It has been another action-packed year in the world of cricket.
Test team of the year - England
England started the year by finishing their first Ashes win in Australia for 24 years and finished it holding top spot in the ICC Test rankings. Andrew Strauss' men went unbeaten in eight Tests, compiling a record of six wins and two draws, including a 4-0 series whitewash of India, the previous No.1 side.
One-day team of the year - India
India's year was full of highs and lows, none higher than their World Cup victory on home soil. After dethroning three-time defending champions Australia in the quarter-final, Dhoni's men held their nerve to see off neighbours Pakistan in the semi-final and Sri Lanka in the final. India had an overall 15-2 win-loss record at home in ODIs during the year, including a 5-0 whitewash of England.
Best innings - Virender Sehwag, 219, Indore
For the second year in a row, an Indian batsman produced a new benchmark in the 50-over game. Opener Virender Sehwag beat team-mate Sachin Tendulkar's 200 with an innings of 219 against West Indies in Indore on December 8. Sehwag hit 25 fours and seven sixes during his 149-ball knock, even declining the offer of some flowers on reaching his double century from a man who ran out to the middle.
Best series - Australia in South Africa
A bit of a stretch to call two Tests a series but Australia's short visit to South Africa served up a pair of exciting matches. The Proteas took the opener by eight wickets in Cape Town after tumbling Australia to 21-9 in their second innings. Australia 'recovered' to 47 all out to avoid the lowest score in history and set South Africa 236 for victory, a target they achieved thanks to centuries from Graeme Smith and Hashim Amla.
Thrilling Match - New Zealand win in Hobart
New Zealand had not won a Test in Australia since a Richard Hadlee-inspired success in Perth in 1985. Step forward Doug Bracewell, nephew of former off-spinner and coach John, to bowl the Black Caps to a seven-run win in Hobart in December, Australia's first defeat at the venue. Chasing 241, Australia was all out for 233 with rookie seamer Bracewell claiming 6-40. Bracewell's efforts gave New Zealand a share of the series although were not enough for the man-of-the-match award, which went to Australia opener David Warner for his 123 not out!
Rahul Dravid - The fire still burns bright for India's veteran number three, who passed 1,000 Test runs during the calendar year.
Chennai are IPL champs
Played less than a week after India conquered the world in Mumbai, the IPL botched to create the usual hype and buzz. Chennai did stutter in the middle but they won all their home games, thus ensuring there was no real threat to their title defence. Suresh Raina and R Ashwin kept up the good work and proved to be trusted associates to the skipper as Chennai successfully defended the IPL crown on home turf.
Mumbai, champion of champions
Mumbai Indians qualified for the Nokia Champions League T20 for the first time in 2011 with the usual suspects, CSK and RCB. However, the Ambani-owned team was dealt a massive blow when Tendulkar was ruled out of the tournament. Harbhajan Singh, who had a tumultuous stint as stand-in skipper in the inaugural IPL, was again asked to lead the side. But this time, the Indian off-spinner was a changed man, more developed and able.
Test team of the year - England
England started the year by finishing their first Ashes win in Australia for 24 years and finished it holding top spot in the ICC Test rankings. Andrew Strauss' men went unbeaten in eight Tests, compiling a record of six wins and two draws, including a 4-0 series whitewash of India, the previous No.1 side.One-day team of the year - India
India's year was full of highs and lows, none higher than their World Cup victory on home soil. After dethroning three-time defending champions Australia in the quarter-final, Dhoni's men held their nerve to see off neighbours Pakistan in the semi-final and Sri Lanka in the final. India had an overall 15-2 win-loss record at home in ODIs during the year, including a 5-0 whitewash of England.
Best innings - Virender Sehwag, 219, Indore
For the second year in a row, an Indian batsman produced a new benchmark in the 50-over game. Opener Virender Sehwag beat team-mate Sachin Tendulkar's 200 with an innings of 219 against West Indies in Indore on December 8. Sehwag hit 25 fours and seven sixes during his 149-ball knock, even declining the offer of some flowers on reaching his double century from a man who ran out to the middle.Best series - Australia in South Africa
A bit of a stretch to call two Tests a series but Australia's short visit to South Africa served up a pair of exciting matches. The Proteas took the opener by eight wickets in Cape Town after tumbling Australia to 21-9 in their second innings. Australia 'recovered' to 47 all out to avoid the lowest score in history and set South Africa 236 for victory, a target they achieved thanks to centuries from Graeme Smith and Hashim Amla.
Thrilling Match - New Zealand win in Hobart
New Zealand had not won a Test in Australia since a Richard Hadlee-inspired success in Perth in 1985. Step forward Doug Bracewell, nephew of former off-spinner and coach John, to bowl the Black Caps to a seven-run win in Hobart in December, Australia's first defeat at the venue. Chasing 241, Australia was all out for 233 with rookie seamer Bracewell claiming 6-40. Bracewell's efforts gave New Zealand a share of the series although were not enough for the man-of-the-match award, which went to Australia opener David Warner for his 123 not out!
Rahul Dravid - The fire still burns bright for India's veteran number three, who passed 1,000 Test runs during the calendar year.
Chennai are IPL champs
Played less than a week after India conquered the world in Mumbai, the IPL botched to create the usual hype and buzz. Chennai did stutter in the middle but they won all their home games, thus ensuring there was no real threat to their title defence. Suresh Raina and R Ashwin kept up the good work and proved to be trusted associates to the skipper as Chennai successfully defended the IPL crown on home turf.
Mumbai, champion of champions
Mumbai Indians qualified for the Nokia Champions League T20 for the first time in 2011 with the usual suspects, CSK and RCB. However, the Ambani-owned team was dealt a massive blow when Tendulkar was ruled out of the tournament. Harbhajan Singh, who had a tumultuous stint as stand-in skipper in the inaugural IPL, was again asked to lead the side. But this time, the Indian off-spinner was a changed man, more developed and able.
Top
0 comments:
Post a Comment