Specials – Australia’s one-match ODI grounds

The arrival of Perth’s Optus Stadium on the international scene in January 2018 increased the total number of men’s ODI grounds in Australia to 19. Of these, as many as seven grounds have ended up hosting just a solitary ODI each. Here is a look back at these forgotten venues’ trysts with the international […]

Record Book – Scotland’s first ODI appearance

In 1992, Scotland broke away from the Test and County Cricket Board (TCCB), thus creating their own cricketing identity separate from England. They gained Associate membership of the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 1994, making them eligible to play in the ICC Trophy, as the World Cup Qualifier was then known. Scotland’s first appearance […]

Record Book – Bowlers with two World Cup five-wicket hauls

Former Sri Lankan pace bowler Ashantha de Mel, who turned 59 yesterday, is one of only five bowlers to take two five-wicket hauls at the World Cup. So far, in 11 editions of the World Cup, there have been 54 five-wicket hauls by 49 bowlers. Here is a look at the list of bowlers […]

Record Book – The first ODI on Irish soil

The first men’s Test to be played in Ireland is almost upon us, as the hosts gear up to take on Pakistan at Malahide from Friday. This momentous occasion comes a good 19 years after the first men’s ODI in Ireland, which in turn was played four years after the first women’s ODI on […]

Record Book – The Netherlands’ first ODI victory

The Netherlands are on the upswing again, not only regaining their ODI status they lost in 2013-14, but also winning the ICC World Cricket League Championship to seal their spot in the 13-team ODI league slated to begin in 2020. This well-deserved triumph was confirmed when the Dutch secured a convincing eight-wicket win over […]

Specials – Recalling the best of the 2007 World Cup

It has been ten years since the ninth edition of the Cricket World Cup, which began in the Caribbean on 13th March, 2007 and featured a record 16 teams. The tournament drew considerable flak from many quarters for its long-drawn format and overpriced tickets, not to mention the embarrassing gaffe by the umpires in […]

Specials – When a bunch of amateurs nearly capsized the table-toppers

Ten years ago, a motley crew of amateurs from the Emerald Isle embarked upon a life-changing expedition to the Caribbean. They had among their ranks a teacher, an electrician, a postman, a fabric salesman and a handyman. Little did they know that over the next month and half, they were to become the new […]

Record Book – The first World Cup match between two Associate nations

Associate nations have invariably brought their own distinctive flair to World Cup tournaments. From the plucky Sri Lankan batsmen facing up to Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson in 1975, to Ireland’s never-say-die spirit that almost earned them a quarterfinal berth in 2015, the non-Test teams have provided some of the most absorbing moments in […]

Specials – The best from Kevin O’Brien’s blade

Talismanic Irishman Kevin O’Brien became the first cricketer from his country to feature in 100 ODI matches, when he took the field in the final game of the series against Afghanistan at Belfast last week. The Dublin-born all-rounder has been one of the lynchpins of the Irish team over the past decade. O’Brien, who […]

Viewpoint – Sri Lanka’s journey an inspiration for Ireland

As the two-match ODI series between Ireland and Sri Lanka gets underway today, it would be interesting to note the similarities between the cricketing stories of the two nations. Both the Emerald Isles took off rapidly after modest beginnings on the cricket scene. Sri Lanka’s ascent to the top tier of international cricket […]