5 biggest cricketing events in the world

Although run-of-the-mill bilateral series form a major part of the cricketing calendar, what a cricket fan truly lives for is watching iconic series or tournaments irrespective of the format. The interest in the game has been apparently taking a hit in recent years, and the only way the International Cricket Council (ICC) can revive interest is by conducting ICC events at more regular intervals or creating a cricketing rivalry between more nations than there currently exist.Among the biggest events in global cricket, apart from ICC events, India-related tournaments/series make more impact than other clashes, which is the hard reality in global cricket currently, taking into account the incredibly skewed market for the sport in India.Here are the 5 biggest events in global cricket –

#5 Indian Premier League (IPL)

Whether one likes it or not, the Indian Premier League (IPL) is undoubtedly one of the biggest cricketing events in the world today and catches the eyeballs of millions of people across the globe. Riding on India’s success in the 2007 World T20, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) launched the lucrative T20 franchise league in 2008. The Shane Warne-led Rajasthan Royals (RR) won the first season, which took place between April-June 2008, by beating Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the final, and the tournament has only grown in stature since then. The league’s USP has been the fact that it has been able to attract the best T20 cricketers in the world right from its outset, giving it a massive edge over all of its competitors.

Over the seven seasons of the IPL, CSK have been the most consistent side, having won the tournament twice in addition to having made the knock-out stages each and every season. It’s no surprise, then, that Suresh Raina, who has played a crucial role in CSK’s success, is the highest run-getter in the IPL with 3,325 runs to his name. Mumbai Indians’ Lasith Malinga, meanwhile, has taken 119 wickets across the various editions and is the league’s most successful bowler.

#4 India vs Pakistan

What makes contests between India and Pakistan truly special is the fact that it is the only cricketing rivalry in the world which was born out of matters beyond the 22 yards. Widely in contention with Ashes as the pinnacle of nation vs nation rivalry in cricket, there is very little that matches the tension surrounding an India vs Pakistan battle.

With that being the case, it’s a pity that the two sides have played each other only sporadically due to the tense relations between the two countries ever since independence, depriving cricket fans of both nations of more such contests.

Some of the great contests between the two nations in recent years include India’s last over win in the 2007 World T20 final and the 1999 Test match in Chennai, where an outstanding Sachin Tendulkar hundred in the fourth innings wasn’t enough to prevent Pakistan from securing a nail-biting 12-run victory.

#3 ICC World T20

Much like the ICC 50-over World Cup, the ICC World T20 had its fair share of skeptics to start off with. Ironically, India were the most skeptical with senior players – most notably Sachin Tendulkar - preferring being rested, giving selectors the chance to send a younger team. And, of course, what happened subsequently, as they say, is history. India ended up winning the inaugural World T20 after beating Pakistan in the final, and the tournament is now entrenched in the international calendar.

The beauty of the tournament, in its short history, has been the fact that no team has won the tournament more than once, reflecting the unpredictability of the T20 format. Out of the five editions to have taken place up to this point, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, the three cricketing giants of the subcontinent, along with West Indies and England have won the tournament once each.

#2 The Ashes

Interest in Test cricket might have died down in recent years, but as far as the Ashes is concerned, the anticipation and hype surrounding the oldest and the most iconic series remains as strong as ever. The first ever Test match between Australia and England was held at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in 1877, but the first ever Ashes series started in December 1882, five years later, in the wake of Australia beating England at the Oval a few months earlier.

The series has been a holy ritual ever since then and is looked forward to, with huge fervour, not just by people of the two countries but by the cricketing world at large. As far as the contests are concerned, Australia hold a slight edge over England in most departments. Out of the 68 series played until now, the Australians have won 32 compared to England’s 31 with 5 having been drawn. In addition, while the men from Down Under have scored 264 centuries and taken 10 wickets in a match on 41 occasions, Englishmen have scored a slightly inferior 212 centuries and taken 10 wickets in a match 38 times.

Australia’s Don Bradman, with a colossal 5028 runs from 37 Tests, is the leading run-scorer in Ashes history followed by England’s Jack Hobbs. In the bowling department, meanwhile, Shane Warne is leading the pack with 195 wickets from 36 Tests.

#1 ICC ODI World Cup

The first Cricket World Cup was held in 1975 when one-day cricket was still very much in its infancy, with a mere 19 ODIs having been played prior to the start of the World Cup. Test cricket was still very much the priority of the cricketing world, and tactics specific to one-day cricket hadn’t been devised as yet. Be that as it may, the tournament came to a terrific end with West Indies beating Australia in the final at Lord’s by 17 runs, which gave its critics a clear indication that the Cricket World Cup was here to stay for good.

The two subsequent editions were held in England before being moved to the sub-continent in 1987. The 1987 World Cup was also the first time that matches constituted 50 overs per side as opposed to 60 earlier. Coloured clothing and white balls, meanwhile, were introduced in 1992 in Australia and New Zealand, and there has also been a constant expansion in terms of the number of teams participating with each event.

Australia have won the World Cup the most number of times, having won in 1987, 1999, 2003 and 2007 while India and West indies are a joint-second, having won twice each. Pakistan and Sri Lanka, meanwhile, have won the tournament once each, whereas England, New Zealand and South Africa are yet to get off the mark.

While Sachin Tendulkar, with 2,278 runs from 6 World Cups, is the leading run-scorer in the tournament’s history, Glenn McGrath is leading the wicket-taking charts with 71 wickets after having played 4 World Cups.