Stories

Appreciating the cricket heroes: Remembering some of the best moments

Millions have fallen in love with cricket, which is often called a gentleman’s game. It is not only a sport about boundaries and wickets; it is also an art of the unforgettable moments that memory leaves in the minds of fans forever. When we go back in memory lane, let’s recall a few moments that were extremely iconic and honor the cricketing legends who made them happen.

The ‘Little Master’s’ Masterstroke (Sachin Tendulkar):

Our story begins in 1998 with the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, who is popularly referred to as “Little Master,” and he represented India against Australia during their second Test at Sharjah. The 143 runs in Tendulkar’s innings against aggressive Australian bowling are an excellent showcase of his dominance over the game. The “Desert Storm,” as it became affectionately called, not only helped India reach the final but also made Tendulkar one of cricket’s greatest batsmen.

The ‘Helicopter Shot’ (Mahendra Singh Dhoni):

Fast forward to the first installment of the ICC T20 World Cup in 2007, where an up-and-coming Indian squad led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni came out on top against all odds. The captaincy of Dhoni was characterised by daring decisions and the advent of many newcomers. In the final game against Pakistan, we saw the advent of ‘Helicopter Shot’ as Dhoni powered India to a victory with a composed inning becoming immortalised.

The ‘Cornered Tigers’ Roar (Pakistan, 1992):

During the 1992 Cricket World Cup, Pakistan, under Imran Khan, had a real struggle on their hands. As outsiders, they worked their way to the final game against England. With inspirational leadership from Imran Khan, along with the important contributions of Inzamam-ul-Haq and Wasim Akram, the victory was obtained for Pakistan. The title ‘Cornered Tigers’ came to symbolise their hugely successful campaign, which is also regarded as one of the most memorable pages in cricketing history.

The ‘Miracle of Eden Gardens’ (India, 2001)

1-0 down in the series with Australia, India was up against anything but favourable odds when Kolkata Eden Gardens hosted a second Test match that year. Now we have VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid, who created one of the best partnerships in Test cricket. Laxman’s superb 281 and Dravid’s defiant hundred turned the table, resulting in a stellar reversal. India then went on to win the game, which stopped Australia’s 16-match winning streak and paved the way for the greatest reversal in cricket.

The ‘Ball of the Century’ (Shane Warne):

The discussion of cricketing moments is not complete without mentioning the ‘Ball of the Century’ bowled by Shane Warne in the 1993 Ashes series. England’s Mike Gatting was up against Warne bowling a memorable leg-break, which spun very viciously to rattle out the off stump. This delivery did not only capture the start of Warne’s glorious career but can also evoke the skillfulness and uncertainty of leg-spin bowling.

The ‘Underarm Incident’ (Australia vs. New Zealand, 1981):

However, far from being an exemplary act of sportsmanship, the ‘Underarm Incident’ between Australia and New Zealand in 1981 still stands out very clearly in cricket history. With McKechnie requiring a six to tie on the last ball, Chappell bowled an underarm delivery, which is widely considered an unfair means of play in cricket. This helped change the rules, guaranteeing that this malpractice will never be seen in the world of cricket again.

The ‘Super Over’ Drama (ICC Cricket World Cup Final, 2019):

The final of the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup between England and New Zealand is very iconic for its nerve-wracking nature, arguably intensified by the first ever Super Over in a world cup final. Since the match and the Super Over were tied, England won by virtue of the boundary count rule. It is the heroics of Ben Stokes during their final and the subsequent Super Over that will be remembered forever in cricketing lore.

The ‘Sultan of Swing’ (Wasim Akram):

In his career, Wasim Akram, known as the ‘Sultan of Swing’, demonstrated how left-arm fast bowling is a fine art. His gift of speaking to the ball, especially when the conditions were favourable, turned him into a bogeyman for the batters. Akram made a very important contribution to the victory of Pakistan’s 1992 World Cup, and his ability to swing the ball both ways from either side will be remembered forever.

Among the most dramatic matches in cricket history was a tied test between Australia and the West Indies at the Sydney Cricket Ground, which took place during 1960–61. As the scores were tied, the match ended in a draw, indicating that both sides had shown resilience and combativeness. This Test match contributed greatly to creating the lasting rivalry between Australia and the West Indies.

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