Remembering the best moments at the Old Trafford cricket ground

A general view of the Old Trafford Cricket Stadium

The Old Trafford cricket ground is one of the most iconic venues in sports history. It has seen many great performances with both the willow and the ball, as well as historic happenings off the field. Let us take a trip down memory lane and relive some of the best and historic moments at Old Trafford.

The birth of the Ashes

The birth of the Ashes, arguably the biggest prize in Test cricket, took place at this venue. The first Test match of the Ashes was held in July 1884. The match ended in a tame draw. However, it laid the seeds of the biggest rivalry between two great cricketing nations – England and Australia. And the rest, as they say, is history!

Perfect 10 by Jim Laker, an iconic moment in Test bowling

Laker sweeps Australia at Old Trafford

Jim Laker of England created magic with his bowling like never seen before in Test cricket. In the fourth Test of the 1956 Ashes series, he took 10 for 53 against Australia at Old Trafford, becoming the first bowler ever to take all 10 wickets in a Test innings.

The feat has only been matched once since that effort, by Anil Kumble of India in 1999. That shows the magnitude of the effort it takes to dismiss all the batsmen in an innings. Laker made the Old Trafford ground his own in that historic match.

Viv Richards’ ODI masterpiece, a moment etched in golden letters in ODI cricket history

Viv Richards was arguably the greatest ever ODI cricketer to walk the face of this planet. And his most memorable masterpiece was created at the iconic Old Trafford ground.

Richards scored 189 not out against England in 1984, adding 106 runs for the final wicket with Michael Holding.

The innings was played against a top class England bowling line-up and saw Viv at the peak of his batting powers. Most observers who have seen that innings consider it to be the best ODI innings ever.

The ‘Ball of the Century’ which created a storm in Test cricket

In the 1993 Ashes, Shane Warne bowled arguably the best ball ever in Test cricket at the Old Trafford cricket ground. It was a piece of rare beauty and has captured the imagination of the entire cricket watching public.

That single ball showed to the world the talent of the blond leggie, who went on to become the greatest leg spin bowler of all time. The magic first began here.

Many other writers have written about the great moments, especially in Ashes cricket at the Old Trafford ground. Many other Ashes battles have seen great moments at the Old Trafford ground. But this ball has a unique place in Ashes folklore.

The first of a hundred! The Indian genius announces his arrival

When a young 17-year-old Indian boy scored a Test century at Old Trafford in 1990, it caught the imagination of the global cricket loving public. That was the first of a world record 51 Test centuries scored by that man for India.

We all know that man was Sachin Tendulkar. His impactful innings helped India escape the Test with a draw, and laid the foundation for one of the greatest modern day Test careers.

2005 – The iconic third Test of an iconic Ashes

McGrath and Lee facing the last few balls of a classic Test at Old Trafford

Glen McGrath and Brett Lee managed to help Australia escape with a draw in a match littered with drama. Australia needed to score 399 runs on the final day of the match, and a terrific 156 from Ricky Ponting kept them in the hunt for a large portion of the day.

However when Ponting got out, it was left to McGrath and Lee to manage the last 24 deliveries and help Australia escape with a draw, which they did admirably.