still Playing), Brendon McCullum (NZ), Shane Watson (Australia), Harbhajan Singh, Yuvraj Singh (India), Tillakaratne Dilshan (Sri Lanka), Hamilton Masakdza (Zimbabwe), Younis Khan, Misbah Ul-Haq, Shoaib Akthar (Pakistan)

2004-07 Generation: Ross Taylor (New Zealand), Brendon Taylor (Zimbabwe), Jimmy Anderson, Stuart Broad (England), Dale Steyn (South Africa)

The Surviving Outliers

The main point to notice here is that those who played continuous cricket from 2005-2015 retired too soon.

However, there are plenty of cricketers who did not get a chance early on or were in-and-out of their national sides, but are still available for selection today. These players include Faf du Plessis, Imran Tahir, and the 2004 U-19 Cricket World Cup class of Shikhar Dhawan, Fawad Alam, Mahmudullah Riyadh, Dinesh Karthik, Ambati Rayudu, Tim Paine, Moises Henriques, William Porterfield, Kevin O’Brien, Wahab Riaz, who are still playing competitively and are available for international selection.

Since they did not get a chance earlier or play for lower-ranked teams, they are making the most of it now when opportunities finally came their way.

Hunger for success have caused these batch of cricketers to elongate their careers. To prove themselves as long as they are fit. Or to be a part of that elusive World Cup winning team.

Why Did The 2005 Generation Fall So Quickly?

Transition Periods

If we analyze these 10 cricketers who retired too early a bit more closer, we notice they mostly feature from England, South Africa, or Australia.

All of these teams went through a traumatic transition period. The 2013-15 period was especially stressful for England. While Mitchell Johnson dismantled the entire 2013 Test generation, forcing retirements of Trott, Pietersen, & Swann, the sacking of Cook in ODIs before 2015 World Cup would usher a new era in English cricket.

For South Africa, Grant Elliot’s semi-final six broke the gem of that South African team. AB De Villiers, Dale Steyn, Hashim Amla, & Vernon Philander were never the same again.

Finally, although Australia did not have it that rough, they have not really gotten back to the Warne-McGrath days. The Clarke era was the short transition between the longer lasting, Ponting & Steve Smith eras.

Frequency of World Cups

Before the 2007 T20 World Cup, world championships only happened once every 4 years. A decade earlier, we only had the 2003/2007 ODI World Cup, 2007 T20 World Cup, and 2002/2006 Champions Trophy.

Teams were built on the premises of four-year cycles. With England & Australia, the Test Teams were formed with the next Ashes cycle in mind. Then followed 2009 (CT), 2010 (T20 WC), 2011 (CWC), 2012 (T20 WC), 2013 (CT), 2014 (T20 WC), 2015 (CWC), 2016 (T20 WC), 2017 (CT), 2019 (CWC), 2021 (World Test Championship).

Frequent trophies meant teams did not have to carry players for 4 years. An in-form player could be drafted while seasoned cricketers could be dropped with the upcoming ICC trophy in mind. Hence teams started to experiment more and started taking bold calls.

Case and point 2013 Champions Trophy—India dropped Sehwag, promoted Rohit Sharma, and went with an in-form Dhawan (seems like a history repeat itself moment with Dhawan in the 2021 T20 WC team).

Death of the All Format Player

Everything boils down to overkill of cricket and player burnout.

These cricketers who retired too early were raised on the backs of Test & ODI cricket. Almost everyone from the 90s era played both formats if they were good enough. With the entrance of T20 cricket, cricket began to be played all year long instead of season to season.

If you add captaincy to the 3 formats, that takes pressure & mental exhaustion to another level.

Openers Struggle

This still does not explain why Cook & Amla retired. They had given up captaincy towards the end, did not play all formats, and did not have new players vying for their spots either.

The obvious answer to this is form. Both Cook & Amla suffered drastic loss of forms, but so did openers worldwide.

Cook himself concluded that batting in England became tougher towards the end of his career. We can see from the Burns-Sibley partnership that it has not gotten better any since. It was not necesesarily that they were worse players, just that the conditions had become more difficult.

Kohli Shows The Way Forward

Three format players like KP and ABD prospered for a while, but it caught up with their health & form.

A decade later, it is clear that separate teams are now being picked for the 3 vastly different formats. Mental health conversations are in place. Fitness, physiotherapy, and analytics have jumped to another level altogether. Rest & rotation have been employed by certain teams to prolong the careers of cricketers.

This means that the current generation of the Fab 5 & Buttler-Stokes-Cummins-Rabada-Starc-Hazlewood-Bumrah have a better chance for longer careers and go back to the 15-year norms of the 90s. Who knows the COVID break might even have re-energized some to extend their careers.

However balance is key. Virat Kohli has already lead the way and given up IPL/T20I captaincy to manage workload and focus on other formats. If this generation of players have to survive, they might have to give up at least one format, release captaincy pressure, take mental health and paternity breaks, and keep up their fitness.

Greatness Achieved Nevertheless

Although Amla, Smith, Sehwag, Clarke, de Villiers stopped agonizingly close without reaching the coveted 10000 run-mark, it does not take away from the genius of these men.

Numbers are not everything. Although their tenure was short, their impact was not. They changed cricket for the better, and that is all that matters.

There are some players who will always give a sense that they left too early. Fans are left asking, ‘What If they had stayed on for a couple of years?’, ‘Maybe one more World Cup?’

We should just be grateful enough we witnessed some of the greatest cricketers of all time.

© Copyright @Nitesh Mathur and Broken Cricket Dreams, 2021. Originally published on 09/23/2021. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Broken Cricket Dreams with appropriate and specific direction to the original content (i.e. linked to the exact post/article).

Think About It: India Are So Bad That They Are Actually Good

As acclaimed twentieth century writer Khalil Gibran once remarked, “Exaggeration is truth that has lost its temper.”

India’s improbable victory in the 4th Test sent social media into frenzy. There were claims of it being the ‘greatest Test team’ going around or the ‘best Indian Test team.’ Although there is subtle merit to these claims, I argue that this is just an over exaggeration of the ground reality.

How Good Are Team India?

There is no doubt that the Indian cricket team has flourished in the 21st century. With a thriving cricketing culture, robust recruitment setup throughout the country, monetary power in the hands of the BCCI with the advent of the IPL, and a prospering India A system, India has the greatest depth and resources available.

The rise of Mohammed Siraj, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Axar Patel, Suryakumar Yadav, and Ishan Khan across formats in less than six months attests to this claim.

Overseas Victories

India came back from 0-1 to seal the Border-Gavaskar series 2-1. Stories galore and the legend of this series will carry in the minds of fans forever. Similarly, a defeat in the third Test against England did not faze India. In the 4th Test, a 99-run deficit was overcome via valiant century by Rohit Sharma and memorable contributions in both innings by Shardul Thakur.

To give you an idea how far India have come along—This is India’s 4th victory in Australia & England since December (and 8th in Australia, England, South Africa since 2018). In the decade before, India’s only moments of glory in England & Australia were Headingly 2002, Adelaide 2003, England series 2007, and Perth 2008 (coincidentally Rahul Dravid contributing with 148, 233 & 72*, captain, and 93). So this 2-1 series victory (almost) should hold well with the Indian fans, especially after the suffering endured in the 2010s.

This Indian team is good. Really good. They have the spirit to come back from any circumstance, and they just never give up. The attitude instilled by Ravi Shastri-Virat Kohli is evident in the body language of each and every player.

However, is this team the best? I do not think so.

Collapse A Day Does Not Keep The Doctor Away

Team India is brilliant at comebacks, but why is there a need of comebacks in the first place?

The 2000s Australia team set the benchmark for Test greatness. Did you ever hear them coming from dire circumstances? Well, not much because they were so dominant, a comeback was not even necessary.

The same is true for the current World Test Championship winner, the New Zealand cricket team. When they win, they win emphatically.

If India are to instill their greatness in cricketing folklore, they must replicate their home dominance away as well.

Current Batting Side Does Not Fire In Unison

KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, and Ajinkya Rahane are all good batters individually, but they have rarely fired in unison.

When the top order bats at its best, the middle order collapses. When Pujara-Pant come together, the rest of the batters have already gone to the pavilion. Kohli is not back at his best yet and Rahane seems to have fallen off the charts altogether.

Even in the horrendous tours of 2011 and 2014, I do not remember performances like 36/9 or 78/10, let alone two. The batting collapses occur too frequently to be regarded as a modern great. What made the Sehwag-Dravid-Sachin-Laxman-Ganguly era great was their consistent overseas batting performances without having the caliber of fast bowlers at their disposals in the nets to practice with.

Now India finally has the bowling attack to take 20 wickets consistently, but a batting line up that is not even close.

Greatest Indian Bowling Attack

The reason India is succeeding away from home can be attributed to two factors: (1) comparatively lower standard of opposition, and (2) fast bowling unit.

Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Shardul Thakur provide regular breakthroughs while Jadeja and Ashwin can play both as wicket-taking options and chief controller depending on the conditions.

Since the South Africa tour of 2018, Indian bowlers have taken all 20 wickets by pace on numerous occasions. Injury replacements are readily available as well.

So is India Good, Bad, or Just Okay?

The bowling attack? The best in their nation’s history. Their batting? Eh. Not so hot.

India might have one of the best line ups on paper but are definitely not the best Test team going around. Or at least just not performing to their full potential yet. The flaws in India’s team performance combined with miraculous comebacks and recency bias actually amplify the degree of their quality. India are so bad sometimes that it brings out the best in the team. Still a long way to go achieve dominance.

In other words, India are so bad that they are actually good. Think about it.

© Copyright @Nitesh Mathur and Broken Cricket Dreams, 2021. Originally published on 09/15/2021. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Broken Cricket Dreams with appropriate and specific direction to the original content (i.e. linked to the exact post/article).

Photo Courtesy: Photo by Sebastian Palomino from Pexels

Dale Steyn, The Embodiment of Simplicity and Intensity, Retires—The Greatest Fast Bowler of Them All

Everyone loves Dale Steyn—Simply the Greatest.

Famous French fashion designer Coco Chanel professed that “Simplicity is the keynote of all true elegance.”

Simplicity and Intensity were the hallmarks of Dale Steyn’s illustrious career—ever smiling character with a popping veins-chainsaw celebration, a smooth, silky action that delivered lethal bouncers, a humble down-to-earth character who assumed the mantle of being the greatest fast bowler of his generation.

Hence, it was true to his character that he hung up his boots via an understated tweet. He signed off with a snippet from the Counting Crows rock band and summed up the end as “bittersweet, but grateful…It’s been 20 years of training, matches, travel, wins, losses, strapped feet, jet lag, joy, and brotherhood.”

Table of Contents

  1. The Beginning
  2. Dale Steyn Stats – Strike Rate Like No Other
  3. Records
    1. Overall
    2. Individual
  4. Teams
  5. My Favorite Steyn Memory
  6. The Rise of Dale Steyn, Conqueror of All Conditions
    1. The King of Asia
  7. Steyn Vs AB De Villiers IPL
  8. The Injuries
  9. Climbing the Peak
  10. Who Is Dale Steyn, The Person?
    1. The Inspiration
    2. Other Interesting Steyn Facts
    3. The Match That Broke Dale Steyn
  11. The Downfall of the Great Era
    1. Steyn, Morkel, Philander, Rabada
  12. The Legacy of Dale Steyn
  13. Dale Steyn Vs Jimmy Anderson – Let Us Settle The Debate
  14. What Can We Learn From Dale Steyn?
    1. Life Lessons
  15. Dale Steyn Fast Bowling Videos
  16. Interested In Reading More Such Tributes? Check These Articles Below

The Beginning

Steyn was thrusted in the international arena after just seven first class games. He began his Test career on December 17, 2004 against England, debuting in the same match as the another-to-be legend, Abraham Benjamin de Villiers.

Both teams had great bowlers. On the opposite end—Steve Harmison, Simon Jones, Matthew Hoggard, and Andrew Flintoff (formed the core of the great 2005 Ashes series), while South Africa had the dependable duo of Shaun Pollock & Makhaya Ntini.

Then arrived a 21-year old boy in iconic fashion, going through the gates of Marcus Trescothick and breaking a 152-run opening partnership. In the 43rd over. Full and straight. Slight movement. He screamed. Crowd erupted.

Usually, one brilliant delivery in a match is good enough. However, the ball from Steyn’s debut that is remembered is that Michael Vaughan ball in the second innings. Good length, outswing, beats the bat, off stump rooted. Perfection.

Although South Africa eventually lost that match, they found someone would would win them the decade.

Dale Steyn Stats – Strike Rate Like No Other

Before we jump into his best hits, let us look over some numbers really quick.

We tend to focus on batting strike rate much more due to T20 cricket and increasing run-rates, but to understand what set Steyn apart, we need to understand bowling strike rate. Bowling strike rate is the number of balls taken per dismissal on average. The lower, the better.

Matches Wickets Best Strike Rate Average 5-fers 10-fers
Test (Overall)934397/51 (Innings)
11/60 (Match)
42.3022.95265
Test (Asia)22927/51 (Innings)
10/108 (Match)
42.924.1151
Steyn in Tests

MatchesWicketsBestStrike RateAverage5-fersEconomy
ODI1251966/3931.9025.9534.87
T20I47644/915.8018.352 (4-fers)6.94
T202282634/919.2022.004 (4-fers)6.85
Steyn in ODIs and T20Is

To put this into perspective, for those with at least 100 Test wickets, Waqar Younis (43.4), Shoaib Akhtar, (45.7), and Allan Donald (47) are the only other contemporary fast bowlers who were close to Steyn’s SR. From an earlier era, Malcolm Marshall (46.7) was the best, while Kagiso Rabada (41.2), Anrich Nortje, and Pat Cummins (47.1) are in the race right now.

Records

Overall

  • (42.30) 6th Best Strike Rate of All-Time, 3rd Best post-World War I. Only Shane Bond (38.7) & fellow countrymen Kagiso Rabada (41.2) higher
  • 3rd Fastest to 400 wickets, and the joint-fastest fast bowler to this mark alongside Sir Richard Hadlee (80 matches)
  • Most Test Wickets for South Africa, surpassing Shaun Pollock’s 421 wickets.
  • 8th Highest Wicket-Taker of All-Time (Only Muralitharan, Warne, Anderson*, Kumble, McGrath, Broad, Walsh ahead. None had a strike rate below 51.9)

Individual

  • ICC Test Cricketer of the Year (2008)
  • ICC Test Team of the Decade (2020)
  • #1 Ranked ICC Test Bowler (2008-2014) – 78 wickets at 16.24 in the 2007/08 season.

Teams

International: South Africa, Africa XI

Domestic: Eersterust Cricket Club, Titans, Northerns, Cape Cobras

IPL: Royal Challengers Bangalore, Deccan Chargers, Sunrisers Hyderabad

Other T20 Leagues: Cape Town Blitz (Mzansi Super League), Melbourne Stars, Islamabad United, Quetta Gladiators, Kandy Tuskers

My Favorite Steyn Memory

My favorite aspect about Steyn was his action. Just a joy to watch. Anytime any format if Steyn is bowling, I would turn my TV on.

You see, the Shoaib Akthars and Lasith Malingas are legends in their own rights, but emulating their actions is a convoluted task. The two pace bowlers with almost perfect actions that I tried to imitate in gully cricket were Brett Lee and Dale Steyn. Uncomplicated yet effective.

To be perfectly honest, I do not remember his specific bowling figures from the top of my head. He has bowled so consistently over the decades that you only remember his iconic wickets or spells. More often than not he probably took a 4-fer or a 5-fer. Most times, I was scared for my favorite batter in the opposite camp, and that is the beauty of Dale Steyn—the ability to send shivers in the opposite camp but in an awe-inspiring, charming kind of manner.

The Rise of Dale Steyn, Conqueror of All Conditions

It would be difficult to go through all of his 29 5-fers, so let us talk about the greatest hits from Steyn’s career. Dropped after his early debut, he made a comeback. Against New Zealand, he would get his first five-fer in 2006.

He had memorable spells against England, Australia, and New Zealand. He took 5 wicket hauls in every condition and situation. Either with helpful seaming conditions or reverse swing.

He has literally taken a 5-fer against every country he played against.

Best Figures (Overall) Against This TeamBest Figures In This Country
Australia5/675/67
Bangladesh5/634/48
England5/515/56
India7/517/51
New Zealand6/493/49
Pakistan6/85/56
South Africa6/8
Sri Lanka5/545/54
U.A.E.4/98
West indies6/345/29
Zimbabwe5/465/46

The King of Asia

Steyn’s best figure was 7/51 at Nagpur in 2010, but it was his 5/23 in Ahmedabad (2008) that landed him in the lengdary fast bowling pantheon, when India were skittled out for 76 at home soil. His brilliant consistency in the 2008 series against India continued- 4/103 (Chennai), 5/23 & 3/91 (Ahmedabad), 3/71 (Kanpur).

In Sri Lanka, he lifted his game even more. 5/82 (2006), and beast mode in 2014 (5/54, 4/45, 2/69, 2/59). He even landed a 5/56 in Karachi (2007) and had a best innings of 4/48 in Bangladesh.

His best figures in South Africa was a miserly 6/8 when Pakistan were skittled for 49/10.

In limited overs, his record is decent as well although he did not play as many matches. 5 wickets in Nagpur against India in the 2011 World Cup, 4-0-17-4 figures while defending a thriller in the 2014 T20I World Cup, and a T20I economy of under-7 suggests he was a much better bowler than his T20 leagues returns suggest.

It would be grave injustice if I did not mention his batting. He was more than a useful down-the order player. Two Test fifties including a crucial 76 and a best of 60 in ODIs meant he was a better than a tailender, but not quite an all-rounder. Kemar Roach-esque batting abilities.

Steyn Vs AB De Villiers IPL

Another riveting memory is the 2012 IPL game between Deccan Chargers and Royal Challengers Bangalore at the Chinawamy. 24 runs in one over. The inside out shot was the best of them all and even got a wry smile from Steyn in appreciationg of ABD’s class.

The brilliance of that passage of play was two players at the top of their games in a pressure situation and for once, Steyn had lost to his fellow countrymen.

Which phase of Dale Steyn was the most memorable or heartbreaking for you?

The Injuries

Another miraculous part of Steyn’s journey was his career of two halves—with respect to injuries.

Usually a fast bowler succumbs to an injury early in their career and comes back stronger, more well built (like Pat Cummins). An injury in the middle of the career means lowering the pace and focusing on line & length (like Munaf Patel). Another extreme is Brett Lee or Shane Bond (always injured, played cricket in between without compromising speed).

Steyn completely escaped this phase and never lost control, momentum, or pace. However, the law of averages came back to bite him at the end of his career.

Injury. Rehabilitation. Few games. Repeat.

  • 2013 (Groin Strain, Side Strain)
  • 2014 (Rib Fracture, 3 Hamstring Strains)
  • 2015 (Groin Strain)
  • 2015-16 (Shoulder Injury)
  • 2017 (Freak heel injury)
  • 2019 (Shoulder Injury) after being selected into the ODI World Cup squad

Climbing the Peak

Although his goal was to lift a trophy with South Africa, there was always a personal goal—to go one past Shaun Pollock. After numerous injuries, he got back up on his feet and on Boxing Day 2018, he took his 422nd wicket to become the leading wicket-taker for South Africa.

It was probably fate that Shaun Pollock would be commentating on that exact moment. Watch the video below to relieve that moment and all of his major milestone wickets till then.

After his shoulder injury again just before South Africa’s 2019 campaign started (and derailed), he announced on 5 August 2019 he would retire from Tests to focus on limited overs cricket. He ended at 439 after going past 400 in 2014.

Loss of form, pandemic, and postponement of the T20 World Cups meant it was time to retire in the other formats as well.

Steyn goes past Shaun Pollock, thereby becoming the highest wicket-taker for South Africa in Test cricket.

Who Is Dale Steyn, The Person?

Now that we know how good Steyn is as a bowler, let us get an insight on who the person he truly is—what really makes Dale Steyn kick. He has a life outside cricket, ya know? Thankfully, his interviews, especially this ESPNCricinfo’s Cricket Monthly interview with Nagraj Gollapudi, provides us a glimpse into his life.

Dale Steyn was born in the small town of Phalaborwa in the Limpopo Province (borders Kruger National Park in South Africa). Maybe the natural environment around him had an effect of him since he became an out-doorsy kind of person. Skateboarding, surfing, and fishing are some of his favorite hobbies. He even flexed his acting muscles for a cameo role in a Drew Barrymore-Adam Sandler movie Blended.

The Inspiration

He is a natural athlete who competed at various sports from an early level. 100 meter sprints, long jump, triple jump, high jumps all prepared him for long spells of bowling in Test match arena. He wanted to be like “Allan Donald through the air, but I wanted to land the ball the way Polly landed.. I wanted to be a faster version of Shaun Pollock.

The best of both worlds.

Steyn said that the “difference between a good fast bowler and a brilliant fast bowler is the wickets column.” He always backed himself to take wickets regardless of the condition and taking 5-fers in every Test playing nation was one of his goals. Here is his collection of souvenir cricket balls.

In order to rise to this level, he has had a lot of support from his coaches, Chris van Noordwyk, Vinnie Barnes, Geoff Clarke, and captains, Graeme Smith, AB De Villiers, and Hashim Amla.

Other Interesting Steyn Facts

There were couple of other cool snippets in there as well. Keeping his cool against dropped catches, facing the Kohlis and de Villiers, altercation with Michael Clarke, Tests vs ODIs, Tendulkar Vs Donald, and video analysis & field settings.

A fun fact is that his full run up is 19 meters, 21 steps, which helps him avoid bowling no-balls. Why is this important? Well because he once took a wicket on a no-ball early in the innings, and it cost his team dearly. The batter was Kumar Sangakkara and the innings became famous for the record 624 partnership with Mahela Jayawardene.

(If you want to learn how Steyn learned about cricket in the first place, hear it from the man himself. Interesting story).

The Match That Broke Dale Steyn

It is time to talk about that World Cup semi-final. In Faf Du Plessis & AB De Villiers’ Friendship article, we spoke about the 2015 World Cup match.

Ian Smith on commentary. Grant Elliot. Superman. It hurt AB De Villers & Faf du Plessis. Definitely hurt Morne Morkel. Probably ended Vernon Philander’s career. We never saw Miller 1.0 again. The entire team. Devastated.

Now for a moment, let us put ourselves into Dale Steyn’s shoe. He dominated the world between 2008 and 2015. Responsibility for the last over of a World Cup semi-final rested on his shoulders (which would literally break a year later). South Africa’s history of collapses and chokes running in the background.

How must have it felt. Carrying the burden of the nation, the tag of the best fast bowler of the generation. One good ball, and you are in the legendary books. One bad ball, and you are scarred for life. Vettori squeezing a wide yorker, chaos in the field, overthrow chances. Steyn calm under pressure. Yet a half-volley in the small grounds of Auckland and Elliot did not miss his chance to glory.

Six. South Africa out. Steyn changed forever.

He reveals how he knew he was going to bowl the final over irrespective of Brendon McCullum’s expensive assault earlier in the innings. After all, he defended 7 runs in the 2014 T20 World Cup match against the same opposition. (He ended with 4-0-17-4 in Bangladesh. Wow). “This year was the hardest in dealing with that pain after the World Cup…We had our chances to win the game…Knowing that you have put four years’ hard work in, especially the last two years before the tournament, all you see is yourself holding the trophy. And then you don’t.”

The Downfall of the Great Era

With Steyn’s retirement, this is the close of one of the better chapters in South African cricket (Technically Faf and Tahir are still available for T20 World Cup selection, but have not been selected recently). All of them deserve a separate article.

Herschelle Gibbs was the architect of that 438 chase. Graeme Smith was the young leader who could bat with a broken hand. The pure class of Hashim Amla & AB De Villiers was unmatched. Faf’s leadership & resilience and once-in-a-generation-allrounder, Jacques Kallis, are often underrated. JP Duminy & Mark Boucher were the utility players every team needs for balance.

Steyn, Morkel, Philander, Rabada

Donald, Ntini, and Pollock passed on the baton to Morne Morkel, Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander, and Kagiso Rabada—possibly the greatest line up (if only for just a few Tests). Philander’s swing made him the second fastest to 50 wickets, while Morne’s height and action bamboozled one and all. Rabada will soon form his leagacy of his own, and Imran Tahir was the energy boost South Africa required.

Together, they conquered teams overseas and became the No. 1 Test Team of the decade, the only ones to really challenge the great 2000s Australia team consistently and win away from home in the 2010s.

The future of South Africa lies with Quinton de Kock, Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Janneman Malan (100+ average in 9 ODIs by the way), Keshav Maharaj, and Tabraiz Shamsi. This is a pretty solid core, but it will take quite a few generations to reach the heights of Steyn’s South African team.

The Legacy of Dale Steyn

To answer this question, we must first ask ourselves what is great fast bowling?

Is it swinging it like Jimmy Anderson? Putting fear in the opposition’s heart like a Mitchell Johnson or Shoaib Akhtar? Delivering consistent line and lengths like Glenn McGrath & Shaun Pollock? Having a seamless action like Brett Lee? Bowling yorkers at will like a Mitchell Starc? Reverse swing like Waqar Younis?

Imagine all of these players. Package them into one. Add a tinge of humbleness with Sam Curran’s ability to make things happen. There you have it. Dale Steyn, the greatest Test pace bowler of all time.

The 1980s had Malcolm Marshall, Michael Holding, and the West Indies fast bowlers. The 1990s with was dominated by the Pakistan duo Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram. Kapil Dev, Imran Khan, Richard Hadlee all played stellar roles in this era as well. Steyn, Akhtar, and Lee a carried the baton to the next generation and made sure that “fast bowling is cool.” In the age of T20 cricket where sixes are hit on will, Steyn played his part in extending the beauty of pace bowling. The fact that Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje have arrived on the scene has to be credited to senior bowlers like Steyn & Morkel.

He ends that interview with, “The moment I feel I can’t contribute anymore I will not hang on. And if I fall just short of 100 Test matches or five short of 500 Test wickets, that’s fine.”

Unfortunately, that his how it ended. 7 short of a 100 Tests and 61 short of 500 wickets. Legendary career nevertheless.

Dale Steyn Vs Jimmy Anderson – Let Us Settle The Debate

Both Anderson and Steyn are in awe of each other. Steyn describes Anderson as “a more skillful bowler…I am a fan,” in Sky Sports’ Lockdown special, while Anderson’s tribute tweet to his retirement was that Steyn was “The Best.”

Every generation, there are three to five great fast bowlers but maybe one all-time great. We should be grateful we had two. Jimmy Anderson, the greatest swing bowler in the history of Test cricket and Dale Steyn, the greatest pace bowler of all-time.

Let us appreciate both and cheer on Jimmy Anderson in whatever time he has left.

What Can We Learn From Dale Steyn?

Being at the top for over a decade requires immense discipline and fitness levels.

It is one thing to be a great fast bowler. Another to comeback with the same intensity. Not once, not twice. But thrice. My heart sank when his freak heel injury occurred, a sign that the end was near.

I just wanted him to bowl some more. Another Test. Just another spell. Maybe one more over.

Every good thing comes to an end, and so does his magnificent career. I am sure he will continue to inspire athletes around the world and mentor fast bowlers like he did in his career. We will all miss watching Dale Steyn dominate the best batting attacks around the world. I will miss that anger, speed, cartwheeling stumps, celebration, and of course, the action.

Life Lessons

Kids, if you are reading this and want to make a sports person your idol, there is no one better than the great Dale Steyn. So what can we learn from Dale Steyn?

Give it your all on the field and be a decent human being off it. Steyn might have shown plenty of emotions in intense situations, but outside the cricket ground, he is a super chill dude who likes to fish and stay away from conflict.

The truth is that being gifted alone cannot make you great. Simplicity. Honesty. Hard work. Discipline. Consistency. Longevity. Adaptability. You need all characteristics to work in sync.

Steyn was gifted. Not everyone can bowl at such high pace. If you are talented in a particular area and enjoy doing it, you should pursue it further. In order to convert the potential into actual realization, persevere and power through.

You will eventually find your away. Just like a Steyn outswinger that beat the bat and rattled the top of off stump.

Dale Steyn Fast Bowling Videos

  1. What the Aussies Think of Dale Steyn
  2. Steyn Vs David Warner-World’s Most Curious Battle
  3. 6 Wickets Durban Vs India (2010)
  4. Bowleds, Beats, and Bouncers

Interested In Reading More Such Tributes? Check These Articles Below

© Copyright @Nitesh Mathur and Broken Cricket Dreams, 2021. Originally published on 09/03/2021. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Broken Cricket Dreams with appropriate and specific direction to the original content (i.e. linked to the exact post/article).

18 Best Test Matches in the Past 4 Years That Have Revived Test Cricket – Who Said Test Matches Are Boring?

We bring to you the list of best Test matches over the past four years. Thrilling finishes galore! Who said Test matches are boring?

by Nitesh Mathur, 08/27/2021

West Indies’ 1-wicket victory against Pakistan and India’s comeback at Lord’s have added another couple of great matches in our memory banks. We have seen some exhilarating Test cricket in the past couple of years.

If there was ever any doubt on the quality of Test cricket, here are 18 matches that have revived Test cricket in the past 4 years.

Table of Contents

1. Pakistan tour of West Indies, 2017 (3rd Test)

Result/ Scorecard: Pakistan won by 101 runs

Match Summary: Pakistan: 376 & 174/8 declared; West Indies: 247 & 202

Player of the Match: Roston Chase

The Tension

After 95 overs of resistance, with only 7 balls to go for a valiant draw, Shannon Gabriel heaves Yasir Shah and gets bowled. Roston Chase stranded on 101* (239) after batting for an epic 366 minutes. Strategic stroke or brain fade from Gabriel?

Commentary/Winning Moment

“Got him! Why did he do that? Unbelievable.” You can watch the magic moment here.

Significance

Pakistan’s first ever series win on West Indian soil as they claim the the series 2-1. Misbah-ul-Haq & Younis Khan retire in style in this famous “Mis-You” series.

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2. Australia tour of UAE, 2018 (1st Test)

Result/ Scorecard: Match Drawn

Match Summary: Pakistan: 482 & 181/6 declared; Australia: 202 & 362/8

Player of the Match: Usman Khawaja

The Tension

In their first innings, Australia had collapsed from 161-1 to 202-10. In the second innings, they had 462 runs to chase or 140 overs to bat. And 140 overs they batted. The man of the hour was Usman Khawaja – 85 (175) & 141 (302), batting for a total of 766 minutes (around 13 hours) to give Australia one of their most savored draws.

Commentary/Winning Moment

“It was assumed that Australia would lose that Test match. What Australia was looking for…was a test of character” – Amazon Prime The Test

Significance

This was Australia’s first true moral victory since Steve Smith & David Warner were banned. Usman Khawaja had never truly solidified his place in the Australian XI, but this innings ensured his career would always be remembered due to this legendary knock.

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3. New Zealand tour of UAE, 2018 (1st Test)

Result/Scorecard: New Zealand won by 4 runs

Match Summary: New Zealand: 153 & 249; Pakistan: 227 & 171

Player of the Match: Ajaz Patel

The Tension

In a chase of 176, Pakistan collapsed in the most Pakistan fashion from 147/4 to 171/10. With a mandatory run-out of course. NZ somehow won by 4 runs. Ajaz Patel with a 5-fer on Test debut.

Commentary/Winning Moment

“And what a victory for the New Zealanders. They deserve it. WOOW! …It’s an unbelievable victory for New Zealand. You can see how much it means to them.” Commentary Video

Significance

New Zealand followed up with another incredible victory in the third test, thereby winning their first victory over NZ in 49 years. Here are some reactions.

4. Sri Lanka Tour of South Africa, 2019 (1st Test)

Result/ Scorecard: Sri Lanka won by 1 wicket

Match Summary: South Africa: 235 & 259; Sri Lanka: 191 & 304/9

Player of the Match: Kusal Perera

The Tension

In a mammoth chase of 304, Sri Lanka were struggling at 110/5. What followed was a knock for the ages. Kusal Perera hit a miraculous 153* (200) with 12 sixes & 5 fours. The last wicket partnership between Perera & Vishwa Fernando was 78*, with only 6* (27) coming from Fernando’s bat.

Commentary/Winning Moment

“He’s done it! He absolutely does it. One of the greatest see from a Sri Lankan outside Sri Lanka…What a historical day at Durban.” Watch the winning moment here, a contender for the greatest Test match innings of all time.

Significance

Sri Lanka go on to win the series 2-0. First time an Asian team won a Test series in South Africa.

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5. Ashes, 2019 (Entire Series)

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Result/Scorecards: England won by 1 wicket (3rd Test, Leeds); All Test matches scorecards here.

Match Summary: Australia: 179 & 246; England: 67 & 362/9

Player of the Match: Ben Stokes

The Tension

Despite being a wonderful series to watch all around, the thunder was stolen by Ben Stokes’ 135*, Jack Leach’s glasses, Nathan Lyon’s run out opportunity, and Tim Paine’s missed DRS review. A 76* (62) partnership for the final wicket. Oohs & Aahs. Reverse sweeps, scoops, and hoicks. Just a great day to be a cricket fan. One of the greatest innings of all time.

Commentary/Winning Moment

“Cut away. Cut away for 4. What an innings. What a player. Take a bow Ben Stokes. The Ashes well and truly alive because of one cricketer & that cricketer is Benjamin Stokes.” (Nasser Hussain) Entire Day 5 minute highlights

Significance

This series had so many moments. Stuart Broad 23 wickets & dismissed Warner 7 times. Steve Smith’s legendary masterclass was breathtaking. 774 runs, 3 tons, 3 fifties, best of 211, 110.57 average. Jofra Archer’s Test debut, Smith’s concussion, and Marnus Labuschagne’s entrance as cricket’s first concussion substitute—353 runs, 4 fifties at 51.00. Not a bad start, I say. Ideal beginning for the World Test Championship, a 2-2 Ashes series.

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6. West Indies Tour of England, 2020 (1st Test)

Result/Scorecard: West Indies won by 4 wickets

Match Summary: England: 204 & 313; Sri Lanka: 318 & 200/6

Player of the Match: Shannon Gabriel

The Tension

It was a Test match that went all the way to session 3 of Day 5, which became a common theme for Test matches post the COVID break. After Shannon Gabriel’s 9-fer & #1 all-round Jason Holder had given West Indies the advantage, they characteristically lost it on the final day. The Windies had collapsed for 27/3 in a chase of 200. Then an inspirational 95 by Jermaine Blackwood 2.0 brought WI back with the supporting cast of a hobbling John Campbell & the engine room—Roston Chase, Shane Dowrich, and Jason Holder.

Commentary/Winning Moment (None other than than Ian Bishop)

“Victory for the West Indies. A most significant moment for Jason Holder and his team. Great credit to their skill, their commitment. The West Indian people and world credit owes them a great debt…Commentary Video

Significance

The coronavirus had hit and ravaged the world. Worldwide lockdown was in-effect and sports had closed its doors for months. Thanks to the West Indies & England cricket boards, players, the support staff, & essential works, cricket made a comeback via bio-bubbles.

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7. Pakistan Tour of New Zealand, 2020-21 (2nd Test)

Result/Scorecard: New Zealand won by 101 runs

Match Summary: New Zealand: 431 & 180/5 declared; Pakistan: 318 & 200/6

Player of the Match: Kane Williamson

The Tension

With a chase of 373 at hand in tough New Zealand conditions, Pakistan were 4/2 at tea on Day 4. One of those one-sided home victories for New Zealand again? Not this time. Not with Fawad Alam. With support from the ever dependable trio Azhar Ali, Mohammad Rizwan, and Faheed Ashraf, Alam scored 102 over 6 and a half hours. Yet a Pakistan-esque collapsed followed after surviving 123.3 overs. Pakistan lost with only 4.4 overs to go. What a jumping catch by Santner as well for the last wicke.t. The drama.

Commentary/Winning Moment

“[Catch it] Oh he’s done it. He’s pulled a hander! Mitchell Santner has done it! Mitchell Santner has finished the game for New Zealand. Look at the scenes!” Commentary Video

Significance

Last match of the decade. Turning point for Test cricket. Brilliant rearguard effort despite the loss. And Fawad Alam. What a story. Dropped after 3 Tests despite scoring a 168 on debut. Criticized for scoring hard, ugly runs with a weird stance. Left out for a decade. . Grinded in domestic cricket. Runs after runs. Till he could be ignored no more. Has now scored 4 hundreds since his comeback. Patience is, indeed, the key to success.

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8. India Tours of Australia, 2018/19, 2020/21 (Border-Gavaskar Trophy)

Result/Scorecard: India won by 3 wickets; All Test matches scorecards here; 2018 Border Gavaskar results

Match Summary: Australia: 369 & 294; England: 336 & 329/7 (4th Test, Brisbane).

Player of the Match: Rishabh Pant

Player of the Series: Pat Cummins

The Tension

India had won the 2018 series 2-1 on the back of Pujara’s toil – 521 (1258). Could they repeat the magic in 2021 with Warner & Smith?

It began with the 36 All-Out at Adelaide. Spectacular bowling performance from Australia. Then Rahane’s century & calm captaincy rejuvenated India at Melbourne. Show of resilience and immense mental strength followed from Vihari-Ashwin after the Pujara-Pant show to secure a draw in Sydney. Finally the young brigade breached the Gabba Fortress. Shubman Gill, Shardul Thakur, Washington Sundar, Mohammad Siraj, and Rishabh Pant the stars.

Commentary/Winning Moment

“Pujara, to a younger generation is just a curiosity. As the game moves more and more towards T20, which is the modern savior of our game, the word resilience starts to go out because there is no time for resilience. ” – Harsha Bhogle on Pujara in Amazon Prime’s The Test

Significance

The 2018 victory was the first instance an Asian team has won a Test series in Australia. The 2021 series? Arguably the best Test series since Ashes 2005—This series had everything—bowling excellence, centuries, youngsters, experience, banter, sledging, draws, collapses, and chases. Even with a so-called injured ‘third string,’ squad, whenever India were down, they came back with new hope & stars.

Also Read: India Vs Australia Series Review 2020-21: The Greatest Story of Them All? Better Than Ashes 2005?

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9. England Tour of Sri Lanka, 2021 (1st Test)

Result/Scorecard: England won by 7 wickets

Match Summary: Sri Lanka: 135 & 359; England: 421 & 76/3

Player of the Match: Joe Root

The Tension

The Joe Root Vs Lasith Embuldeniya series. On paper, does not look too close, but the 1st Test was actually engrossing to watch. In chase of 74, England were 14/3 with Joe Root run out (the only way he can get out these days). Jonny Bairstow & Dan Lawrence took England home but the tension was high. 4 innings, 446 runs for Root, 15 wickets for Embuldeniya. Individual brilliance.

Commentary/Winning Moment

“Massive, massive. This is massive. England in a spot of bother.” (After Root’s dismissal) Commentary Video

Significance

Start of Root’s magical year; English fan stranded in Galle cheers from the fort; England won the series 2-0 to extend their overseas winning streak to 5 after they had won 3-1 in South Africa earlier. They would win another in Chennai before Axar Patel decimated England’s subcontinental dreams. (England had also won the 2018 tour of Sri Lanka 3-0 in this same timeframe).

Also Read: Joe Root Vs Lasith Embuldeniya 2020 Series Review: Oops, I Meant England Vs Sri Lanka

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10. West Indies Tour of Bangladesh, 2021 (1st Test)

Result/Scorecard: West Indies won by 3 wickets

Match Summary: Bangladesh: 430 & 223/8 declared; West Indies: 259 & 395/7

Player of the Match: Kyle Mayers

The Tension

Imagine that you are not sending your 1st XI to Bangladesh, a spin-heavy nation that has had an impeccable record in the past 5 years. No expectations before hand. Bangladesh would have been happy with their effort with centuries from Mehidy Hasan Miraz & Mominul Haque. They even declared in the second innings.

A successful chase of 395 runs followed in 127.3 overs with two debutants, Kyle Mayers (40 & 210*) & Nkrumah Bonner (86) sealing it for the West Indies with a remarkable partnership of 216 runs. Fourth innings match-winning double century on debut in the subcontinent. Wow.

Commentary/Winning Moment (Ian Bishop Again)

“A win to warm the hearts of every West Indian wherever you are in the world! New heroes have emerged from the ashes..” Commentary Video

Significance

West Indies won the series 2-0 in Bangladesh with a depleted squad. The greatest chase of all-time?

Also Read: West Indies Vs Bangladesh 2021 Series Review: Young West Indies Rises Again In the East

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11. World Test Championship Final, 2021

Result/Scorecard: New Zealand won by 8 wickets

Match Summary: India: 217 & 170; New Zealand: 249 & 140/2

Player of the Match: Kyle Jamieson

The Tension

Under difficult batting conditions and rain all around, both teams fought it out till the very end. The WTC Final was expected to be a boring draw two rains and bad light. Instead, it became a thriller that went deep into Day 6, final session. With a chase of 139, Latham-Conway had departed to spin trial by R Ashwin. Reversed DRS decision, maidens, and a dropped catch later. At 44/2, anything could have happened the way Ashwin was bowling. When the time came, the experienced duo Kane Williamson & Ross Taylor came together, soaked in the pressure, and after took New Zealand home safely.

Commentary/Winning Moment (Ian Bishop Again)

Watch ICC’s montage of Drama on the Final Day of the WTC Final

Significance

First major victory for Kiwis in an ICC event. BJ Watling retires on a high, Taylor-Williamson finish, Jamieson shines, 6th Day finish, rain—what else do you need?

Also Read: World Test Championship Final Review 2021, Prediction Results, WTC XI, and Stats: It Is New Zealand’s Time

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12. Pakistan Tour of West Indies, 2021 (1st Test)

Memorable Moment: Kemar Roach & understudy Jayden Seales seal a 1-wicket victory in a tense finish; Both teams with a chance of victory at the end of the fourth session

Result/Scorecard: West Indies won by 1 wicket

Match Summary: Pakistan: 217 & 203; West Indies: 253 & 168/9

Player of the Match: Jayden Seales

The Tension

168 target. West Indies collapse to 16/3. After a classic 55 by Jermaine Blackwood, West Indies slip to 114/7. Pakistan needed 3 wickets. West Indies 54 runs. Then Kemar Roach came to the party and had to the take the responsibility of ‘batting with the tail.‘. Roach’s 30* and a valiant 17-run partnership between the mentor-protege pair, Roach-Jayden Seales guided West Indies to a memorable 1-wicket victory.

Commentary/Winning Moment (Ian Bishop Screaming)

“THE WEST INDIES HAVE WON. A MOST REMARKABLE TEST VICTORY. FOR THE TEACHER AND HIS STUDENT—KEMAR ROACH AND JAYDEN SEALES—TAKE A BOW!”

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13. India Tour of England, 2021 (2nd Test)

Result/Scorecard: India won by 151 runs

Match Summary: India: 217 & 203; England: 253 & 168/9

Player of the Match: KL Rahul

The Tension

Day 5, All Results possible. England Favorites. India, not known for their tailender run-machines, unleash Mohammad Shami (56*) & Jasprit Bumrah (34*). 89* partnership as India declared with 2 sessions to go. Then, the pacers fire in unison as India wreck England for 120.

Commentary/Winning Moment

“Unbelievable performance from India. They were up against it. England were favorites coming into Day 5. Kohli an his men have turned it all around.” Commentary Video

Significance

Victory at Lord’s. Another display of fighting it out and not giving up for Team India. Australia tour was not a fluke. This Indian team is on the rise.

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14. New Zealand Tour of India, 2021 (1st Test)

Result/Scorecard: Match Drawn

Match Summary: India 345 & 234/7 declared; New Zealand 296 & 165/9

Player of the Match: Shreyas Iyer

The Tension

By Tea on Day 5, the main batters for New Zealand—Latham, Williamson, and Taylor had all departed. Somerville’s 36 (125) delayed what seemed inevitable for India. Little did India know that they would run into Test debutant Rachin (Rahul + Sachin) Ravindra—18* (91) & Ajaz Patel 2* (29) to hold out for a memorable draw. Add bad light to the drama as well.

Commentary/Winning Moment

“For a long period of time, New Zealand have struggled to find wins or draws in this country. There is a lot of respect between these two sides. Lot of respect between the skippers.” Commentary Video

– Simon Doull

Significance

NZ extend undefeated streak to 10 (longest in their Test history). Next Test that followed, Ajaz Patel became the 3rd bowler after Jim Laker & Anil Kumble to get 10 wickets. A series that went under the radar but had plenty of amazing moments.

15. Bangladesh Tour of New Zealand, 2022 (1st Test)

Result/Scorecard: Bangladesh won by 8 wickets

Match Summary: New Zealand 328 & 169; Bangladesh 458 & 42/2

Player of the Match: Ebadot Hossain

The Tension

After Bangladesh took lead in the first innings, but Will Young-Ross Taylor had taken NZ to 136/2. In the next hour, 136/3, 136/4, 136/5, 154/6, 160/7, 160/8, 161/9, 169/10. The hour that changed it all feat Ebadot Hossain.

Commentary/Winning Moment

“There it is! Finds the gap and Bangladesh have finally conquered the World Test Champions. And have their first ever Test victory over New Zealand, home or away. It has taken 16 attempts against New Zealand but historic ground has now been broken.” Commentary Video

Significance

The greatest comeback of all time? World Test Champions, undefeated at home for a few years, against a team not known for winning overseas. The best part of all? Bangladesh dominated the entire Test and new heroes emerging—Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Mominul Haque, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Liton Das, Mehdiy Hasan Miraz, Ebadot Hossain. No Shakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal, & Mahmudullah, and Mushfiqur Rahim only scoring 12 & 5.

16. Ashes, 2022 (4th Test)

Result/Scorecard: Match Drawn

Match Summary: Australia 416/8 declared & 265/6 declared; England 294 & 270/9

Player of the Match: Usman Khawaja

The Tension

England 3-0 down in the Ashes series. Very likely the series could have become 5-0. First innings, Australia scored 400+, courtesy Khawaja’s comeback century. England came out with a positive attitude, with Jonny Bairstow recording England’s first ton of the series. Khawaja followed with another ton, which set the Test beautifully for Day 5, fifth session. Last batter to go, Labuschagne and Steve Smith bowling leggies in tandem. Against Stuart Broad & jimmy Anderson. Mouthwatering stuff.

Commentary/Winning Moment (Stokes’s shirt over his mouth in tension. Nail-biting finish)

“Last ball…He’s done it! He’s survived it. England have survived it. They’ve batted out the day. They’ve batted a hundred and two overs.

Significance

Last shining moment for the Broad-Anderson duo? In terms of Test cricket, this week (starting on January 43rd, 2022) was the peak. NZ vs Bangladesh, Ashes 4th Test, and Ind vs SA 2nd Test, all classic thrillers.

17. India Tour of South Africa (2nd Test)

Result/Scorecard: South Africa won by 7 wickets

Match Summary: India 202 & 266; South Africa 229 & 243/3

Player of the Match: Dean Elgar

The Tension

India had won the first Test of the series comfortably. This was India’s best chances to conquer South Africa. Successful overseas victories in Australia and England, an unparalleled depth, and a South Africa team at their lowest point. In a low scoring series, 202 & 266 were decent scores. Day 4, 240 monumental target for SA against a bowling line up of Bumrah-Shami-Thakur-Siraj-Ashwin, and what happens? Elgar takes body blows, does not hesitate, and makes a glorious 96*. No captain Kohli. India succumbs to defeat by 7 wickets.

Commentary/Winning Moment

“That’s it! History has been made at the Wanderers. and South Africa have fought back brilliantly! Take a bow, Dean Elgar….Fantastic effort, leading from the front. He’s worn a few on the body but hasn’t bothered him. Shown character and desire, grit & determination to get his team over the line. And set up the series beautifully.” Commentary Video

Significance

A win against India at Wanderers at last. First 200+ chase for SA in a decade. After losing the first Test of a series, this was truly a comeback of the ages. India missed their golden chance due to some tough cricket from the Proteas. Third Test, captain Kohli came back. Rishabh Pant scored 100*, but Keegan Petersen’s 72 & 82 meant that SA chased 212/3 yet again.

18. Women’s Ashes, 2022 (Only Test)

Result/Scorecard: Match Drawn

Match Summary: Australia 337/9 declared & 216/7 declared; England 297 & 245/9 declared

Player of the Match: Heather Knight

The Tension

Heather Knight’s Test, but Australia had the upper hand. After they declared for 216/7 in the 2nd innings, England took on the challenge for the chase of 257. At 218/3 with Nat Sciver & Sophia Dunkley, it seemed that England might win this. But Alana King, Beth Mooney’s catch, Sutherland’s bouncers, and a run out ensured England’s collapse. Last ball, full toss, England 245/9. The narrowest of draws.

Commentary/Winning Moment

“And it’s a full toss. It is a drawww! And it is one of the very best Test matches we have seen in women’s Ashes.

Significance

In Women’s Test cricket, this was a friendly reminder that Test cricket can flourish if given the chance and plenty of opportunities, both at the domestic and international level. With focus on the 4-day vs 5-day debate, this Test came at hte right time.

Also Read: India Women Turn the Impossible Into Possible: Case For 5-Day Tests In Women’s Cricket? Interview: Australia Vs England Women’s Ashes Test from a Fan’s Perspective

Why Are We Seeing Close Test Matches So Frequently?

For an away team to win a Test match, it takes an immense amount of effort and equal amount of fightback from the home team. Hence, winning an away Test usually means going deep into the 4th of 5th Day, which makes for an interesting viewing. On the other hand, home team in friendly bowling conditions mean Test matches can end within 3-4 days (even 2 days).

More away victories or draws means more close Test matches.

Dismal 2010s

What do you remember about Test cricket in the 2010s? Mitchell Johnson 2013, the advent of the Day-Night Test, Smith-Warner saga, South Africa’s blockathon in Delhi, and excellence from the South African team, Dale Steyn, Anderson-Broad, Boult-Southee, Starc-Hazlewood-Lyon-Cummins, Jadeja-Ashwin, Virat Kohli, Joe Root, Steve Smith, and Kane Williamson.

Above all, though, I remember disproportionate margins by which home teams won. India losing in England 0-4 (with RP Singh flying from Miami due to excessive injury list) & Australia 0-4 (2011). India came back to England with 1-3 (2014), and 1-4 (2018). Their record in South Africa and New Zealand, remains disastrous till today. England and Australia were either swept apart or struggled to make a mark in India or Bangladesh. Meanwhile, Pakistan had made UAE their fortress under Misbah-ul-Haq.

Post the 2010-12 England generation (think Alastair Cook Ashes 2010 & England victory 2-1 in India), except for South Africa, no other team seemed competitive overseas. Only Faf du Plessis’ Adelaide debut & England’s defiance via Matt Prior against New Zealand (2013) stretched to the end of Day 5.

From the list above, we can see that the tide is finally turning. Even in England’s disaster tour of India earlier this year (1-3), they won the first Test in Chennai.

Rise of Away Wins, Sporting Declarations, and Pakistan/West Indies

So why have we seen a resurgence of overseas victory?

It can be attributed to 4 factors – (1) Increase depth in cricket teams in general, (2) sporting declarations (#1, #2, #5, #8, #13, #15, #17), (3) captains like Virat Kohli focusing their resources and energy on Test cricket, (4) the rise of the West Indies/Pakistan.

One might argue that West Indies still have a dismal Test record. However, we can see that they made it in this list 3 times. They have definitely become a competitive force under Jason Holder although consistency is now needed. ‘Second tier Test’ teams like West Indies, Pakistan, Bangladesh, South Africa and Sri Lanka punching above their weights and winning overseas matches adds to the excitement (A Relegation-Promotion System in the World Test Championship might help out).

Anyway, here is to more great Test matches. Yes, live audience in Test cricket is decreasing and overkill of cricket/new formats might threaten Test Cricket, but as long as the cricket is good, Test matches will remain alive.

© Copyright @Nitesh Mathur and Broken Cricket Dreams, 2021. Originally published on 08/27/2021, updated on 02/26/2022. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Broken Cricket Dreams with appropriate and specific direction to the original content (i.e. linked to the exact post/article).