29. India play Pakistan
It doesn’t happen very often, but when it does, the whole world sits up and takes notice. India and Pakistan hit the Adelaide Oval for the World Cup. There was no violence. There was no crowd unrest. There was just 50k screaming subcontinent fans having the time of their lives. For the record, India won the match quite comfortably.
28. Shoaib Malik 245 on return
After what seemed a decade out of the Test side, former skipper Shoaib Malik made a spectacular return, creaming England for a lazy 245 in the UAE. He forced his way back into the side on the back of being one of the world’s premier T20 batsmen in the past 12 months. Shoaib failed to do much in the subsequent Tests I’m the series, and subsequently retired from the format in a typically Pakistani WTF move.
27. Nathan Lyon becomes Australia’s best off spinner
Nathan Lyon toured the West Indies with challenger Fawad Ahmed breathing down his neck. But it didn’t bother this former groundsman as he took the mantle of Australia’s highest Test wicket taking spinner. If only we could convince him to bowl over the wicket a bit more.
26. KP makes 355* and told he is not required. Trust
After being shunned from the English team as the reason for their 5-0 Ashes whitewash, Kevin Pietersen was told that if he made runs in County cricket, he would be considered. He stepped out and made 355* in a display of pure brutality. The following day, the English Cricket Board changed their mind and told Kevin he wouldn’t be selected due to trust issues.
25. Chennai Super Kings and Rajhastan Royals Banned from the IPL
After a year long investigation by the Supreme Court of India into conflicts of interest and corruption in the IPL, both the Chennai Super Kings and the Rajasthan Royals were suspended for 2 years. That now makes 5 of the 11 teams to play in the IPL since inception having folded or suspended at some stage.
24. Adam Voges
Voges forced his way into the West Indies and English tours after being the leading run scorer in Shield cricket in 2014/15. A century on debut followed by a massive unbeaten double century in Hobart sees him take the mantle as the old bloke in the team Australia can rely on. Votes now holds the record as the bloke with the highest Test batting average ever after 11 matches, behind only Don Bradman.
23. Southern Stars win the Ashes
Forget the blokes. The Southern Stars are Australia’s best cricket side at the moment. Everyone now knows the new of Lanning, Perry and Healy. Is their anything better than ashing the Poms on their home turf?
22. Warner’s triple threat
Only three men in history have made tons in both innings of a Test match on three occasions.
Gavaskar did it first. Ponting did it second. David Warner joined this elite club when he smacked New Zealand around at the Gabba.
Phenomenal stuff.
21. Death of the WACA
It’s old. It’s tired. It’s hot. It has little shelter.
Cricket Australia this year sealed the fate of the WACA, stating that once the new Burswood stadium is complete, we are unlikely to see any of the decent matches played at the incumbent ground any more.
20. Haddin Drops Joe Root
Cardiff. The first Ashes Test and Australia have England on the ropes in the first morning. Questions hover over the form of keeper Haddin after an average lead up series in the West Indies.
Joe Root nicks one second ball and the sharp chance is dropped by the keeper. Root goes on to make a hundred and England win the first Test and ultimately the Ashes from what was a horrible position.
Haddin stands himself down from the second Test to care for his sick daughter. He never makes it back into the side.
The Top 50 Cricketing Moments of the Year (40-50)
The Top 50 Cricketing Moments of the Year (30-39)
The Top 50 Cricketing Moments of the Year (11-20)
