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These five moments from the year 2018 were the most joyful
The ICC (International Cricket Committee) Awards are the set of awards which recognize and honour the finest of the cricketers from the year gone by. Given by the highest cricket authority, these awards carry pride and importance for the cricketers. This will be the 15th year in running that these appreciations handed out to the players.
The winners of the ICC Awards are named by a committee which comprises of former players, match officials and respected members from media. The ICC has already declared the winners in women category while the winning men are set to be named in mid-January. The panel will evaluate the performances from 1st January 2018 to 31st December 2018.
While the panel decides the worthy winners, there is one category whose winner is decided by the fans. The ‘Fan’s Moment of the Year’ is the award which was added for the first time in 2017, and this will be the second time it is contested. Last year’s winning moment was Pakistan defeating India in the ICC Champions Trophy 2017. Here are five moments which may win this year.
Also read: Predicting the winners of 2018 ICC awards
#5 Ireland joins the elite band of Test nations
12th May 2018 became the historic day which witnessed Ireland’s first steps into Test cricket. Even since their miraculous performance in the World Cup 2007, the green nation had delivered inspiring moments and strengthened their bid of playing red-ball cricket. The ICC ultimately accepted the Irish as a full member nation and they became the 11th nation to play Test cricket.
Ireland obtained the privilege of playing their debut Test on their home ground of Dublin. They also won the toss and inserted Pakistan to bat first. Tim Murtagh bowled the first ball, and Boyd Rankin picked the first wicket for Ireland. Kevin O’Brien scored a scintillating century. However, despite the best of the efforts, Ireland lost the Test by five wickets.
Beyond the result, the Test cricket greeted its newest member. It remains one of the most joyful moments of the year.
#4 Afghanistan caps off its years of progress with debut Test
One of the nominations in ICC’s Fan’s moment of the year in 2018 was Ireland and Afghanistan earning Test status as full members. This year, both the nations fulfilled the dream of playing Test cricket. Ireland achieved it against Pakistan in May while Afghanistan did so versus India in June.
India had been helpful to their Asian neighbours from quite a few years and extended the support by hosting a Test match. The momentous occasion of Afghanistan entering the Test arena was graced by many dignitaries from both the sides. The match began and ended in great spirit. Afghanistan conceded a huge total and were shot out twice in a day, but the result was immaterial at that point.
Afghanistan have already achieved new heights in the limited-overs cricket, but it was their entry in the Test cricket that will shine most brightly. Becoming only the 12th nation to play Tests will be a moment that Afghan fans won’t forget.
#3 Australia clinches the 2018 ICC Women’s World Cup
The sixth edition of the ICC Women’s World Cup was played in the Caribbean in November 2018. This year’s competition received wide viewership and coverage and there was a tremendous interest in the women’s cricket. It was Australia who claimed their fourth championship.
India, West Indies, England and Australia emerged as the strongest teams from the group stage. India and West Indies were the undefeated sides from their groups. However, both the sides succumbed to a knock-out loss against England and Australia to set the final between two of the oldest rivals.
In the final at Antigua, Australia skittled England for only 105 runs as Ashleigh Gardener registered the figures of 3/22. Australia then chased the total in just 15.1 overs with eight wickets in hand. Australian Captain Meg Lanning called the win as the most satisfying win she had been involved in. It will be a glorious moment for all women cricket fans as well.
#2 Afghanistan and Windies seal their World Cup 2019 spot
The Cricket World Cup 2019 will be the mega event that the cricket fans all around the globe shall wait for. For this edition, ICC has reduced the number of participating teams to only 10 teams. While top eight ODI teams as per the rankings secured their spot without a contest, the other two spots were up for grabs.
The qualifying event for two spots in the cricket world cup 2019 was played in the month of March in Zimbabwe. The group stages witnessed a few upsets, the most notable being Hong Kong defeating Afghanistan. The Asian nation progressed to the next round with very little chances while West Indies had won all four of their matches.
Afghanistan turned the tables in the Super Six round and won all three matches. With Scotland and Zimbabwe getting eliminated in a heart-breaking fashion, it was West Indies and Afghanistan who booked their tickets for the 2019 World Cup. It is indeed painful to not have Zimbabwe and Scotland at the World Cup but the joy to see Windies and Afghans at the marquee event will be fulfilling.
#1 India’s future lifts the Under-19 World Cup
The 12th edition of the Under-19 World Cup was played earlier this year in New Zealand. The mega event featured 16 teams, and it required 46 matches to determine the winner. England, New Zealand and India won all their group games and were joined by five other teams in the Super League round.
The quarter-finals set the semi-finals fixtures as Afghanistan against Australia and India against Pakistan. Australia defeated the Afghans by four wickets while India steamrolled Pakistan striking them down for just 69 runs. Two of the strongest teams of the competition faced each other in the final.
At Bay Oval, Australia batted first. The Indian bowlers bowled with great discipline and dismissed the Aussies for only 216 runs. Manjot Kalra rose to the grand occasion and scored a fantastic 101 not out from 102 balls to secure an eight-wicket win for the team. Captained by Prithvi Shaw, India became the first team to win the event four times.
