8 most memorable cricketing moments of 2019

Mohammad Shami (L) and Jasprit Bumrah (R)
Mohammad Shami (L) and Jasprit Bumrah (R)

Cricket fans witnessed several memorable moments on the field in 2019 - some great, and a few sorrowful ones as well. All in all, this year will be remembered vividly by Indian cricket lovers for the change in status quo with respect to the team's bowling strengths, especially at home.

It’s always good to look back at the year and relive the moments that caught our attention. Here is a quick recap of some of them.

1. India create history Down under

Australia v India - 4th Test: Day 5
Australia v India - 4th Test: Day 5

Virat Kohli led the Indian team as they created history in 2019, becoming the first side from the country to win a Test series in Australia. India won the 4-match series 2-1 after the last Test was drawn in Sydney.

Over the years, touring sides have always found it difficult to conquer the Aussie side Down Under because of the tough conditions. But India played some aggressive cricket to rewrite the history books.

This has to be one of the most satisfying moments ever for an Indian cricket fan. Having been eternally deprived of overseas success despite dominating at home, their prayers were finally answered thanks to the heroics of Cheteshwar Pujara and the rest.

2. Steve Smith’s Ashes form

England v Australia - 5th Specsavers Ashes Test: Day Two
England v Australia - 5th Specsavers Ashes Test: Day Two

Steven Smith’s return to Test cricket after a one-year ban was keenly anticipated by cricket fans all around the world. The Australian responded with a staggering run of form against old enemy England in the Ashes series.

Also see - India vs West Indies schedule 2019

Despite a cascade of boos from the English crowd, Smith put his foot on the pedal without a single seed of doubt. By the end of the series, those boos turned into applause and the England bowlers almost gave up the idea of taking his wicket.

The right-hander was floored by Jofra Archer and had to miss a match after failing a concussion test, but returned back in style. Smith ended the Ashes series with a staggering 774 runs in just 4 Tests (7 innings) at an unbelievable average of 110.57 which included 3 hundreds and 3 fifties.

3. Dhoni’s run out in World Cup semifinal

India v New Zealand - ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 Semi-Final
India v New Zealand - ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 Semi-Final

India entered this year’s World Cup as one of the favourites, and they played in that fashion too to storm into the semifinals as the top team from the group stages. The men in blue were scheduled to take on New Zealand, who scraped through because of a better NRR than Pakistan.

India were expected to reach the finals as the Kiwis seemed to have lost all their momentum at the business end of the tournament. But Kohli's men were caught napping on a lively track against New Zealand's new-ball bowlers, and were tottering inside the first 10 overs of their chase.

Even at that stage Indian fans didn’t lose hope because of one man’s presence at the crease - the former captain and one of the game’s greatest chasers, MS Dhoni. But when Martin Guptill ran him out with a direct hit, the whole of India cursed in unison.

The image of Dhoni walking back dejectedly is one that no Indian cricket fan will forget any time soon.

4. Rohit Sharma’s dream World Cup

Sri Lanka v India - ICC Cricket World Cup 2019
Sri Lanka v India - ICC Cricket World Cup 2019

Many cricketer’s dream would be to score a World Cup hundred. But India’s Rohit Sharma went on to score as many as five in this year’s edition.

Rohit broke the record for most hundreds in a single edition, and it will take some effort to beat this in the near future. The Indian opener re-established himself as one of the best batsmen to have ever played white-ball cricket.

5. World Cup final

New Zealand v England - ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 Final
New Zealand v England - ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 Final

The record books will say that England won the 2019 World Cup, but New Zealand didn’t exactly lose it. After the match was tied at the end of 50 overs, the Super Over too ended up being a tie and in the end the boundary count was taken into account to decide the winner.

The way the New Zealand players reacted after the gut-wrenching loss portrayed class of the highest order, and the act rightly won the “Sportsmanship of the year” award.

The match itself had to be one of the best ODIs ever, and it was a fitting finale to a grand edition of the World Cup.

6. Ben Stokes’ heroics

England v Australia - 3rd Specsavers Ashes Test: Day Four
England v Australia - 3rd Specsavers Ashes Test: Day Four

England star Ben Stokes will never forget 2019. It was the year where he came of age and showed the world why he is considered one of the game’s truest all-rounders.

After a huge amount of drama England won their maiden World Cup, thanks to Stokes’ immense contribution in the final. The left-hander finished on 84* in one of the most thrilling climaxes of all time.

Just when we thought Stokes couldn't do anything better in 2019, the English talisman played one of the best Test innings of all time. Stokes’ unbeaten 135 and his partnership of 72 for the last wicket ensured the home side snatched victory from the jaws of defeat at Headingley in the third Ashes Test.

7. Kolkata turns Pink

The pink ball Test in Kolkata
The pink ball Test in Kolkata

The Prince of Kolkata Sourav Ganguly took over as the new President of BCCI, and in a matter of few months ensured that India played their first ever day-night Test.

The second Test against Bangladesh was played in Kolkata with the pink ball. What's more, the whole city turned pink to mark the occasion, which was a real spectacle for cricket lovers in India.

Although there wasn’t an even contest between two sides, this Test will be remembered forever because of its place in history.

8. India’s pacers blow away all oppositions

Australia v India - 3rd Test: Day 4
Australia v India - 3rd Test: Day 4

India have produced some good fast bowlers over the years. But this current group that includes Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma, Mohammad Shami, Umesh Yadav and Bhuvneshwar Kumar has to be best fast-bowling unit ever assembled by the country.

Consider this: South Africa’s batsmen were made to hop and duck under some quick short ones by the Indian pacemen on home soil. It was the quicks who did all the damage, with spinners playing the support role for a change.

If the trend continues, India will be a tough nut to crack when they travel overseas too, just like they are at home. There are exciting times ahead for Indian cricket fans.

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Edited by Musab Abid