SPECIALS – Best of Australia v India Test matches

The rivalry between Australia and India has been the most keenly-contested in Test cricket over the last two decades or so, and has produced some of the most memorable matches ever seen. As yet another Test series between the two teams gets underway today, let us go down memory lane to pick the […]

Famous Test Matches – India v Pakistan, Bangalore, 1986-87

Arch-rivals India and Pakistan, while playing each other, have been historically so keen to avoid defeat that Tests between the two nations have ended in dull draws more often than not. Indeed, 38 out of the 59 Tests between them have ended in stalemates. The last eleven India-Pakistan Tests preceding the fifth and final Test of […]

Famous Test Matches – West Indies v South Africa, Bridgetown, 1991-92

South Africa made a historic return to Test cricket after 22 years in the wilderness as they took on the West Indies in a one-off Test match played at the Kensington Oval at Bridgetown in Barbados from April 18 to 23, 1992. The West Indies had been unbeaten at Bridgetown for the last 57 years, while […]

SPECIALS – Cricket and Calypso

One of the best memories of my school days was when I switched on the television to catch the coverage of international cricket played in the Caribbean. The matches, which started at around 8 p.m in my country, were preceded by the remixed Funkstar De Luxe version of Bob Marley’s Sun is Shining with […]

SPECIALS – Tribute to Rusi Surti

The gutsy all-rounder Rusi Surti (born May 25, 1936 in Surat) passed away on 13th January in Mumbai due to a heart attack, aged 76. He was a key member of the Indian Test side in the 60’s, and in spite of his versatile all-round abilities, ended up playing only 26 Tests. He was […]

Famous Test Matches – Pakistan v Zimbabwe, Peshawar, 1998-99

This match was momentous for resulting in Zimbabwe’s first overseas Test victory, which ultimately led to their first ever series win (though they had won the one-off home Test against India earlier in the season). Zimbabwe had their best years of Test cricket during this period and this match, played between November 27 and […]

SPECIALS – Tributes to Tony Greig and Christopher Martin-Jenkins

The dreaded disease of cancer took away two of the cricket world’s most respected men in a space of four days. On 29th December, former England captain and popular commentator Tony Greig succumbed to lung cancer aged 66, while noted English journalist and commentator Christopher Martin-Jenkins lost his battle against terminal cancer on 1st January, aged 67. Here’s a brief overview […]

Specials – Best of Boxing Day Tests

Yet another Boxing Day is upon us, and yet another traditional Boxing Day Test match is underway at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground. An MCG Test which included 26th December as one of the days was first played in the 1950-51 Ashes, but it was only in 1980 that it became an annual […]

SPECIALS – Best of India-Pakistan ODIs

Starting today, arch-rivals India and Pakistan will contest a bilateral series after 5 years. It will be a short series, consisting of only two T20’s and 3 ODIs, but significant nonetheless, as matches between the two nations have been a rarity in recent times – they have played only 4 one-day matches against each other in the last […]

SPECIALS – Tribute to the unsung record-holder

Former Ranji Trophy cricketer Bhausaheb Nimbalkar passed away on December 11 at the age of 92 – a day before what would have been his 93rd birthday. His career spanned a long period between 1939 and 1965, but he could never make it to the Indian team, as his best years coincided with the […]