T20Is, ODIs and Test matches are the three current formats in international cricket. While Test challenges a player’s patience and grittiness, the 20-over format requires individuals to create impact in no time. However, the One-Day International cricket demands both factors to succeed. While a batsman needs to stay at the crease for a significant amount of time, his strike rate should remain healthy.

On the other hand, bowlers need to go for wickets, but their attacking line and length shouldn’t concede too many runs. Hence, thriving in ODIs isn’t as easy as it might look. However, International cricket has witnessed numerous players who shone in this format and made the world hail them. There have been bowlers with a plethora of wickets in their cabinet while many batters have piled up a mountain of runs.

Regardless of the role, however, the primary purpose of a player is to take his side over the line. In the process, many have achieved individual milestones and earned the title of legend. Although many have thrived in the 50-over format, we’ll look at the top 10 greatest players in One-Day Internationals.

Here we’ll rank the top-10 greatest player in ODI history

10. Wasim Akram

Hailed as the Sultan of Swing, Wasim Akram was nothing short of a nemesis for batters during his career. Be it swinging the new ball, containing the run flow or upsetting batsmen with persistent yorkers and bouncers, the left-arm pacer showcased his prowess in every department. In fact, he was one of the first bowlers to learn the art of reverse swing.

The left-arm pacer running into bowl was a sight to behold, but his thunderbolts were never pleasant for batsmen. Now, who can forget his magical spell in the 1992 World Cup final against England, which took Pakistan to glory? Akram took three crucial wickets as the Men in Green defended 249 on a batting-friendly Melbourne track.

Well, that was one of the many match-winning performances which Akram delivered in his illustrious career. Furthermore, Akram maintained his sheen and bowled with the vigor throughout his nearly a two-decade-long career. If that’s still not enough, the former Pakistan captain, at times, also contributed with his big-hitting lower down the order.

Career stats:

Matches – 356 | Wickets – 502 | Economy Rate – 3.9 | 5 wicket hauls – 6

9. Adam Gilchrist

The man of big occasions, Adam Gilchrist had to make this list. The southpaw was a vital cog of the Australian team which dominated world cricket in the 2000s. It won’t be wrong to say that Gilchrist revolutionized the role of wicketkeeper-batsman as a keeper opening the batting wasn’t a popular idea before his arrival.

However, breaking stereotypes and setting trends is what legends do, and Gilchrist also belongs to the same category. His attacking shots upfront disturbed the momentum of many bowling line-ups, and playing long knocks was also not beyond this reach. Moreover, all this time, his glovework behind the stumps was nothing but precise.

Notably, Gilchrist scored over fifty in finals of 1999, 2003 and 2007 World Cup, taking Australia to glory every single time. This certainly shows that he enjoyed having responsibilities on his shoulders, and the same has earned him a place on this elite list.

Career stats:

Matches – 287 | Runs – 9619 | Average – 35.89 | 100/50 – 16/55 | Catches/ Stumpings – 417/55

8. Ricky Ponting

Now, this was as obvious as daylight! The most successful captain in international cricket, Ricky Ponting was a spectacular batsman and his way of marshalling his troops was one of a kind. Ponting liked to lead from the front, and delivering in crunch situations was a significant aspect of his game. Batting at number three in ODIs, the former Aussie captain tormented many bowling line-ups in his illustrious career.

Ponting’s rock-solid defence allowed him to stay at the crease for long and his wide range of shots made bowlers’ job even more difficult. Well, who can forget how he used to pull the ball towards the mid-wicket region? Riding on his prowess, Australia won one game after another, with Ponting shattering and making a plethora of records.

Not to forget, the star batsman was captain of the Australian team which ruled world cricket in the 2000s. Under his leadership, the Men in Yellow clinched two World Cup titles and as many Champions trophies. Ponting eventually bid farewell to international cricket in 2012, and bowlers worldwide breathed a sigh of relief.

Career stats:

Matches – 375| Runs – 13704 | Average – 42.04| 100/50 – 30/82

7. MS Dhoni

One talismanic captain is followed by another as we welcome former Indian skipper MS Dhoni next on this list. The dasher’s contribution to Indian cricket is priceless, and his record speaks volumes of his prowess. Dhoni’s hitting capabilities tormented bowlers, wicket-keeping prowess kept batters on their toes, and his on-field decisions left the cricket world in awe.

Before Dhoni’s debut, India tried many wicket-keepers in Parthiv Patel and Dinesh Karthik among many but no one could deliver as per expectations. However, the everlasting quest was ended when a long-haired guy from Jharkhand donned the India blue in 2004. He burst onto the scenes with his big-hitting and also earned accolades for his precised glovework.

He became a calculated hitter with time and earned the title of a ‘best finisher.’ Dhoni also proved to be a brilliant captain as he led the Men in Blue to three ICC titles, being the only skipper to achieve this feat. Now, what more can you expect from an individual.

Career stats:

Matches – 350 | Runs – 10773 | Average – 50.58 | 100/50 – 10/73 | Catches/ Stumpings – 321/123

6. Sanath Jayasuriya

Jayasuriya’s rise in international cricket has been parallel to Sri Lanka’s emergence as a cricket powerhouse. The southpaw started his career as a left-arm spinner who could chip in with crucial cameos lower down the order. However, everything changed in 1996 when Jayasuriya became an opener.

He took the world by storm with his big-hitting upfront, and many potent bowling line-ups became victim of his carnage. Jayasuriya’s attacking approach gave Sri Lanka fiery starts regularly as they won one game after another. In fact, the swashbuckler’s exploits at the top also played a crucial role in taking the Lankan Lions to the 1996 World Cup title.

Jayasuriya didn’t look back after that and piled up a mountain of runs. Not to forget, the star cricketer also contributed with his left-arm spins all this time and delivered several match-winning spells. Notably, he is the only player to feature in the top 11 of leading wicket-takers and run-scorers in ODIs.

Career stats:

Matches – 445 | Runs – 13430 | Batting Average – 32.13| 100/50 – 28/68 | Wickets – 323 | Economy Rate – 4.79 | 5 wicket hauls – 4

5. Muttiah Muralitharan

Jayasuriya’s partner-in-crime Muttiah Muralitharan also makes a cut in this illustrious list, and not many can raise their fingers. After all, the off-spinner is the highest wicket-taker in the history of the format. Muralitharan was nothing short of a nemesis for batters, and it was tough to predict where his mysterious deliveries would go.

The star bowler made the ball turn on the flattest of tracks, and his variations were the cherry on the cake. Muralitharan was certainly a captain’s delight as he wouldn’t give too many runs alongside taking wickets at regular intervals. One of the most important aspects of the spinner’s game was understanding the situation, as he seemed to have a particular plan for every circumstance.

Riding on his prowess, Sri Lanka won several crucial games and became a force to reckon with. Although there have been some questions over the legality of his action, nothing can defy that Muralitharan foxed batsmen with his sheer brilliance.

Career stats:

Matches – 350 | Wickets – 534 | Economy Rate – 3.93 | 5 wicket hauls – 10

4. Virat Kohli

The poster boy of modern-day world cricket, Virat Kohli is next on this list. The right-handed batsman has a massive appetite for runs, and his numbers are nothing short of extraordinary. Be it playing an anchor knock or smashing bowlers all over the park, there’s hardly anything which Kohli can’t be with the bat in hand.

However, the factor which separates Kohli from others is his staggering consistency. Regardless of the situation or condition, the talismanic cricketer scored runs and shattered many records. While Kohli has been brilliant throughout his career, captaincy seems to have made him even more daunting.

He likes to lead from the front, and handling pressure situations isn’t beyond his reach either. Apart from his batting prowess, Kohli has also done a remarkable job leading the Indian troops. At 32, the star batsman still has a long way to go, and it’s scary to think what more he’ll achieve before hanging up his boots.

Career stats:

Matches – 254| Runs – 12169 | Average – 59.07 | 100/50 – 43/62

3. AB de Villiers

Arguably the best batsmen to have ever stepped onto the cricket field, AB de Villiers was certain to feature in this club. To say the least, the former South African captain played in a league of his own as he scored runs like no one else did and that too with consistency.

Literally, no delivery was good enough when De Villiers was on song and he somehow would find a way to score runs. While he could play proper cricketing shots like drive, cut and pull, his ability to ramp or sweep the ball dismantled the morale of many players. The same earned him the title of ‘Mr. 360.’

In fact, the swashbuckler also holds the record of smashing the fastest 50, 100 and 150 in international cricket. Not to forget, De Villiers did a commendable job leading his national team and also didn’t mind donning the gloves at times. Owing to these facts, De Villiers holds third place in this list.

Career stats:

Matches – 228 | Runs – 9577 | Average – 53.5 | 100/50 – 25/53

2. Sachin Tendulkar

Having played international cricket in four decades, Tendulkar just didn’t pile a mountain of runs but inspire generations. With his sheer determination and firm self-belief, the 5.5 ft guy from Dadar gave nightmares to many potent bowlers and took India to several wins. Bowlers came and went, rules were changed, and many injuries threatened to cut short Tendulkar’s career.

However, the legendary batsman defied all the odds and delivered consistently. He started his ODI career as a middle-order batsman but earned the opening slot with his tremendous performances, and we all know what happened next. Tendulkar played numerous staggering knocks at the top order and rewrote the record books.

Performing at big stages was another important aspect of Tendulkar’s game as he was the leading scorer of two World Cups (1996 and 2003). He even holds the record of most runs and hundreds in ODIs. However, Tendulkar’s journey was certainly not just about his on-field performances. His personality and aura upstaged the contests, and the ‘Sachin..Sachin’ chants can still be heard.

Career stats:

Matches – 463 | Runs – 18426 | Average – 44.83 | 100/50 – 49/96

1. Jacques Kallis

The top place in this list is occupied by none other than Jacques Kallis! Perhaps the greatest all-rounder of all time, Kallis did wonders on the cricket field and his numbers are jaw-dropping. The right-handed batsman was the backbone was South Africa’s batting line-up for nearly two decades and scoring consistently never seemed to be a problem for him.

Kallis liked to play long knocks and that too while maintaining a decent strike rate. Coming to his bowling prowess, the right-arm pacer wasn’t known to set the speed gun on fire but his control made him a tricky customer for batsmen. He could also generate swing from the surface, and delivering yorkers and bouncers wasn’t beyond his reach either.

It won’t be wrong to say that Kallis belonged to that rare breed of all-rounders, who could make a place in the playing XI both as a pure batsman or bowler. Subsequently, the Proteas legend tops this list of ODI greats.

Career stats:

Matches – 328 | Runs – 11579 | Batting Average – 44.36 | 100/50 – 17/86 | Wickets – 273 | Economy Rate – 4.84 | 5 wicket hauls – 2

(Disclaimer: This list has been made on the basis of longevity and consistency and impact of players. However, the spectrum of viewing  ‘great cricketers’ can be different for different individuals)

India wasn’t ready for 2020! Waking up every morning to news of thousands of humans losing their lives to an ungodly virus wasn’t bread and butter for an average person. And then, Rishi Kapoor and Irrfan Khan, two of India’s colossus in the film industry, passed away in a space of two days. The procession wasn’t going to end anytime soon. On June 14, 2020, one of India’s youth icons breathed his last- Sushant Singh Rajput was no more.

He was 34 and had a movie lined up for release in late July. To pay him tribute, Hotstar streamed his last film ‘Dil Bechara’ for free. Coincidentally, Rajput’s character in the movie also lost his life, though the mode of his demise in his ‘reel life’ was a bit different from his ‘real life’. The scenes of his lifeless body at his residence aren’t going to get erased from the memories in a jiffy.

It was around half-past two when the news broke, sending the world in sheer disbelief. A year down the line, the reason for him, taking the drastic step is still pretty much unclear. Throwing mud at Bollywood celebrities, disparaging them for triggering Sushant’s demise and the never-ending issue of nepotism came to the fore. Things turned ugly, uglier, and then the ugliest.

Amidst the hullabaloo lied the question- Was Sushant going to come back to life? No prizes for guessing the answer.

The identity conundrum

Sushant wasn’t someone of the stature of the celebrated Khans, but he had an aura that oozed class and oomph. In September 2016, when MS Dhoni– The Untold Story was about to release, there were apprehensions over his potential to enact the role of one of India’s greatest cricketers.

Nearly five years down the line, it remains one of his best, if not his best, performance on-screen. Superseding Dhoni’s stature is a tough task, and the reasons are understandable with him leading India for nearly a decade. Sushant might have done the near impossible.

From his quarks when he went out to bat in the 2011 World Cup final against Sri Lanka, the enactment of the iconic ‘Helicopter Shot’ to his facial expressions, one can’t be blamed for misidentifying Sushant as Dhoni, who is set to turn 40 years in around three weeks.

He imitated Dhoni to the extent that people started getting a glimpse of the former Indian skipper in the late actor. Sushant’s movies didn’t feature among the highest grossers, but were critically acclaimed. Now it’s all in the past, and all one is left with are his priceless memories.

Are we putting enough emphasis on the value of life?

Sushant was among the many celebs to embrace the heavens in 2020 due to various reasons. Even as it’s only known to Almighty when the investigations surrounding his demise will end, the fact that it’s hard to fill his massive shoes can’t be dismissed out of sight.

Apart from them, commoners also lost their lives- some due to the COVID-19 pandemic and a few due to other reasons. It’s been one and half years since things started going awry in the country. The first wave of the virus followed by the second wave has worn people down.

From people not being able to attend the funeral of their loved ones, people being stripped of their jobs, to a number of hassles- the world is still in a resurrection mode. But despite the turmoil, complacency has snuck in; the importance of taking precautions is being iterated time and again.

In one of his movies, ‘Chhichhore’, Sushant had said, “Zindagi Mein sabse zyaba important hai… toh woh hai khud Zindagi. (If anything is most important in life, it’s life itself.” It’s as simple, nothing is more valuable than human life, NOTHING!

The world won’t be seeing another Sushant Singh Rajput. The knowledgeable character he was, maybe his life wasn’t valued enough. The universe couldn’t save him, but the world can take care of itself in unity and mitigate the damage. There’s always a chance to make amends.

Rest in Peace SSR, wherever you are!

2nd April 2011, Ind vs SL, World Cup Final “Dhoni finishes off in style, a magnificent strike into the crowd. India lift the World Cup after 28 years, the party’s started in the dressing room and it is an Indian captain who has been absolutely magnificent in the night of the final”. These were the words voiced by Ravi Shastri on that endless night of 2nd April 2011 at Wankhede Stadium when Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the then captain of India launched the ball over long-on for a six and ended the 28-year wait of a World Cup victory. A nation of over a billion was on their feet and  MS Dhoni was their hero.

When Sehwag got out for a duck on the second ball of the Indian innings, the pressure took its toll on the Indian team. Gambhir and Sachin tried to stable the innings before Malinga got the prized wicket of the Master Blaster and silence gloomed at Wankhede. In came Kohli, who batted brilliantly under pressure and tried to steady the ship.

Tillakaratne Dilshan took a diving catch off his own bowling to dismiss the settled Virat Kohli and brought the Lankans back into the game. India still required 161 more runs to lift the World Cup. The crowd was cheering for their hero Yuvraj Singh who was about to come on to bat, but to everyone’s surprise, it was the skipper MS Dhoni who came in to bat at No. 5.

Throughout the tournament, Dhoni was out of form, but he decided to come out to bat as the spin wizard of Sri Lanka Muttiah Muralitharan was bowling his spell out there in the middle. Yuvraj was kept waiting for his turn to bat. This maneuver could have gone against MS Dhoni, which in turn could have cost us the World Cup, but we all knew our Captain cool and his ability to take calculated risks had earned him positive results many times in the past. Dhoni and Gambhir had almost got India to victory before Thisara Perera clean bowled the latter in the 42nd over of the Indian innings with 52 runs still needed off 52 balls.

Gautam Gambhir played an essential inning for India

Gambhir scored a brilliant 97 runs in the finals of the World Cup. It was an innings of valor and patience that had set the tone for the Men in Blue for a World Cup win. Gambhir was the architect behind India’s historic triumph. His innings of 97 will go down as one of the most valuable innings ever played in an International match.

He is the man who has always delivered when it mattered the most, be it the 2007 T20 World Cup final or the Test Match in New Zealand where his innings were full of patience and courage that saw India draw that Test match and take the series 1-0. MS Dhoni and Yuvraj played patiently until the equation came down to just 4 runs required off 11 balls.

Almost everyone knew that India are just a step away from becoming the new World Champions but as it has been rightly said, it ain’t over till it’s over. Dhoni finished the match in his trademark style with a six, off Nuwan Kulasekara’s bowling. The entire nation was in tears of joy, their 28-year long wait was finally over. Sachin Tendulkar eventually got to lift that trophy.

There were huge roars, shouts, chants of Dhoni…! Dhoni…! as soon as MS scored the winning runs. Gary Kirsten and Sachin Tendulkar were given a lap of honor by the Indian players. The long-awaited dream of holding the most precious and important trophy in the history of cricket had arrived for the Men in Blue.

Yuvraj Singh was playing two different leagues altogether, one was the battle of the World Cup and the other was his own battle with Cancer. The determination with which he played throughout the tournament was commendable. He was awarded the Man of the Tournament, and he truly deserved it. The match against West Indies in the group stage where Yuvi was coughing blood showed how badly he wanted to win the World Cup for India.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who was out of form throughout the tournament was the Man of the Match in the final for his match-winning knock of 91 not out. A billion hopes were on him when he came out to bat ahead of Yuvraj Singh and he wasn’t in a mood to torment them. He batted with sheer determination and ended the match with a six that still remains etched in the hearts of each and every individual who got to witness that eternal night.

– By Karan Ramesh Chandi

Indian cricket fans around the world have a debt of gratitude that they need to pay to Mohammad Azharuddin. For, it was the ‘nod of approval’ from Azharuddin that allowed a plethora of Indian fans to witness the most glorious chapter in Indian cricket history. What was that ‘nod of approval’ and why does it deserve our attention today?

On 27th March 1994, India’s regular opener Navjot Singh Sidhu was injured and was not in a position to take the field against New Zealand. And, when the Indian side was frantically looking for a replacement, a young boy just out of his teens asked his captain to give him a chance. Sachin Tendulkar put his hand up and told his captain that he will walk out to open the batting for his country against New Zealand.

Azharuddin gave his ‘nod of approval’ to Tendulkar. And so, out walked the 20-year-old Tendulkar, with his Blue and Yellow (yes, the Indian jersey had shades of yellow back in 1994) jersey fluttering in the breeze.

The Sachin Tendulkar blitzkrieg that took Auckland by storm

The Kiwis batted first and posted a mediocre total of 142 runs on the board. And in his first outing as an opener, Tendulkar could have taken his time to settle down. But then, this was a situation where he was given complete freedom. And, the 20-year-old prodigy’s batting acquired gargantuan proportions.

Tendulkar’s first boundary in ODI cricket as an opener was a picturesque straight drive down the ground. To a ball that was pitched up, he offered the full face of the blade, and the ball sped down the ground to the boundary. We have witnessed countless straight drives from Tendulkar’s blade in ODI cricket. But cherish this one, as it was his first as an opener in ODIs.

Chris Pringle tried to outwit Tendulkar by bowling a slower delivery, but the diminutive batting genius was up to the task. Sachin Tendulkar picked the change in pace early and smashed the delivery over mid-on for a boundary. And then came a vintage flick from Tendulkar’s willow that raced past mid-wicket. To a ball that was pitched on leg stump, the right-hander brought his dexterous wrists into play and threaded the gap on the leg side with ease.

Then came a backfoot punch that would become another Tendulkar trademark over the years. To a ball that was pitched just short of a good length, Tendulkar rose on his toes and punched the ball through the offside. Danny Morrison then bowled a delivery on his pads, and in the mood that Tendulkar was in, he did not miss out and deposited the white cherry behind square for a boundary.

And then, came the shot of the match. You could be perfectly forgiven if you felt jealous of the 20000 odd people who had turned up in the stadium to witness this first hand. To a delivery that was pitched up by Danny Morrison, Tendulkar just hit the ball through the line and the cherry sped to the boundary at breakneck speed. The crowd was witnessing the birth of a batting colossus. Tendulkar was blossoming like a flower in Auckland, and his fragrance was spreading fast.

The batting prodigy reached his half-century with a vintage pull past mid-wicket. His half-century had come off just 34 deliveries, at a strike rate of 150. T20 cricket was still a decade away, but Tendulkar was already showing shades of it in Auckland. Gavin Larsen was then deposited into the stands when he bowled a short delivery. The bowler had his hands on his hips, completely helpless. Well, what do you do when a genius expresses himself to his fullest?

Chris Pringle then sprayed a delivery onto Tendulkar pads, and the little batting maestro just flicked him with nonchalance past square leg. Tendulkar’s blitzkrieg came to an end when he offered a return catch to Matthew Hart. Out of the target of 143, Tendulkar had contributed 82. And, he had just consumed 49 deliveries to score his runs and had scored them at a strike rate of 167.35. And, these numbers are good even for T20 cricket.

Sachin Tendulkar- The greatest opener in ODI cricket history

With another silent thank you to Azharuddin for his ‘nod of approval’, let us take a look at the top 5 batsmen with the most runs in ODI history as an opener.

It is clear from the above table that Tendulkar is way ahead of the pack. He leads his nearest competitor, Sanath Jayasuriya by 2570 runs in spite of playing 43 innings lesser than the Sri Lankan legend. Tendulkar also averages a stunning 48.30 as an opener in ODIs, and the man who can come closest to Tendulkar in the above list is Sourav Ganguly, and he averages 41.57.

The ‘God of cricket’ is also the only batsman to have scored more than 100 fifty-plus scores as an opener in ODIs. Tendulkar recorded a fifty-plus score once every 2.83 innings as an opener, and no other batsman in the list has an innings per fifty-plus score of less than 3.00. Needless to say, Tendulkar is the greatest opener that ODI cricket has ever witnessed.

A Thank You to Mohammad Azharuddin for his ‘nod of approval’

And finally, let us once again thank Mohammad Azharuddin for the ‘nod of approval’. It was due to his ‘nod of approval’ that the world witnessed Tendulkar ripping apart Shane Warne in Sharjah in 1998. It was due to the ‘nod of approval’ that the world witnessed the effervescent 98 from Tendulkar’s willow in the 2003 World Cup against Pakistan. It was due to the ‘nod of approval’ that the world witnessed the first-ever double century in ODI cricket.

And finally, it was the ‘nod of approval’ from Azharuddin that allowed Sachin Tendulkar to become the batting deity of an entire nation.

Note: All the stats have been taken from Howstat cricket and Cricinfo and have been updated as on 27th March 2021

Sometimes a cricket match becomes way more important than just winning or losing. Sometimes, the deeds of a player on the cricket field act as a soothing effect and allows a nation to bask in its glory.

On 26th November 2008, the city of Mumbai was rocked by a terrorist attack that left the city reeling. The entire nation was sent into shock, as many people in Mumbai lost their kith and kin. It was in this backdrop that a man named Sachin Tendulkar scored a magical hundred, at the MA Chidambaram stadium on 15th December 2008, to bring back a smile on people’s faces.

Tendulkar has always been the darling of the nation, but his century in Chennai is an extremely special one, not just because it allowed India to record their second-highest successful run chase in Tests, but more so because of the fact that it provided a ‘healing effect’, amidst the chaos that the nation found itself in.

Virender Sehwag’s pyrotechnics sets the stage for Tendulkar

In the first Test in Chennai, England dominated the majority of the Test match and left India with a colossal target of 387 to be chased down. Generally, teams would go for the much safer option of a draw, when confronted with a big target to be chased in the fourth innings, but India had an opener called Virender Sehwag in their midst.

Sehwag ripped apart the England bowling attack and scored a blazing 68 ball 83. It was a Test match, but Sehwag scored his runs at a strike rate of 122.05. In fact, when Sehwag was dismissed, the scorecard read 117/1 after 23 overs. India had scored their runs at a rate of 5.09 runs per over, and a prospect of a win wasn’t out of the equation.

The Tendulkar special

India’s batting God walked in, with the scoreboard reading 141/2. As usual, when the master walked in, there was a sense of anticipation from the partisan crowd in Chennai. Could Tendulkar pull off something special at his favourite MA Chidambaram stadium?

Tendulkar’s first boundary was a shot that underlined his intent. To a ball that was just short of a length from Andrew Flintoff, Tendulkar rocked back onto the backfoot and cut the ball fiercely past gully for a boundary.

When Graeme Swann pitched one on his pads, the ‘Master Blaster’ brought out the paddle shot out of his vast repertoire, and the ball raced away to the boundary. James Anderson then tried to outsmart the master by bowling a fast short delivery at close to 140 kmph, but Tendulkar was up to the task. Tendulkar bent low, kept his eyes on the ball and executed the uppercut to perfection.

The batting Genius got to his fifty with a single to point. At that stage, India were still 126 runs away from victory, and it was important that Tendulkar stayed till the end. When Graeme Swann tossed the ball up, Tendulkar got down on his knees and deposited the ball over mid-wicket for a boundary. India were inching closer to their target, and their batting talisman was leading the way.

Tendulkar got into the nervous nineties with another paddle shot off Monty Panesar. He had built a match-turning partnership with Yuvraj Singh, and the England bowlers were wilting under the pressure. The ‘Little Master’ played the shot of the match when he was batting on 92. Panesar tossed the ball up, Tendulkar got onto the front foot, and threaded the ball between point and cover with supreme precision.

Tendulkar got to his 41st Test hundred with a paddle sweep off Graeme Swann. And with that, not only had the master reached three figures, the Indian side had also overhauled a stiff target with 6 wickets to spare.

The master raised his arms up in joy, and the crowd at the MA Chidambaram stadium in Chennai went berserk.

A gem from the master’s willow

After his hundred, Tendulkar had the following to say.

“I dedicate this century to the people of Mumbai. Cricket cannot lessen whatever happened. I hope this 100 will give some amount of happiness to the people.”

It was a hundred that will rank as one of Tendulkar’s best centuries in the longest format of the game. It was a hundred that was scored on a fifth-day track where the ball was turning and gripping, it was a hundred scored in pursuit of a gargantuan target of 387, and finally, it was a hundred that gave India something to cheer about in challenging and trying times.

Australia ended their wait for an Ashes series win in 1891-92 home season but waited until 1899 for their maiden Ashes series victory in England. It was one of Australia’s 3rd successive Ashes series win between 1897-98 and 1901-02 home triumphs. Australia toured England in 1902 with the confidence of retaining the urn for the 4th consecutive time. The 5-match series that began in May itself witnessed Australia escaping with a draw at the Edgbaston after being dismissed for mere 36.

The second Test at the Lord’s ended in a draw as only 105 minutes of play was possible due to rain and poor pitch conditions. By July, the weather improved so did Australia’s performances. They cruised to a 143-run win in the 3rd Test which was played at Bramall Lane in Sheffield, a venue that was making its Test debut. The 4th Test in Manchester had a lot of significance and both the rival teams responded in same fashion making it a thriller.

Australia, batting first, made 299 and while England responded with 262. The track became tough for batting as the match progressed and the Aussies were bowled out for only 86 in their 2nd essay. Chasing a target of 124, the English team reached 92/3 as four of their top five batters scored in excess of 15 runs. The home team looked set to level the series but lost their last seven wickets for only 28 runs. They ended up losing the Test by mere three runs as Australia retained the Ashes with a series-winning lead.

A thrilling to finish the series!

The final Test match of the series at The Oval didn’t have much of a significance but England had a lot to play for. The English team managed to win only two of the previous 19 Test matches leading to which they lost four successive series. Troubles continued for England at The Oval despite George Hirst’s 5-wicket haul as Australia reached 324 on the first day. Hugh Trumble took an 8-wicket haul bowling unchanged for the hosts to reduce England to 183 in the first innings.

Much like the Manchester Test, the English team fought back with the ball as Bill Lockwood’s 5-fer collapsed the visitors to 121. But the target of 263 looked like a mountain for the hosts as the left-arm bowler Jack Saunders claimed the first four wickets of England’s innings. The home team was almost out of the contest as they were five wickets down for 48. But Stanley Jackson and Gilbert Jessop blossomed hopes for England with a crucial partnership.

The No.7 batsman Gilbert Jessop was aggressive through his innings and made most of the support from Jackson. Jessop got his fifty in only 38 deliveries as he kept finding boundaries. The 6th wicket stand was worth of 109 runs came to an end after Jackson fell for a 100-ball 49. Jessop continued to score runs at a rapid pace and reached his hundred in only 76 deliveries. Unfortunately, he got out on 104 with England needing another 76 runs but only three wickets in hand.

No tension for England!

England’s line-up at The Oval was a rare one as all 11 players had at least one first-class century to their credit. Post Jessop’s dismissal, the No.8 batsman Hirst took the charge of the chase with a sensible knock. He kept the scoreboard ticking and also had an eye on the resources available at the other end. He added 27 runs for the 8th wicket with Lockwood (2) and 34 runs for the 9th wicket with the keeper Arthur Lilley (16). Trumble dismissed both the batters to extend his match tally to 12 wickets.

England was left to chase 15 runs with one wicket in hand but there was no reason to panic for them. The batsman who walked to bat was Wilfred Rhodes who was also known for his exploits with the bat. The duo safely got England over the line with Hirst completing his fifty in 75 balls. This 263-run chase by England was the only successful chase of 200+ target on England soil until the 2nd World War. As on today, the 215 runs scored by England after the loss of 5th wicket are the 2nd highest during a successful Test chase.

England won the first-ever Ashes Test series in 1882-83 tour of Australia and later stood hosts for the first time in 1884. The first Test in Manchester ended in a draw where Australia held the upper hand. But England retained the Ashes in the 2nd Test at the Lord’s with a margin of an innings and five runs. Australia still had a chance to draw the Test series in the last game of the 3-match series at The Oval starting on August 11th.

Australia made a solid start after electing to bat first with as many as three players scoring centuries on the first day itself. Charles Bannerman got out scoring four runs but his partner Percy McDonnell struck 14 boundaries on his way to a 168-ball 103. He put on a 143-run partnership for the 2nd wicket along with skipper Billy Murdoch. Henry Scott, who walked in at No.4, ended the day at an unbeaten 101. Murdoch remained unbeaten on 145 helping his side to finish on 363/2.

Everyone gets a chance to bowl!

Back in the 19th century, the over rates were quite high and the number of balls per over varied. During this Test in 1884, each over had four balls which saw the England team bowl as many as 183 overs on the first day. This could have translated into 122 overs of 6 balls which is still a big number compared to the 90 and less bowled in the modern day cricket.

It turned out to be a tough day for the England bowlers as the home skipper Lord Harris went on to ask the wicket-keeper, The Honorable Alfred Lyttelton to have a bowl. Lyttelton, towards the end of the day, bowled three overs giving 11 runs in what was his first bowling innings in four Test matches. Alfred was the 10th bowler to be used by England on the first day’s play and Walter Read kept the wickets.

Towards the end of Australia’s first innings on the second day, Arthur Shrewsbury rolled his arms for the first time in Test cricket which helped England create a rare record for using as many as 11 bowlers  in a Test inning. It stood as the only instance in first 100 years of Test cricket where all 11 players of a team bowled in an innings. This has been replicated only three more times till date.

The 4-wicket haul with lob bowling!

Alfred Lyttelton wasn’t a specialist at bowling and hence he ended up with lob bowling which loosely translates to underarm bowling. The trajectory of his deliveries came in a high arc that ended up in the line outside leg-stump. His bowling was once again required as Australia continued to bat and showed no urgency on the second day. Scott added only one run to his overnight score before his partnership of 207 for the 3rd wicket with Murdoch came to an end.

The Australian skipper went on to score 211 off 525 balls during an innings spanned across 490 minutes. Lyttelton was brought into the attack for a second spell in the 295th over of the innings when Australia were 532/6. WG Grace kept wickets this time who ended up affecting a dismissal on the very first ball. Billy Midwinter (30) ended up edging a loopy delivery from the Lyttelton. This made Alfred the first player to claim a Test wicket while playing as a wicketkeeper and it was also the first Test wicket through lob bowling.

Couple of overs later, another set batsman Jack Blackham (32) was trapped in front by the England keeper. Just as Aussies inched close to the 550-run mark, Fred Spofforth was cleaned up Lyttelton. The lob bowler then went on to bag four wickets as the last man Harry Boyle was caught at mid-on by skipper Harris. Australia was eventually bowled out for 551 playing as many as 311 overs.

The England team faced 42.4 overs before stumps on 2nd day where they made 71/2. Australia’s innings win seemed to be certain when England lost their 8th wicket at the score of 181 shortly after lunch. But No.10 batsman Walter Read smashed 117 from only 155 balls and shared a 151-run stand in two hours with opener William Scotton (90). Australia enforced the follow-on after England were bowled out for 356 in 198 overs. England made 85/2 in 26 overs in the second essay before the match ended in a draw.

A record to stay forever!

Hon. Alfred Lyttelton, till date, remains the only player to claim a 4-wicket haul in Men’s International cricket while playing as a wicketkeeper. In fact, only two players managed to pick more than one wicket while playing as a designated wicketkeeper after Lyttelton in a Men’s International game but none could do it in a Test. However, Ingrid Jagersma of New Zealand took 4/38 during a Women’s Test match against India in 1985 and remains as the only Woman to take a Test wicket while playing as a keeper.

In the summer of 1896, the Australian team toured England for a 3-match Ashes series under the captaincy of Harry Trott. As many as 11 Ashes series took place before this tour but the Aussies managed to win only one that too in the 1891-92 home season. England was dominant over the Aussies at home as the English team won all the five Ashes series they hosted before 1896. Australia managed to win only one Test across 14 matches played in those five series on English soil.

Australia’s wait for their first Ashes series win in England looked set to be extended with them collapsing to 53/10 in the first session of the series opener at the Lord’s. Skipper Harry Trott inspired his team with a 143-run knock in the second innings that helped Australia to finish on 347. But it was not enough for the Aussies as England chased down the target of 109 losing four wickets. But the way Harry batted in the 2nd essay surely lifted the spirits of the visitors to bounce back.

The Australian fightback!

Opener Frank Iredale struck a century at the Old Trafford helping Australia to reach 412 in their first innings. England was forced to follow-on after they were bowled out for 231. An unbeaten 154 from KS Ranjitsinhji got England to finish with 305 in the follow-on innings. Australia got a target of 124 which they reached losing seven wickets to level the series. The series-decider was scheduled to be played at The Oval starting from August 10th.

Ahead of the Test match, five England cricketers – Bobby Abel, Tom Richardson, Tom Hayward, George Gunn and George Lohmann went on a strike demanding a higher match fee. The five players demanded 20 pounds in place of regular fees of 10 pounds for playing the game. Gunn and Lohmann backed out from the game even after the talks went on while the remaining three stayed in the team. However, heavy rain on the opening day at The Oval saw no play until 4:55 PM local time.

The greed for an extra run!

Batting was expected to be quite tough after the pitch got drenched in rain. England did well on day one finishing at 69/1 after electing to bat first. Hugh Trumble ran through England’s middle and lower-order with a 6-wicket haul as the home team fell apart. England lost their last seven wickets for just 31 runs to be bowled out for 145. Australia, in reply, started well thanks to an opening partnership between Joe Darling and Frank Iredale. They went to lunch without losing a wicket and 45 runs on the board.

An all run four in the second session took Aussies to 75/0 with more than half of England’s first innings total being cleared. But the duo of Darling and Iredale tried for a 5th run only to see the end of Frank’s innings for 30 runs. The 75-run partnership came in only 45 minutes, a short span which was the only good period for Australia with the bat in the whole match. Soon after Iredale’s runout, Joe Darling was dismissed for 47. Australia eventually stumbled to 119 as Jack Hearne claimed a 6-wicket haul.

Australia’s wait continues!

Australia continued to fight with the bat despite conceding a lead of 26 runs in the first innings. They kept down the hosts to 84 with Trumble picking up yet another 6-wicket haul in the match. Though the target Australia got was only 111, the pitch was almost unplayable for the batsmen. WG Grace handed the ball to his spinners Jack Hearne and Bobby Peel after the first over.

The off-spinner Hearne took three wickets to leave Australia reeling at 7/3 before the left-arm spinner Peel showed his magic. Bobby took six consecutive wickets to fall as the visitors collapsed to 25/9 with no batsman scoring more than six runs. At this stage, the No.11 batsman Tom McKibbin scored 16 runs and added 19 runs for the last wicket with Trumble (7*). Hearne picked up the last wicket as the Aussies were bowled out for 44 runs in 26 overs to lose the match by 66 runs.

Jack Hearne completed the match with ten wickets to help England seal the Test series with a margin of 2-1. From the point of Frank Iredale’s try for the 5th run, Australia lost all 20 wickets for only 88 runs. Tom Richardson took 24 wickets in the first two Tests of the series with 5-wicket hauls in all four innings out of which three were 6-wicket hauls. However, he got a chance to bowl just six overs at The Oval due to Hearne and Peel’s dominance.

In the 1895 County Championship, the Gloucestershire team hosted Sussex at the Ashley Down Ground, Bristol. Gloucestershire, led by WG Grace, was fresh of a 284-run win against Warwickshire. On the other hand, Billy Murdoch’s Sussex team suffered a 10-wicket defeat in the hands of Surrey prior to touring Briston. The first day’s play (August 5) was washed out even before the toss took place while the second day witnessed a brief portion of Sussex’s batting after they elected to bat first.

They were 30/1 at stumps on day two but were bowled out for just 99 runs on the final day morning. Charlie Townsend and Gilbert Jessop, the opening bowlers of Gloucestershire, bowled unchanged by taking five wickets apiece. Later, Jessop and Townsend turned out to be the best batters for the home team scoring 53 and 28 runs respectively. The 4-wicket haul by Charles Fry saw the Gloucestershire bowl out for 159 only but they did earn a 60-run first-innings lead.

Sussex began their 2nd essay with little over two hours of play left in the match. The match seemed to be heading towards a draw before Townsend ran through the Sussex batting line-up. He claimed a 7-wicket haul and ended up with 12 wickets in the match. Jessop picked up a couple while Frederick Roberts took one as Sussex crumbled to 60/10. The top two contributions came from Charles Fry and George Bean who scored 18 and 21 runs respectively.

A substitute fielder from the opposition!

Sussex innings lasted only 27.2 overs where each over lasted only five balls. The total of 60 helped Sussex overcome the deficit but left Gloucestershire to score a solitary run and complete a win. However, less than 15 minutes of play was left when Sussex got bowled out in their 2nd innings. There was an uncertainty in the dressing room of Sussex as most of the top-order batsmen packed the bags expecting the match to end in a draw.

Kumar Sri Ranjitsinhji even left the venue as he was the 2nd batsman to be dismissed in Sussex’s innings. At this stage, WG Grace voluntarily came forward to fill up for Ranjitsinhji to get Gloucestershire’s 1-run chase underway in time. Jessop opened the batting with JJ Ferris while Frederick Tate took the new ball for Sussex. Gilbert Jessop, who took the strike, took a single on the third ball of the innings to finish off the match.

Roy Gilchrist was known for his pace and the bouncers which would often make the batsmen uncomfortable but wasn’t as tall as his fellow West Indian pacers. Gilchrist’s Test career lasted 13 matches in two years and a first-class career of 42 matches which was spread over mere six and a half years. One of the major reasons for his short career was his aggression with the ball. Roy Gilchrist was fond of making the ball whistle past the batsmen at a rearing pace.

He used to ignore instructions from captains in this process and often ended up knocking down the opposition batters. The speedster made his debut in England during the summer of 1959 about seven months after his first-class debut. But his last appearance in the longer format came well before he turned 25. The then West Indies skipper Gerry Alexander, with the agreement of fellow players, excluded Roy Gilchrist during their tour of sub-continent where they were supposed to face India and Pakistan.

During India’s leg matches, Gilchrist kept going hard way with the ball despite the orders from Alexander. He went on to hit a couple of Indian batters on their head during the tour which prompted the West Indies skipper to take an action. Gilchrist preferred to play Lancashire League cricket as he featured in only one FC match in 3-year span after his ousting. During the 1962-63 season, Gilchrist turned up for Hyderabad for whom he played one Ranji Trophy match and featured in five other first-class matches in India.

Making the unexpected happen!

Roy Gilchrist spent six English summers playing the Lancashire League and Worsley Cup. He made his debut during the Central Lancashire League in 1965 where he represented Crompton team. In his very first match, Gilchrist claimed a 5-wicket haul after scoring 24 runs as Crompton sneaked in a 3-run victory against Royton at the Paddock in Royton. The Crompton team were earlier bowled out for just 121 runs while lasting for 34 overs.

It was followed by a home match for Crompton at the Glebe Street in Oldham against the Radcliffe team. Gilchrist found himself in a similar situation as Crompton could only post 106 runs this time with none of their batters even getting to the 30-run mark. A 6-wicket haul in his 10.1 overs from M Hilton played a key role in limiting Radcliffe to what seemed to be an easy target. The West Indian opened the bowling with P Sutcliffe in pursuit of defending the small total.

Bouncers and more bouncers!

The opening pair of Derek Bickley and Bill McDonald got four runs in first two overs before Gilchrist bowled a wide range of beamers. The overseas star of Crompton troubled the Radcliff captain-keeper Bickley in the very first over of the chase. He resumed the same in the 3rd over with back to back beamers. Roy Gilchrist then decided to send a beamer 18 yards away from the batsman i.e. bowling a bouncer coming six yards into the playing surface.

Bickley avoided damage by backing himself towards the square-leg fielder on seeing Gilchrist not releasing the ball inside the popping crease. However, the Derek Bickley was furious at the bowling tactics of Gilchrist and decided to walk off along with his partner. The match was called off as the Radcliffe team refused to take the field after the incident. However, Crompton earned full points according to the League rules which considers Radcliffe to have conceded the match.

The penalty!

The two players involved in the abandonment of the match – Roy Gilchrist and Derek Bickley got suspended for the remainder of the tournament. The teams of the two players were supposed to play three matches after the controversial game held on August 7th. During the 1960 season, Gilchrist turned out to be the reason behind Oldham’s walk-off from their home match against the Middleton team.