Cricreads

Tag: Test Match

  • Kohli & Rohit to face Bumrah in India vs Leicestershire Warm-Up Game

    Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will be against the likes of Indian players- Jasprit Bumrah, Rishabh Pant, Cheteshwar Pujara and Prasidh Krishna in the warm-up match scheduled between India and Leicestershire before India’s Test match against England.

    The Indian team is currently on tour to England and will face off the English line-up for the fifth and final Test of the series from 1st July 2022. The last Test of the series was postponed due to a covid scare.

    Currently, the Indian team is leading the series by 2-1 and has a chance of registering a Test series victory against England in England after 15 long years. The players of the Indian squad reached the English soil on Sunday and since then have been practising for the last Test match.

    Also Read: England registers an astonishing win against New Zealand following Bairstow’s destructive knock.

    When and where the Warm-up Game against Leicestershire will be played?

    BCCI and the ECB have arranged a four-day warm-up game for India against Leicestershire, which will begin from 3:30 PM IST on 24th June 2022. The match will provide the Indian team with insight into English conditions. Meanwhile, England will be playing their final Test against New Zealand.

    The warm-up match between India and Leicestershire will be played at Grace Road Cricket Ground. Unfortunately, the game will not be streamed by any Indian channel on television. However, one can visit the official YouTube channel of Leicestershire Cricket Country Club to watch the live stream of the game. The channel name is Foxes TV.

    Also Read: 5 Indian Players who deserved chances in place of KL Rahul & Ajinkya Rahane in Test match vs England.

    Each side to field 13 players:

    India is currently travelling with a 16-man squad to England for the Test. Therefore to provide game time to almost all of the players, BCCI, LCCC, and ECB have agreed that a few Indian players can represent Leicestershire in the warm-up game. With this, the actual number of players a team can field has risen to 13.

    Wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant, India’s reliable number three Cheteshwar Pujara and Bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Prasidh Krishna, will play for LCCC in the warm-up game.

    The full squads for India vs Leicestershire warm-up game:

    India: Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Hanuma Vihari, KS Bharat (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav

    Leicestershire: Sam Evans (Capt), Rehan Ahmed, Sam Bates (wk), Nat Bowley, Will Davis, Joey Evison, Louis Kimber, Abi Sakande, Roman Walker, Cheteshwar Pujara, Rishabh Pant, Jasprit Bumrah and Prasidh Krishna

    Also Read: World Test Championship Points Table: How IND vs ENG will Change the Rankings?

  • 5 Indian Players who deserved chances in place of KL Rahul & Ajinkya Rahane in Test match vs England

    KL Rahul and Ajinkya Rahane have missed out on being in the squad for the Test match that India will play against England to finally bring closure to the Test series that started in 2021. India currently leads the series by 2-1, and it is a golden opportunity for the Indian team to register a Test series win in England after almost 15 years. However, much has changed since India’s last Test match against England in 2021. Virat Kohli is no longer the skipper. Instead, Rohit Sharma will be leading the charge. Ajinkya Rahane, a mainstay of the Indian middle order, has faded away and is not selected into the squad. KL Rahul, who has emerged as one of the most reliable batters for India, is struggling from an injury and has missed out on making it to England.

    Experts say that the team selected by BCCI has ignored many talents who could have replaced the duo of KL Rahul and Ajinkya Rahane perfectly in the playing XI. With Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma struggling in the recent cricketing action, the Indian top-order might be at the mercy of English bowlers. Kohli and Sharma would have too much pressure to carry the batting line-up since even the middle-order consisting of Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja is also struggling nowadays.

    Here are 5 ideal replacements for KL Rahul and Ajinkya Rahane:

    1) Shubman Gill

    Shubman Gill has become a premium choice for an opener for India in Test cricket. He has proved his worth whenever he has been given chances at the top. His knock of 91 that helped India successfully chase down the target against Australia in Gabba will forever be etched into the hearts and minds of Indians. He can be a perfect replacement for KL Rahul at the top. India will most likely select him in the playing XI as the opener alongside Rohit Sharma. Gill’s technique is quite good against the moving ball, which will prove to be an advantage for the team. He is currently in the form as well and smashed a match-winning half-century for his team in IPL to help them lift the trophy.

    2) Hanuma Vihari

    Hanuma Vihari has emerged as a perfect batter for India to replace Cheteshwar Pujara at number three. However, Pujara is making a comeback to the Test squad against England. In the absence of Ajinkya Rahane, India can look to use Hanuma Vihari as an ideal middle-order batter who can stick around for a long time. No one can forget his brave effort against Australia in 2021 when his solid defence became the platform for India to turn around the series. Vihari can be slotted at 5th, followed by Pant and Jadeja in the upcoming significant encounter against England.

    Also Read: Kapil Dev Slams the Indian Trio of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul: Know What He Said

    3) Shreyas Iyer

    Shreyas Iyer has been in very good touch in the last year or so for India. He played extremely crucial knocks against Sri Lanka in the Test series and saved the Indian batting from crumbling. Iyer’s attacking and defensive both games are strong, which is ideal for the conditions in England. A team needs a batter who can accelerate quickly if the wickets on the other end start to fall quickly. However, it will be a difficult decision for India to decide whom to play in between Iyer and Vihari since Virat Kohli will definitely be occupying the 4th spot in the batting order.

    4) Mayank Agarwal

    The flamboyant opener has been sidelined by the Indian cricket management over the past few months. He has not been selected for the Test against England. Mayank Agarwal suffered a bad run in Test cricket due to being neglected by the Indian selectors. He got chances here and there but never got a full-fledged run like KL Rahul to showcase his true potential in the longest format of the game. 

    5) Prithvi Shaw

    The attacking opener from Mumbai is known for going after the bowlers from the get-go. He could have been a unique choice at the top-order alongside Rohit Sharma to disrupt the rhythm of English bowlers. Shaw never stops playing his counterattacking cricketing shots until he gets out. This quality of his makes him an ideal weapon in the English conditions where a game can be changed in just a few overs. Unfortunately, BCCI has not included him in the squad for the Test match against England.

     

    Also Read: 8 Players Expected To Score in India Vs SA T20i Series

  • Joe Root Masterclass help England Defeat New Zealand in First Test

    England defeated New Zealand by 5 wickets in the first Test at Lords Cricket Stadium on the back of a brilliant hundred from Joe Root and an impressive hat-trick from Stuart Broad that dwindled the New Zealand batting line-up in the third innings of the first Test.

    Kiwis, led by Kane Williamson, won the toss and opted to bat first in the first Test between England and New Zealand.

    Source: Getty Images

    New Zealand’s first inning:

    England veterans James Anderson and Stuart Broad, along with the newcomer Matty Potts destroyed the Blackcaps on the first day of the Test.

    James Anderson and Matty Potts took four wickets each, while Broad and Ben Stokes accounted for one wicket each. Colin de Grandhomme remained unbeaten on 42* and dragged the Kiwi total beyond hundred runs in the first inning.

    New Zealand finished with 132 runs on the board. Captain Kane Williamson managed only 2 runs, and except Grandhomme, no one else crossed 30 runs.

    England’s first inning:

    Source: Getty Images

    England started off brilliantly with Alex Lees and Zak Crawley showing a positive attitude. Together they put on 59 runs for the first wicket. However, after Lees’s departure, England went down a rabbit hole.

    No other English batter stuck to the crease, and wickets kept tumbling. England was restricted to 141 runs in their first inning. Tim Southee was the star of the bowler as he picked up four wickets. Trent Boult removed three batters while Jamieson helped send back 2 batsmen.

    New Zealand’s second inning:

    Source: News18

    New Zealand suffered a deficit of 9 runs against England after both teams had gone through their batting once. England once again came back strong and quickly removed four Kiwi batters.

    Anderson, Potts and Broad were on fire again. However, the duo of Daryl Mitchell and Tom Blundell showed resistance. Mitchell scored a brilliant hundred and finished with 108 runs while Blundell made 96 runs.

    Stuart Broad picked a hat-trick which brought back England in the game against New Zealand first Test. New Zealand ended with a total of 285 runs on the board, and a target of 277 runs was set for the English batters.

    England’s second inning:

    source: Adam Davy/ PA

    Blackcaps put English batters on the backfoot by striking early and picking three wickets. However, Joe Root showed why he is one of the greatest of all time. He remained unbeaten on 115* to guide England to a victory against New Zealand in the first Test.

    Ben Foakes also contributed handsomely with 54 runs in England’s win. England won with five wickets to spare.

    Also Read: 8 Players Expected To Score in India Vs SA T20i Series

     

     

     

  • Is Rohit Sharma the Best Test Captain India has Right Now?

    Undoubtedly, Rohit Sharma has set a new standard for a captain to begin his stint. Rohit Sharma has won 14 successive games across formats after taking over the full-time captaincy in all formats of the game.

    His tactics, skills and leadership qualities have already gathered appraisal from every corner of the world and everyone hopes Rohit makes India achieves new milestones during his tenure as Team India’s captain. But, do you think Rohit Sharma is the ideal choice for Test captaincy too? No doubt, he was the highest scorer for India in the first edition of the World Test Championship.

    However, the fact the batter’s fitness has always been a concern point, and considering him older than Kohli, we doubt how long he would be able to sustain his heath to play all three formats of the game.

    He is already 35 years and India’s best captain ever MS Dhoni left the Indian cricket team captaincy at 37 years of age. Is Rohit Sharma as a leader or player required in the longest format of the game? Should he focus on a limited-overs tournament scheduled one after another beginning with Asia Cup then T20 World Cup 2022 then ODI World Cup 2023 in India? 

    These questions are a major point of concern. Rohit Sharma has been at his peak since the 2019 ODI World Cup where he scored 5 centuries. Perhaps, we believe Rohit Sharma’s workload needs to be managed both as a player and a captain. BCCI should assure Rohit attains a good standard of fitness to continue his career as a captain for at least the next 4 years.

    Is Rohit Sharma the Best Test Captain India has Right Now?

    Definitely yes. KL Rahul who has been named the vice-captain of India is still not ready to lead India. Consider the facts, the Karnataka-born player was allowed to lead against South Africa in the 2nd test when Kohli was ruled out due to a back injury. However, KL Rahul lost his debut test match as a captain by 7 wickets.

    Nevertheless, KL Rahul was also given the chance to lead India against a young & new group of South African players for a 3-match ODI in South Africa earlier this year. But, KL couldn’t manage to win a single game against Proteas as India lost the ODI series under him by 3-0.

    Therefore, it would be right to say India has the best test captain as Rohit Sharma currently since KL Rahul needs to learn a lot right now from his senior fellow mates and being around them will groom him.

    Who all should be considered for Test Captaincy after Rohit Sharma?

    If the performances of players in IPL are considered as a parameter for their selection in the Indian team then the performances of players as captains should also be evaluated. KL Rahul who was made Punjab Kings captain from 2020 to 2021 and then moved to Lucknow Super Giants in 2022 has managed to reach the play-offs only once that too recently.

    An eye must be kept on these two players for future test captaincy-

    1) Shreyas Iyer

    Shreyas Iyer led Delhi Capitals to play-offs after 7 years, however, couldn’t lead them to the IPL trophy. As they eventually lost to Chennai Super Kings. In the next season too, Shreyas once again lead Delhi to playoffs but just couldn’t cross the finish line. He was stripped of his captaincy in IPL 2021 when he was ruled out of IPL due to an injury he sustained while playing for India.

    Shreyas moved to KKR for IPL 2022 but couldn’t guide the team to the playoffs spot. However, he explained the involvement of the CEO in team selection which wasn’t in his control, and thus that cost them the playoffs spot.

    2) Rishabh Pant

    Rishabh Pant has a lot to learn. Even after finishing in the top 2 in IPL 2021, Delhi Capitals lost two chances to enter the finals of IPL 2021. Everyone does remember his decision of giving the final over to Tom Curran instead of Kagiso Rabada in Qualifier 1 and then a poor display of performance in Qualifier 2 eliminated them.

    Rishabh doesn’t seem to learn from his mistakes easily. Even after having 2 reviews in hand and having 50% doubt that Tim David might have knicked the ball in the crucial match against them which had their playoffs fate, he decided not to review which was a blunder by him as Tim David was out. Later, the batter smashed 34 runs in 11 balls to seal the victory for Mumbai Indians.

    We can summarize that Rishabh Pant has a lot of potential as a leader as he guides the spinner brilliantly from behind the stumps as Dhoni used to do. But, he certainly lacks making quick repulsive right decisions at the moment which seems to be a headache point.

    Jasprit Bumrah can also be considered for future captaincy.

  • Top 11 Partnerships in Test Cricket Which Were Game-Changing

    Test cricket is the oldest format of the game, with the first test match being played between Australia & England in 1877 and Australia eventually clinching the historic test. Over the years, there were uncountable unforgettable test matches that witnessed unbelievable partnerships that changed the course of the game on its terms. It was a strenuous task to pick 11 partnerships in test cricket, but we did it for you only.

    Here are the Top 11 Partnerships in Test Cricket-

    1) Simon Katich & Justin Langer’s 218 runs Against Sri Lanka (2006)

    After posting a huge total of 401 in 1st innings, Australia did expect a lead but Sri Lanka took a lead of 6 runs against the mighty Aussies. Everyone thought the result of the match would be a draw. But Sri Lankan bowlers dismantled Australia’s batting for 90/5.

    Katich came to bat and added 218 runs with Justin Langer. This partnership helped Australia post a respectable total of 375. In response, Sri Lanka could only manage 248 to fall short by 122 runs.

    2) Faf Du Plessis & AB de Villiers 205 runs Against India (2013)

    This test match could be regarded as a roller coaster ride. After 36 runs lead, India added another 421 runs with the assistance of Pujara’s 100 and Kohli’s valuable 96 runs. At one point in the match, it seemed India will win the match when South Africa was 4 down for 197. Although, AB de Villiers showed the fighting spirit to add 205 runs with Du Plessis.  AB de Villiers scored 100 in 162 balls.

    When it seemed South Africa will seal the match comfortably, Indian bowlers depicted their dominance & took 3 wickets. However, they fell short by 8 runs as the last day ended.

    3) Brendon McCullum & BJ Watling’s 352 runs Against India (2014)

    New Zealand was 246 runs behind before the start of the 3rd innings. Zaheer Khan replicated the first inning dominance as New Zealand was struggling with half the team already being sent back to the dressing room for 94 runs.

    BJ Watling and McCullum decided to take the game deep as the duo added 352 runs for the 6th wicket before Watling was dismissed. At this stage, New Zealand had 200runs lead but that wasn’t enough. McCullum & Jimmy Neesham added another 179 runs to declare the innings on 680/8/. McCullum smashed a triple century to save the game for New Zealand. These two partnerships in test cricket which were witnessed during 3rd innings were game-changing.

    4) K Sangakara & DPMD Jayawardene’s 624 Against South Africa (2006)

    Even after 16 years, this partnership between Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayewardene remains the highest partnership in test cricket. This partnership came outside Asia in South African conditions back in 2006. After dismissing Africa for merely 169 runs, the match was already set for Sri Lanka but Mahela & Sangakkara made it memorable by stitching the highest partnership in test cricket ever. Sangakkara scored 287 runs while Mahela smashed 374 against Proteas in this inning.

    South Africa was never in the game, however, they kept on fighting as the team managed to score 434 runs in 2nd innings but that wasn’t enough. Sri Lanka won the match by an innings and a huge margin of 153 runs. The highest test partnership had to feature in the list of world-class partnerships in test cricket ever.

    5) Inzaman & Mushtaq’s 57 runs Against Australia (1994)

    The innings doesn’t need to be big rather a short and impactful inning that can turn the match in your favor is all a team desires. Mighty Australia already had a lead of 81 runs against Pakistan and was crushing Pakistan’s hope of winning with 171 runs only for the loss of 2 wickets. However, Wasim Akram & Waqar Younis crumbled 8 Australian batters for only 61 runs. The job was not done yet. Batters had to face the fierceness bowling attack of Aussies.

    Pakistan managed to give a fight but no solid partnerships were built to carry the momentum of the match. Inzamam was batting when Mushtaq walked in to bat. Pakistan were still 56 runs behind the target with just 1 wicket in their pocket. It looked like Australia’s match, but Mushtaq showed that he can bat as he added valuable 20 runs along with Inzaman’s 37 runs to clinch the victory.

    6) Laxman & Ishant’s 81 runs Against Australia (2010)

    India finished their 1st innings against Aussies with a trial of 23 runs. After the massive 400+ runs from both sides in their 1st innings, it seemed the match will draw. But Indian bowlers had other plans as they crumbled Australia’s last 6 wickets for only 38 runs. India required 216 runs to win the test which was quite chaseable.

    Although, Australian bowlers made the target look bigger as India were on their knees after their 8 wickets fell only for 124 runs. India was on the verge of losing the test match. But VVS Laxman & Ishant Sharma decided not to give as they added 81 runs for the 9th wicket to bring home the victory against Australia.

    7) Wood & Serjeant’s 251 runs Against Australia (1978)

    This test match witnessed lots of debutants with as many as 6 players making their debut for West Indies. After the first inning, Australia took a lead of 81 runs. West Indies debutant rose to the occasion as two debutants, Basil Williams and Larry Gomes, smashed their maiden century to set a huge 359 runs target for Australia.

    West Indies came hard on Aussies as they dismissed their top 3 batters for merely 22 runs. The chances of Australia winning the test match were skimmed by 2/3rd. However, Graeme Wood & Craig Serjeant stayed still on the crease and added 251 runs. Nevertheless, the job wasn’t done and the lower order had to contribute to this hard-earned victory. Australia won by 3 wickets.

    8) Langer & Gilchrist’s 238 runs Against Pakistan (1999)

    After both, the teams scored around 250 runs in their first innings. The extra brilliant effort from Inzamam-Ul-Haq pushed Pakistan’s total to 392 runs and chasing 369 runs seemed like moving a mountain on that kind of pitch. Pakistan’s speedsters Wasim Akram, Shoaib Akhtar, and Saqlain Mushtaq dismissed Australia’s top 5 batters cheaply for 126 runs.

    Nevertheless, Australia didn’t lose hope as Adam Gilchrist and Justin Langer were still on the crease. The duo added 238 runs for the 6th wicket to clinch the win from the jaws of the defeat.

    9) Laxman & Dravid’s 376 runs Against Australia (2001)

    Who would have imagined that India will win this test match after being given a follow-on in the 2nd innings? Australia scored 445 runs in 1st innings and in response, India was all out for 171. Australia gave a follow-on to crush hopeless India’s chances of victory.

    However, India came back strong to manage 232 runs with 4 wickets but was still behind Australia’s 1st innings score. Then, VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid’s partnership brought a u-turn in the match as the duo added 376 runs for the 5th wicket. Dravid scored 180 and Laxman scored 281 runs. India declared on 608/5. Late declaration from India left the hopes of only a draw but Harbhajan Singh’s hattrick folded the match in India’s favor. India won the test match by 171 runs.

    10) Flintoff & Thorpe’s 281 runs Against New Zealand (2002)

    The pitch in this match was tricky. Both the teams could barely manage 250 and 150 runs in their 1st innings, whereas in the 2nd innings each team accumulated more than 400 runs each. After securing an 81 runs lead, England was in deep water in the 3rd innings with 106/5. It seemed New Zealand will all-out England below 150 until Andrew Flintoff & Graham Thorpe added 281 runs for the 6 wickets.

    This partnership took the game away from New Zealand as England declared on 468 after Graham Thorpe’s double century. New Zealand couldn’t fight back except Nathan Astle who scored 222 runs which wasn’t enough as his team could manage only 451 runs in the final innings.

    11) Kohli & Rahane’s 365 runs Against New Zealand (2016)

    India showed their invincibility at home in tests against New Zealand. India dominated the kiwis completely as Kohli’s men had already sealed the series with 2-0 up. But Kohli and Rahane ( then captain & vice-captain) weren’t satisfied without whitewashing New Zealand

    However, Kiwis showed resistance in the last test match as India was 100/3, but then we witnessed Kohli & Rahane’s epic 365 runs partnership for the 4th wicket. Kohli scored his 2nd double century, while Rahane missed his first by a small margin of 12 runs. India defeated New Zealand with the help of this partnership which can be termed among the finest partnerships in test cricket.

    Also Read, 7 Best Openers in Test Cricket of All Time

  • 8 Best Test 100s By Indian Cricket Team Players in England

    The rivalry between India & England is almost a century old. Every Indian player dreams to score one of his career’s best Test 100s against England at Lord’s stadium to get his name etched on the honor board of Lord’s stadium. However, only rare talents have made it to that place.

    Nevertheless, scoring a century in England either in a winning or losing cause is prominent for players. Therefore, we decided to dig the history and look for the best test 100s by Indian players in England.

    Here are the Best Test 100s By Indian Players-

    1) Vinoo Mankad’s 184 in 1952

    Not many know him but he was a player who showed great character against the English bowlers back in 1952 when India was seen as the weakest team in the cricket world. After an unforgettable defeat in the 1st test match where India was 0-4, India had their head down for the 2nd test. But, Vinoo Mankad’s lifted everybody’s spirit & morale with his 74 knocks in 1st innings & 184 in 2nd innings (the highest score by an Indian during that time). The inning was cherished for a long time.

    2) Sunil Gavaskar’s 221 in 1979

    Sunil Gavaskar who is regarded as one of the best batsmen of all time got the recognition India needed on the international stage. During his career, Gavaskar has scored numerous Best test 100s. Yet, a fighting knock to save a test match against England single-handedly is dream special.

    Back in 1979, India was chasing a 438 run total set by England. As expected none of the batters after the top 3 managed to cross 20 runs mark. However, Sunil Gavaskar stayed still and resistance innings of 221 against England took India to 429/8, but the time ran out and India had to settle for a draw.

    3) Dilip Vengasarkar’s 157 in 1982

    This innings By Dilip Vengasarkar could be termed as one of the best fighting knocks. India was following on as they were 299 runs behind England. Vengasarkar took the charge of batting and stayed solid against them for more than 5 hours to score over 150 runs, but only to avoid an innings defeat.

    4) Sachin Tendulkar’s 119 in 1990

    A player was born, who showed his hunger for runs and extraordinary talent. Sachin Tendulkar, “God Of Cricket”, scored his first international test century, which can be termed as one of the best test 100s, outside India in England merely at the age of 17. Tendulkar walked in to bat at number 6 in the batting order with the pressure to save another humiliating defeat against England. The young boy created expectations with his shots and went on to score 119 runs in Manchester that assisted India to draw the test match.

    5) Ajit Agarkar’s 109 in 2002

    Who would have imagined a player at number 8 in the Indian batting order to come so strong and hard at English bowlers at a time when India was on the verge of losing the test match. Ajit Agarkar scored 109 runs at Lord’s to have his name on Lord’s honors boards for his batting milestone. Although, the inning wasn’t enough to stop a defeat, but it generated a spark in the Indian dressing room to make a comeback in other tests.

    6) Rahul Dravid’s 217 in 2002

    Rahul Dravid showed, ” Why he is termed as “The Wall” of Indian team?” in this innings. India was catching up with England’s huge 515 total set by them in 1st innings.  It was a near to impossible job against England’s fierce bowling attack. But, Rahul Dravid showed his greatness to accumulate 217 runs and no bowler could end his innings that day as Dravid got run out. India managed to score 508 runs and the test ended as a draw with Rahul being awarded the player of the match award.

    7) Ajinkya Rahane’s 103 in 2014

    After nearly three decades, India won a test match against England on Lord’s ground. Credit goes to Ajinkya Rahane’s 103 runs knock, one of his best test 100s, against the lethal bowling duo Anderson & Broad. The two bowlers were heavily dominant on the Indian side as the next highest score in this innings was 36. Rahane led the foundation block for a solid base and Ishant did the wonders with his spell. India won by 95 runs against England.

    8) Virat Kohli’s 149 in 2018

    After an unforgettable failure on his first England test tour in 2014, Virat Kohli became mature and a player known by the name Run Machine by the time India toured England for a test in 2018. This time, Kohli was well prepared with better technique and mindset against the English bowlers. Kohli was dominant over the bowlers when none of his fellow teammates could manage to cross 26 run mark, Kohli scored 149 at Edgbaston.

  • Top 10 Memorable Moments of New Zealand Cricket Team

    The New Zealand cricket team is respected and praised by almost all cricketing fans owing to their gentlemanly behaviour on the field. In the past decade, New Zealand has reached two 50 over World Cup finals and a T20i World Cup final but could not claim the trophy on any occasion. Nevertheless, under Kane Williamson’s captaincy, New Zealand is scaling new heights with every ICC tournament. They won the inaugural World Test Championship in 2021 by defeating India in the finals. To commemorate Blackcaps’ epic rise in the cricketing world, Cricreads has accumulated a list of great moments that define New Zealand in the International sphere.

    Top 10 great moments in New Zealand cricket history:

    1- ICC KnockOut Trophy, 2000

    After playing competitive ODI cricket for over 28 years, New Zealand finally triumphed in an ICC tournament at the KnockOut Trophy in 2000. India posted a massive score of 264 runs on the board in the finals to put Kiwi batters under pressure. However, Fleming’s men had a will of fire in the game and refused to surrender against the Indian bowling unit consisting of Zaheer Khan, Anil Kumble and Venkatesh Prasad. The match went till the last over, and New Zealand ultimately clinched the thriller with 4 wickets and 4 balls to spare. Chris Cairns played a vital unbeaten inning of 102* runs in 113 balls to take New Zealand beyond the finish line.

    2- WTC Final, 2021

    New Zealand won their second ICC title, too, against India. They played India in the World Test Championship final at Southampton in England. An all-around performance from Kyle Jamieson helped New Zealand etch history in the inaugural World Test Championship. New Zealand cricket team restricted Indians to only 217 in the first innings on the back of a fifer from Jamieson to set the tone for a historic win. Blackcaps gained a lead of 32 runs and wrapped up the 2nd innings of India on 170. They quickly chased the target with 8 wickets to spare to win the WTC final.

    3- 2019 World Cup final against England

    A final that New Zealand cricket did not lose, but the England cricket team won. Sounds intriguing? In the 2019 50 over World Cup final New Zealand posted 241/8 on the board, and England finished on the same number in their 50 overs to tie the match. A super over between the two teams was held to decide the winner but both England and New Zealand scored 15 runs in the super over to tie the game once more. However, an ICC cricketing law states that in the event of a tie in the super over, the team with the most boundaries in the match is declared the winner. An absurd cricketing law saw New Zealand concede the loss in the finals to end their epic campaign on a tragic note.

    4- Nathan Astle’s fastest 200 in Test Cricket

    In the first Test of the England tour to New Zealand in 2001, Nathan Astle scored the fastest ever 200 in Test cricket history, a record that still stands. Chasing a mammoth target of 550 runs in the final inning of the Test, Astle went on the offensive to win the Test for Blackcaps. Andy Caddick was bowling in full swing and had dismissed all top three Kiwi batters before Astle marked his presence on the crease. Nathan Astle obliterated Caddick, Hoggard, Giles and Flintoff to reach the milestone of double hundred in just 156 balls. Astle scored 222 off 168 before Hoggard dismissed him to seal the game for England.

    Read more: Top 10 Memorable Moments in South African Cricket

    5- McCullum’s fastest ever Century in Test Cricket

    Brendon McCullum was a force to reckon with in his farewell Test match. When the Aussie attack consisting of Hazlewood, Pattinson and Lyon were running through the New Zealand cricket team batting line-up, McCullum came in with a completely different mindset. He smashed 21 fours and 6 sixes in his 145 off 79 deliveries. He broke Adam Gilchrist’s fastest ever Test hundred record by reaching the milestone in just 54 balls. New Zealand scored 370 in only 65.3 overs in their first innings but lost due to dismal batting performance in 2nd inning.

    6- Ajaz Patel’s 10 wickets in a Test Inning

    Ajaz Patel became only the third bowler in Test cricket history to dismiss all 10 batters of the opposition in an inning. He joined Jim Laker and Anil Kumble in the coveted list by achieving this historic and rare feat. The New Zealand cricket team has added another glorious page to their remarkable cricketing history through Patel’s 10-fer against India in the New Zealand tour of India in 2021. However, the Blackcaps lost the match by a massive 150 runs due to their dreary batting performance. 

    7- Guptill’s 237*, Highest ever score in ICC CWC

    Martin Guptill, the opener for the New Zealand cricket team, played a blazing knock of 237* in just 163 deliveries to propel New Zealand to 393/6 in 50 overs against West Indies in the 4th quarterfinal of ICC Cricket World Cup 2015. His epic inning consisted of 24 fours and 11 massive sixes. Guptill’s 237* is still the highest ever score in World Cup history and will probably remain the same for many years to come. New Zealand comfortably won the match against West Indies by 143 runs to qualify for the semi-final.

    8- First ever Test Victory

    After 45 Tests, the New Zealand cricket team finally won their first-ever Test by defeating West Indies in the 4th Test of the series in 1956. Kiwis led by John Reid had lost all three previous matches of the series, and no one gave them any chance in the 4th Test against the mighty West Indians. However, New Zealand stunned everyone by setting a target of 268 runs for the Caribbeans and ultimately bowling them out on their lowest ever aTest score of 77 runs up to that date to win the match.

    9- Richard Hadlee, the first man to 400 Wickets in Test

    Sir Richard Hadlee became the first-ever cricketer in  Test history to dismiss 400 batters when he cleaned up Sanjay Manjrekar in the first of India’s tour to New Zealand in 1990. Hadlee created history by removing Majrekar and finishing his career as the leading wicket-taker in Test cricket by picking up 431 wickets in 86 matches. Hadlee also registered two centuries and fifteen half-centuries to his name in his illustrious Test career.

    10- Ross Taylor’s epic 290

    Ross Taylor, the most underrated batter of his generation, retired recently from cricket. He has played some exceptional knocks for the New Zealand cricket team over many years. He scored a brilliant 290 against Australia at WACA in the 2nd Test of New Zealand’s tour to Australia in 2015. It became the highest-ever score by a visiting batter on Australian soil and helped New Zealand draw a Test in Australia’s fortress Perth.

     

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  • West Indies Defeat England to Seal the Test Series

    West Indies has defeated England by 10 wickets in the only Test, which has produced a result in the Test series. The third and final Test between the two teams saw the Caribbean bowlers dictating the terms for England batters.

    Brief Scores:

    England could only manage 204 in their first innings and a meagre 120 runs in the third innings of the Test match.

    While West Indies scored 297 runs in their first innings to secure a lead of 93 runs over England. Windies only needed 28 runs to win the Test and series in their last innings. A target which they achieved under 5 overs to end the miserable tale for English players.

    Significant Performances in the Test:

    Joshua Da Silva scored a brilliant hundred for the Windies to enable them to get a handsome lead. His inning was the catalyst that West Indies required in order to seal the series.

     

    Kyle Mayers was equally excellent for the Windies; he took two important wickets of Root and Crawley in the first innings of the Test and dismissed five of the English batters in the third inning of the game.

    Mayers fifer was extremely crucial for the Windies to build pressure on England and wrap the English inning cheaply to set up a platform for the Caribbeans’ resounding victory.

    For England, Saqib Mahmood and Jack Leach constructed a magnificent partnership for the 10th wicket in the first innings.

    The duo showed steel like resilience to take England from 114/9 to a total of 204 runs. Saqib Mahmood fell short of a deserving half-century while Leach remained unbeaten on hard-fought 41*.

    Cricreads Impact Player of the Series:

    West Indies captain, Kraigg Brathwaite played a couple of gutsy knocks in the 2nd Test to save the match for his team. He set the platform for West Indies to find the belief and dominate the proceedings in the 3rd game to win the Test series.

     

     

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  • ENG VS WI: England on the Cusp of Series Loss

    West Indies took an emphatic lead of 93 runs against England in the ongoing Test owing to Joshua Da Silva’s unbeaten epic hundred on a challenging track to bat.

    England, in response, are 8 down on 103 runs and are on the verge of losing the Test series on the 4th day of the third and final Test of the series in England’s tour of West Indies.

    Here’s how the decider 3rd day panned out:

    Resuming from 232-8, West Indies displayed extraordinary grit to stretch their lead closer to a hundred in the series decider. Joshua Da Silva combined with the tail to play perhaps the best innings of the series so far. Kemar Roach and Jayden Seales played the supporting role in their partnerships with Da Silva with extreme caution and precision. Both Roach and Seales made England toil hard and added to their frustrations.

    Kemar Roach consumed 82 balls for his hard-fought 25 runs, while Seales galloped 59 deliveries for his valiant 13. Meanwhile, Joshua Da Silva was absolutely phenomenal in his unbeaten 100* to propel West Indies to 297/10. Joe Root, the English captain, brought an end to England’s frustration by breaking the last partnership between Silva and Seales.

    Trailing 93, England was never in control and surrendered against the West Indian bowlers. Kyle Mayers destroyed England’s batting line-up by taking up a crucial fifer in the context of the Test. Mayers bowled an exceptional spell in the third innings of the Test to emulate his success from the first innings. He gave away only 9 runs in the 3 overs he bowled to account for 5 England batters.

    For England, only Alex Lees and Johnny Bairstow showed the will to put up a fight but was ultimately trumped by the Caribbean bowlers. Lees scored 31, while Bairstow managed 22 off 82. On day 3, England is 103-8 in 53 overs at stumps, leading West Indies by a meagre 10 runs. Only a miracle can save the visitors now from losing the Test.

     

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  • ENG VS WI: Bowlers Keep England’s Hopes Alive

    West Indies bowled exceptionally well to wrap up England’s first innings rapidly on the first day for 204 runs. The second day saw England bowlers returning the favour back by dismantling the West Indies batting line-up quite a bit.

    West Indies finished the second day on 232/8 to gain a lead to 28 runs. Joshua Da Silva has demonstrated skills and resilience to keep West Indies ahead in the game by a small margin. He is unbeaten on 54* in 152 deliveries as the play for day suspended 4 overs quickly due to inadequate lights.

    Here’s how the exciting day panned out:

    West Indies openers were rock solid and provided a fifty run stand for the first wicket. However, they lost the pillar and hero of their batting line-up, Kraigg Brathwaite, as the first one. Ben Stokes, England’s most dependable all-rounder, trapped him leg before opening the doors for his team’s comeback.

    Next, Saqib Mahmood, the lionheart from the first innings, removed Shamarh Brooks to keep England in the hunt. Brooks’s departure brought a flurry of wickets, and England rose to the top in the game.

    In beautiful touch, John Campbell was removed by Craig Overton on 35 runs. It was followed by the exemplary bowling display from Chris Woakes, who sent back Bonner, Blackwood and Holder to make West Indies reel on 95-6.

    Kyle Mayers then, along with Joshua Da Silva, formed an alliance of 33 runs for the 7th wicket to keep West Indies in the chase. After Mayers, Alzarri Joseph scored a brilliant 28 runs and formed a formidable partnership of 49 runs with Da Silva to bring the Caribbeans closer to 200.

    Roach replaced Joseph on the crease, who made sure that England could not wrap up the Caribbeans on the 2nd day. Roach and Da Silva have formed an unbeaten 55 runs stand for the 9th wicket to put their team in a commanding position. Da Silva is on 54* at stumps, and Roach is 25* not out.

     

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