As we approach 2020, The Cricketer looks back on some of the moments than have shaped the cricketing world over the course of the last 10 years
The end of the decade means it’s another year since this iconic Ashes moment. Ashton Agar’s delivery, a flash of Stuart Broad’s Adidas bat, a flick of Brad Haddin’s gloves, a looping catch into the hands of Michael Clarke at slip, no reaction from a bemused Aleem Dar, a stunned silence.
Australia had used up their two reviews, Broad stood sheepish in conversation with Ian Bell. “Walking's an interesting one,” he said afterwards. “You have a split second and sometimes when you edge it you walk out of pure frustration. You kick yourself and walk away.”
When England arrived down under for a return series just months later, Australia had neither forgiven nor forgotten. Head coach Darren Lehmann described it as “blatant cheating” – for which he was fined $3,000, while the Courier Mail newspaper refused to publish Broad’s name in the subsequent series.
“I hope the Australian public give it to him right from the word go for the whole [Australian] summer,” Lehmann added. “And I hope he cries and goes home. I don't advocate walking, but when you hit it to first slip it's pretty hard.”
Chris Gayle seemed destined to finish the 2010s with the decade’s top Test score. His 333 in Galle back in November 2010 came from a different era in the West Indian’s career; he batted for 158.2 overs on that occasion, making hay against Ajantha Mendis and Suraj Randiv, who bowled 107 overs between them.
Gayle would play just 14 more Tests, but he would feature overall on 103 occasions in the longest format. It is easily forgotten that the left-hander is far more than a mercenary on the T20 circuit; he had done his time in the Test arena, making a separate triple century against South Africa in 2005.
With weeks to go of the decade, however, Warner pipped him at the final post. His unbeaten 335 against Pakistan may well have been more had he been given the opportunity. So slapdash had been the visiting bowling attack that Brian Lara’s 400 was in his sights. Lara, who was in Adelaide to watch Warner’s masterclass, clung onto his record as Tim Paine declared on his opener.
Sri Lankan seamer Suranga Lakmal had to be escorted off the field at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium in Delhi as he vomited repeatedly, unable to cope with the pollution in the air.
Lakmal was bent over and retched as the levels of harmful pollutants in the atmosphere reached close to 300 micrograms per cubic metre in some areas of Delhi – 15 times the safe limit prescribed by the World Health Organisation.
The issue worsened to the point that a break of play was called due to the toxic smog – a first in the game’s history, while Sri Lankan players appeared after the lunch interval wearing facemasks. Play was then halted while umpires and medical staff conferred.
“We had players coming off the field and vomiting,” then-Sri Lanka coach Nic Pothas said.
“There were oxygen cylinders in the change room. It’s not normal for players to suffer in that way while playing the game.”
Fellow bowler Lahiru Gamage joined Lakmal in being forced from the field.
Ireland shocked England on the first day of their landmark Test at Lord's
Japan will take part in the 2020 Under-19 World Cup in South Africa after qualifying for their first ever global event in controversial circumstances in June 2019.
Papua New Guinea were forced to forfeit the final qualifying match of the Under-19 East Asia-Pacific Regional Qualifier in Sano after it was announced that they could not field a team for the final day's play.
Cricket PNG had suspended 11 of its 14 squad members “for internal disciplinary reasons and failing to adhere to our strict codes of conduct,” according to a statement issued on Facebook. It later transpired that the players had been caught shoplifting.
"Although it wasn't on the cricket field: nothing to do with any part of the cricket, it was after the hours of cricket, but it's just something that the ICC code of conduct and Cricket PNG's code of conduct we don't accept,” explained Cricket PNG chief executive Greg Campbell, discussing the behaviour of the players.
“If they hadn't of done it the ICC might have done it and we would have welcomed it, but we did it straight away.”
How world cricket would benefit from a strong far eastern audience.
After being soundly beaten by India in their maiden Test, Afghanistan’s first victory came against Ireland. It was their win against Bangladesh, however, that really opened eyes. Better sides than Afghanistan have lost on Bangladeshi soil in recent years as the country has established itself as a serious force in the international game.
However, Afghanistan – then under the captaincy of Rashid Khan, who has since been replaced in charge by Asghar Afghan – beat their hosts at their own game. On a surface that spun throughout, 19 of the wickets taken by the visitors were claimed by spin. Rashid led from the front, finishing with 11 in the match, while Zahir Khan, Qais Ahmad and Mohammad Nabi also chipped in.
With the bat, Rahmat Shah – another who has been messed around recently by Afghanistan’s captaincy chaos – struck his country’s first Test hundred. A coming-of-age week in the peerless story of Afghanistan’s rise.
Stuart Broad stands his ground as Australia appeal in vain at Trent Bridge...
Despite finishing fourth in Division One of the County Championship, the 2008, 2009 and 2013 champions were relegated over financial issues in 2016. Durham accepted a £3.8m financial aid package, which was approved by the ECB.
As part of the decision, the club was also stripped of its right to stage Test cricket and had to start the 2017 season in Division Two with a 48-point deduction. The sanctions were accepted by the county after they requested ECB assistance in managing current and historic debts. It represented an unprecedented step. Since then, though, the club has stabilised – and is competing well under Marcus North and James Franklin.
“On 38, with a billion prayers,” read a newspaper headline as Sachin Tendulkar returned to the crease at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, for the second day of his career’s 200th and final Test.
He had been unbeaten overnight on home turf against a West Indian side captained by Darren Sammy. He passed fifty the next morning, before edging Narsingh Deonarine to slip for 74 – a trivia answer in years to come, no doubt.
The crowd briefly fell silent – it was a packed venue, with many painting their faces and others watching on televisions as all of India sought to take in Tendulkar’s final innings for India. A century would have been a fairytale end to a record-breaking career.
It fell flat in the end, with William Porterfield’s Ireland side ultimately decimated by Stuart Broad and Chris Woakes. They were bowled out for 38 on the third morning of the landmark Test. For so long, however, it all appeared to be building into a simply remarkable occasion.
After winning the toss and opting to bat, England found themselves skittled for 85, with the ever-marvellous Tim Murtagh doing the damage. By the end of the day, the visitors led by 122 runs, only for Jack Leach’s unlikely 92 to give the hosts a target to defend.
Under grey skies and bright artificial lights, the visitors wilted as history awaited them. A quite bizarre game of cricket that could have had an altogether different and more remarkable ending. Ireland’s wait for a Test victory goes on. When it comes, its drama will do well to surpass their first-day heroics in north London.
Brendon McCullum leaves the Test stage for the final time against Australia
More than 200 years after the foundation of Marylebone Cricket Club, Kumar Sangakkara was announced as its first non-British president in 2019. Perhaps, this should not matter, but his appointment represents a significant change for the MCC.
The Sri Lankan great has long exuded authority and, even during his distinguished playing career, he was viewed as a voice well-respected enough to make the step from on-field excellence into an administrative role. In 2012, he was awarded honorary life membership of the club, joining MCC’s World Cricket committee in the same year. He remains an active member and will lead tours to Pakistan and his native Sri Lanka in 2020.
It would not have been like Brendon McCullum to go out quietly. In his final game for New Zealand, the inspirational captain struck the fastest hundred in Test history. It was typical of the man – a fearless, swashbuckling refusal to lie down, even as his career wound down towards its close.
He reached three figures in just 54 balls – two quicker than Viv Richards’ previous record, which he held with Misbah-ul-Haq. He was at the crease for only 78 minutes. There were 6 sixes and 21 fours; having arrived in the middle at 32 for 3 after 19.1 overs, he departed just 26 overs later, with his side 253 for 5. A fitting finish to a game-changing international career.
The Cricketer's 50 Most Significant Moments of the Decade continues tomorrow...
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