Famous Test Matches – West Indies v England, Kingston, 1989-90

England came into the 1989-90 Caribbean tour on a streak of 29 winless Tests against the West Indies. Their last win against the islanders had come in 1973-74; since then, they had lost 20 and drawn nine Tests. This miserable run included two back-to-back 5-0 drubbings, at home in 1984 and away in 1985-86, […]

In Focus – Surrey end a 16-year wait in style

With a successful chase of 272 that brought a three-wicket win against hosts Worcestershire, Surrey ended a 16-year wait to claim their 19th County Championship title on September 13. The last time Surrey laid hands on English cricket’s most prestigious trophy was under Adam Hollioake in 2002, which was their third title in four years. […]

Specials – When the USA faced the world champions

In early 2004, six Associate nations competed in an ICC Six Nations Challenge held in the United Arab Emirates, the winner of which would join the ten full members and Kenya at the ICC Champions Trophy to be played in England later in the year. The teams in the fray were Canada, Namibia, the […]

Specials – England’s only other 5-0 triumph in ODIs

England’s 5-0 demolition of Australia was only their second instance of winning every game in a five-match ODI series, the first having come in Zimbabwe back in October 2001. A beleaguered England entered this series on the back of 11 consecutive ODI defeats, including six in the 2001 NatWest triangular series at home, which […]

Specials – Revisiting past Anglo-Scottish ODI duels

Having missed out on World Cup qualification by a whisker, Scotland will look to make a further impact when they take on England in a one-off One-Day International at the Grange Cricket Club in Edinburgh on June 10. Despite their close geographic proximity, the two teams have played only four ODIs against each other […]

Record Book – Pakistani double-centurions in England

Pakistan’s 15th Test series in England, a short two-match affair that gives them little room for slip-ups, is underway. Over the years, Pakistan have been among the better performing sides when it comes to touring England – they have won three series, consecutively in 1987, 1992 and 1996 – and lost seven. Among the […]

Specials – England’s match-winners at the Adelaide Oval

With Australia having asserted themselves at the Gabba, the stage is now set for the historic day-night Test to be played at the Adelaide Oval from December 2. Since their first appearance back in 1884-85, England have played 31 Tests at the venue, winning nine times and losing 17. Here is a look back at […]

Famous Test Matches – England v West Indies, Headingley, 1969

The West Indies, smarting from an embarrassing defeat to Ireland in a tour game eight days earlier, needed to win the third and final Test at Headingley, played from July 10 to July 15, 1969, in order to square the series. England were 1-0 up coming into the match, courtesy a comprehensive ten-wicket win […]

Who Would Have Thought It – Married v Single at Lord’s

The olden days of first-class cricket in England were replete with intriguing and bizarre fixtures, such as One-Legged XI v One-Armed XI, Smokers v Non-Smokers and Over 38 v Under 38, to name a few. Among these off-beat encounters were seven matches titled Married v Single, contested between – as the name suggests – […]

Famous Test Matches – England v South Africa, Old Trafford, 1998

South Africa had stormed to a 1-0 lead in the series with a ten-wicket win in the second Test at Lord’s, and came into the third, played at Old Trafford from July 2 to July 6, 1998, riding on a wave of confidence. The visitors replaced opener Adam Bacher and pace bowler Shaun Pollock, […]