Footballing giants France and Germany played out the latest round of their long-standing rivalry in the semifinal of the UEFA Euro Championship last week, with hosts France securing a 2-0 win to make the final. Be it France’s 6-3 win in the 1958 World Cup or the thrilling penalty shootout in the semifinal […]
Read More Who Would Have Thought It – Revisiting a Franco-German cliffhangerAs many as 16 teams took part in the 1986 ICC Trophy in England, vying for the single spot available for non-Test nations in the 1987 World Cup. It was Zimbabwe who ultimately made it, defeating the Netherlands in the final to qualify for their second successive World Cup. The tournament featured plenty […]
Read More Who Would Have Thought It – The day the Barramundis ran amokOne of the most intriguing matches in South Africa’s first-class cricket history was played across two calendar years in the 1925-26 Currie Cup. Orange Free State hosted Western Province in the sixth match of the season from December 31, 1925 to January 2, 1926 at the Ramblers Cricket Club Ground in Bloemfontein. […]
Read More Who Would Have Thought It – Last wicket exploits floor Western Province twice overOn 23rd July, 2000, Sajjida Shah of Pakistan Women became the youngest cricketer to feature in an international match. At the bewildering age of 12 years and 171 days, the off-spinning all-rounder took the field against Ireland Women at Dublin to break the record held by Gargi Banerji, who was 14 years and 165 […]
Read More Who Would Have Thought It – A 15-year-old spinner’s sensational recordThe cricket World Cup always brings its share of strange and unexpected occurrences that make the average cricket fan sit up and take notice. Here is a list of 20 curiosities that have lent to the history of cricket’s premier limited-overs tournament:- 1) Women one step ahead The inaugural cricket World Cup was […]
Read More WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT IT – A few World Cup curiositiesThe 1896 University Match between the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) and the Cambridge University was a remarkable one. Played at Lord’s between 25th and 27th June, 1896, this match created a record which was quite unimaginable in that day and age. The MCC side for this fixture had a decent look to it. […]
Read More Who Would Have Thought It – Cambridge University’s path-breaking chaseMost of the embarrassingly low first-class team totals were recorded in the early age of cricket. However, the Currie Cup of 1959-60 saw one of the most bizarre first-class matches ever played. Two of the three lowest first-class team totals after the second World War were recorded in this match between Border and Natal. […]
Read More Who Would Have Thought It – Border’s double debacleCharles John Eady (1870-1945), an all-rounder, was one of Tasmania’s earliest cricketing stars. He became the second player from the island state to play Test cricket for Australia after Kenny Burn. While Burn played two Tests on the 1890 England tour, Eady debuted at Lord’s on the 1896 tour and then in the […]
Read More Who Would Have Thought It – Charles Eady’s heady inningsThe history of cricket in its initial years is replete with intriguing stories and events. The game was largely confined to the amateurs of England, before gradually it began to spread to other countries. Here’s a look at some interesting happenings from cricket’s early years:- One Legged Eleven vs One Arm Eleven Believe […]
Read More WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT IT – Oddities from cricket’s early yearsThe year was 1964 and Australia had just won the Ashes 1-0, the sole victory coming in the third Test at Headingley – the game in which Peter Burge famously scored 160 to help Australia win by seven wickets. Towards the end of the tour, the Australians hopped over to the Netherlands to play […]
Read More Who Would Have Thought It – Dutchmen pull off a coup
The Cricket Cauldron 