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June-September 2009

AUS v ENG (The Ashes)

Wed Jul 8 - Sun Jul 12: 1st Test - England v Australia (Cardiff)

Thu Jul 16 - Mon Jul 20: 2nd Test - England v Australia (Lord's)

Thu Jul 30 - Mon Aug 3: 3rd Test - England v Australia (Edgbaston)

Fri Aug 7 - Tue Aug 11: 4th Test - England v Australia (Leeds)
Thu Aug 20 - Mon Aug 24: 5th Test - England v Australia (Kennington Oval)

Sun Aug 30: 1st Twenty20 International - England v Australia (Manchester)

Tue Sep 1: 2nd Twenty20 International - England v Australia (Manchester)

Fri Sep 4: 1st ODI - England v Australia (Kennington Oval)

Sun Sep 6: 2nd ODI - England v Australia (Lord's)

Wed Sep 9: 3rd ODI - England v Australia (Southampton)

Sat Sep 12: 4th ODI - England v Australia (Lord's)

Tue Sep 15: 5th ODI - England v Australia (Trent Bridge)

Thu Sep 17: 6th ODI - England v Australia (Trent Bridge)

Sun Sep 20: 7th ODI - England v Australia (Chester-le-Street)

PAK v SL

Sat Jul 4 - Wed Jul 8: 1st Test - Sri Lanka v Pakistan (Galle)

Sun Jul 12 - Thu Jul 16: 2nd Test - Sri Lanka v Pakistan (Colombo)

Mon Jul 20 - Fri Jul 24: 3rd Test - Sri Lanka v Pakistan (Colombo)

Thu Jul 30: 1st ODI - Sri Lanka v Pakistan (Dambulla)

Sat Aug 1: 2nd ODI - Sri Lanka v Pakistan (Dambulla)

Mon Aug 3: 3rd ODI - Sri Lanka v Pakistan (Dambulla)
Fri Aug 7: 4th ODI - Sri Lanka v Pakistan (Premadasa Stadium, Colombo)

Sun Aug 9: 5th ODI - Sri Lanka v Pakistan (Premadasa Stadium, Colombo)

Wed Aug 12: Only T20I - Sri Lanka v Pakistan (R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo)

ARJUNA RANATUNGA (SL)

Introduction

Arjuna Ranatunga (born 1 December 1963) is a Sri Lankan cricketer-turned politician. He is the current chief of Sri Lanka Cricket, the body which predominantly oversees the game in Sri Lanka.

A left-handed batsman and useful right arm medium pace bowler, has made his first-class debut in 1981 at the age of eighteen and a year later played in Sri Lanka's inaugural Test match. He went on to score Sri Lanka's first half century in this game.

Full name: Arjuna Ranatunga

Born: December 1, 1963, ColomboCurrent

Age: 44 years 283 days

Batting style: Left-handed batsman (LHB)
Bowling style: Right arm medium (RM)

Test & ODI Matches: 93 & 269
Runs scored: 5105 & 7456
Batting average: 35.69 & 35.84
100s/50s: 4/38 & 4/49
Top score: 135* & 131*
Wickets: 16 & 79
Bowling average: 65.00 & 47.55
Best bowling: 2/17 & 4/14
Catches: 47 & 63

Cricket Career

Tests

Test Debut: vs England, Colombo, 1981-1982

Last Test: vs South Africa, Colombo, 2000-2001
Ranatunga's highest Test batting score of 135 not out was made against Pakistan, Colombo, 1985-1986
His best Test bowling effort of 2 for 17 came against New Zealand, Kandy, 1983-1984
Ranatunga's captaincy record was as follows: 56 matches, 12 wins, 19 losses, 25 draws.

One-day internationals

ODI Debut: vs England, Colombo, 1981-1982

Last ODI: vs Kenya, Southampton, 1999 World Cup
His highest ODI batting score of 131 not out was made against India, Colombo, 1997
Ranatunga's best bowling figures of 4 for 14 came against India at Kanpur in 1986-1987
His captaincy record was as follows: 193 matches, 89 wins, 95 losses, 1 tie, 8 no result
Until New Zealand's Stephen Fleming overtook him in October 2006 at the ICC Champions Trophy, Ranatunga held the record for the captaining the most ODI matches.

Some Interestings Related to His Career

Ranatunga's weight was also notable, and gave rise to an incident during a game played in humid conditions when he called for a runner, claiming that he had "sprained something". Opposition (Australian) wicket-keeper Ian Healy, responded that he could not get a runner for being "an overweight, unfit, fat cunt", a comment picked up by the stump microphones and broadcast on television. Ranatunga was known for controversially calling a runner during long innings due to his level of fitness. In the finals of the One Day triangular series in Australia later in the 1995/6 Season, Ranatunga instructed his players not to shake the Australian players hands.

Ranatunga is also remembered for his stand in a one day international against England. Australian Umpire Ross Emerson called Muttiah Muralitharan for throwing. (Muralitharan was subsequently cleared by bio-mechanical experts hired by the ICC.) Ranatunga exchanged heated words with umpire Emerson and led his team to a point just inside the boundary line, halting play, until the Sri Lankan management conferred with him and play resumed.

The Sri Lankan national team were considered perpetual underdogs but this image changed completely during the 1996 Cricket World Cup, when Sri Lanka defeated tournament favourites Australia to win it under the captaincy of Ranatunga. This victory, for which Ranatunga was a pivotal part both as batsman and captain, has ensured that Sri Lanka are no longer underestimated on the world cricket stage.

IMRAN KHAN (PAK)

Introduction

Imran Khan Niazi (born November 25, 1952) is a Pakistani cricketer and politician. Khan played for the Pakistani cricket team from 1971 to 1992, and led them as captain to his country's first and only World Cup victory in 1992. With a record of 3807 runs and 362 wickets in Test cricket, Khan is known as one of the finest all-rounders in the modern history of the game.

Full name:Imran Khan Niazi
Born: 25 November 1952 (age 55) Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
Batting style: Right-handed
Bowling style: Right-arm fast
Role: All-rounder

Test debut (cap 65): 3 June 1971 v England
Last Test: 7 January 1992 v Sri Lanka
ODI debut (cap 12): 31 August 1974 v England
Last ODI: 25 March 1992 v England

Test & ODI Matches: 88 & 175
Runs scored: 3807 & 3709
Batting average: 37.69 & 33.41
100s/50s: 6/18 & 1/19
Top score: 136 & 102*
Wickets: 362 & 182
Bowling average: 22.81 & 26.61
5 wickets in innings: 23 & 1
10 wickets in match: 6 & n/a
Best bowling: 8/58 & 6/14
Catches: 28 & 36

First Class Career

Khan made a lacklustre first-class cricket debut at the age of sixteen in Lahore. By the start of the 1970s, he was playing for his home teams of Lahore A (1969-70), Lahore B (1969-70), Lahore Greens (1970-71) and, eventually, Lahore (1970-71). Khan was part of Oxford's Blues Cricket team during the 1973-75 seasons, and captained the University XI in 1974. During this decade, other teams represented by Khan include Dawood Industries (1975-76) and Pakistan International Airlines (1975-76 to 1980-81). From 1983 to 1988, he moved on to play for Sussex.

International Career

In 1971, Khan made his Test cricket debut against England at Birmingham. Three years later, he debuted in the One Day International (ODI) match, once again playing against England at Nottingham for the Prudential Trophy.

Khan achieved the all-rounder's triple (securing 3000 runs and 300 wickets) in 75 Tests, the second fastest record behind Ian Botham's 72. He is also established as having the second highest all-time batting average of 61.86 for a Test batsman playing at position 6 of the batting order.

Captaincy

At the height of his career, in 1982, the thirty-year old Khan took over the captaincy of the Pakistani cricket team from Javed Miandad. In the team's second match under his leadership, Khan led them to their first Test win on English soil for 28 years at Lord's.

In 1987, Khan led Pakistan to its first Test series win in India, which was followed by Pakistan's first series victory in England the same year. During the 1980s, his team also recorded three creditable draws against the West Indies. India and Pakistan co-hosted the 1987 World Cup, but neither ventured beyond the semi-finals. Khan retired from international cricket at the end of the World Cup. In 1988, he was asked to return to the captaincy by the President Of Pakistan, General Zia-Ul-Haq, and on January 18, he announced his decision to rejoin the team.

World Cup victory

Khan's career-high as a captain and cricketer came when he led Pakistan to victory in the 1992 International Cricket Council Cricket World Cup. Playing with a brittle batting lineup, Khan promoted himself as a batsman to provide stability in the top order together with Javed Miandad, but his contribution as a bowler was minimal. In the final match, at the age of 39, Khan scored the highest runs of all the Pakistani batsmen and took the winning last wicket himself.

Awards and honours

In 1992, Khan was honoured with Pakistan's most prestigious civil award, the Hilal-i-Imtiaz. Before that, he had received the President’s Pride of Performance Award in 1983. Khan is featured in the University of Oxford's Hall of Fame and has been an honorary fellow of Oxford's Keble College. In 1976 as well as 1980, Khan was awarded The Cricket Society Wetherall Award for being the leading all-rounder in English first-class cricket.
Khan has also been named Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1983, Sussex Cricket Society Player of the Year in 1985, and the Indian Cricket Cricketer of the Year in 1990. On July 8, 2004, Khan was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2004 Asian Jewel Awards in London, UK. He was recognized for continuing "to devote his time between Pakistan and his adopted Britain, acting as a figurehead for many international charities and working passionately and extensively in fund-raising activities. On December 7, 2005, Khan was appointed the fifth Chancellor of the University of Bradford, where he is also a patron of the Born in Bradford research project. On December 13, 2007, Khan received the Humanitarian Award at the Asian Sports Awards in Kuala Lumpur for his efforts in setting up the first cancer hospital in Pakistan. Khan is placed at Number 8 on the all-time list of the ESPN Legends of Cricket.

KAPIL DEV (IND)

Introduction

Kapil Dev Ramlal Nikhanj (born 6 January 1959, Chandigarh), better known as Kapil Dev, is a former Indian cricketer regarded as one of the greatest all-rounders of all time. He was captain when India won the world cup in 1983.

Full name: Kapil Dev Ramlal Nikhanj
Born: 6 January 1959 (age 49) Chandigarh, India
Batting style: Right-handed
Bowling style: Right arm fast medium
Role: All-rounder

Test debut (cap 141): 16 October 1978 v Pakistan
Last Test: 19 March 1994 v New Zealand
ODI debut (cap 25): 1 October 1978 v Pakistan
Last ODI: 17 October 1994 v West Indies

Test & ODI Matches: 131 & 225
Runs scored: 5248 & 3783
Batting average: 31.05 & 23.79
100s/50s: 8/27 & 1/14
Top score: 163 & 175*
Wickets: 434 & 253
5 wickets in innings: 23 & 1
10 wickets in match: 2 & n/a
Best bowling: 9/83 & 5/43
Catches: 64 & 71

Domestic Career

Kapil Dev made an impressive debut for Haryana in November 1975 against Punjab with a 6 wicket haul, restricting Punjab to just 63 runs and helping Haryana to victory. However, Kapil finished the season with only 12 wickets in 3 matches.

He played from Haryana against different teams from his country and also participated in many of the seasons along with the internaional cricket. He played the Irani Trophy, Duleep Trophy, Deodhar Trophy, Wills Trophy and also took part in the North Zone Season of their own country.

In the 1990-91 Ranji season, Haryana rode into the semi-finals where Kapil Dev took centre stage against Bengal where he led his team to a mammoth score of 605 runs by scoring 141 as well as taking 5 wickets.

International Career

He made his Test debut against Pakistan in Faisalabad and was not very impressive debut at all. But with his speed and bounce, he bought glee to the Indian players when Pakistani batsmen were startled with bouncers that clanged the helmet on more than one occasion. Kapil Dev also captured his maiden wicket of Sadiq Mohammad with his trademark out swinger. Kapil Dev showcased his all-rounder talent when he scored India's fastest Test half-century off 33 balls and 2 sixes in each of the innings during the 3rd Test match at National Stadium, Karachi.

1983 World Cup Champions (1982 - 1984)

Kapil Dev debuted as India's captain in the 1982-83 season against Sri Lanka (before the Pakistan tour) when Sunil Gavaskar was rested. Kapil Dev's first assignment as the regular captain was the tour of West Indies where the biggest accomplishment was a lone ODI victory. Kapil Dev (72) and Sunil Gavaskar (90) led India to a huge score - 282/5 in 47 overs and Kapil's 2 wickets aided India to restrict West Indies for 255 and a victory that Indian cricketers claim gave them the confidence to face the West Indies team in 1983 Cricket World Cup. Overall, Kapil Dev had a good series in West Indies as he scored a century to save the second test match as well as picking up 17 wickets (Average: 24.94).

Kapil Dev had upset Clive Lloyd's West Indies to win their maiden and to-date only World Cup and he led from the front with 303 runs (Average: 60.6), 12 wickets (Average: 20.41) and 7 catches in 8 matches - a truly all-round performance.

Performances Chart

Achievements

1979-80 - Arjuna Award
1982 - Padma Shri
1983 - Wisden Cricketer of the Year
1991 - Padma Bhushan
2002 - Wisden Indian Cricketer of the Century

CLIVE LLOYD (WI)

Introduction

Clive Hubert Lloyd born 31 August 1944 in Georgetown, British Guiana (now Guyana), is a former West Indies cricketer. He captained the West Indies between 1974 and 1985 and oversaw their rise to become the dominant Test-playing nation, a position that was only relinquished in the latter half of the 1990s. He is still one of the most successful Test captains of all times.

Full name: Clive Hubert Lloyd

Nickname: Big C, Hubert

Born: August 31, 1944, Queenstown, Georgetown, Demerara, British Guiana

Current age: 64 years 4 days

Major teams: West Indies, British Guiana, Guyana, Lancashire

Batting style: Left-hand bat

Bowling style: Right-arm medium

Height: 6 ft 4 in

Education: Chatham High School, Georgetown

Test & ODI Matches: 110 & 87
Runs scored: 7515 & 1977
Batting average: 46.67 & 39.53
100s/50s: 19/39 & 1/11
Top score: 242* & 102
Wickets: 10 & 8
Bowling average: 62.20 & 26.25
Best bowling: 2/22 & 2/4
Catches: 90 & 39

Overall Career

In his youth he was one of the finest cover point fielders of his generation. His scholarly appearance and slight stoop masked his obvious talent as a batsman. He wore his famous glasses due to a fight when he was young at school, which damaged his eyes. He played for his home nation of Guyana in West Indies domestic cricket, and for Lancashire (he was made captain in 1981) in England. His Test match debut came in 1966. In 1971 he was named Wisden Cricketer of the Year. He is a cousin of spin bowler Lance Gibbs.

During his captaincy, the side had a run of 27 matches without defeat, which included 11 wins in succession. He was the first West Indian player to earn 100 international caps. Lloyd captained the West Indies in three World Cups. They won the 1975 final (Lloyd scoring a majestic century) and the 1979 final. They were very strong favourites for the 1983 final but surprisingly lost to India.

After Retirement

Since retiring as a player, Lloyd has remained heavily involved in cricket, managing the West Indies in the late 1990s, and coaching and commentating. He was an ICC match referee from 2001-2006. In 2005, Lloyd offered his patronage to Major League Cricket for their inaugural Interstate Cricket Cup in the United States, to be named the Sir Clive Lloyd Cup. He currently serves as the manager of the West Indian cricket team.

Career Batting Performance

SIR RICHARD HADLEE (NZ)

Introduction

Sir Richard John Hadlee, (born July 3, 1951) is a former New Zealand cricketer. He played club and provincial cricket for Canterbury, Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club and Tasmania. He is the son of Walter Hadlee, and the brother of Dayle and Barry Hadlee. His former wife Karen also played international cricket for New Zealand. Hadlee was appointed MBE in 1980 and knighted in 1990 for services to cricket. He is currently the chairman of the New Zealand board of selectors. He is regarded as one of the greatest fast bowlers and all-rounders of all time.

Full name: Richard John Hadlee
Nickname: Paddles
Born: 3 July 1951 (age 57) Christchurch, New Zealand
Height: 6 ft 1 in
Role: All-rounder
Batting style: Left-handed batsman
Bowling style: Right-arm fast

Test debut (cap 127): 2 February 1973 v Pakistan
Last Test: 5 July 1990 v England
ODI debut (cap 6): 11 February 1973 v Pakistan
Last ODI: 25 May 1990 v England

Tests & ODI Matches: 86 &115
Runs scored: 3124 & 1751
Batting average: 27.16 & 21.61
100s/50s: 2/15 & 0/4
Top score: 151* & 79
Wickets: 431 & 158
Bowling average: 22.29 & 21.56
5 wickets in innings: 36 & 5
10 wickets in match: 9 & n/a
Best bowling: 9/52 & 5/25
Catches: 39 & 27

Test Career

Hadlee made his first class debut for Canterbury in 1971/72 and his test match debut in 1973 - on both occasions, his first delivery was dispatched to the boundary. Hadlee was an inconsistent performer at test level for several years; however a breakthrough performance against India in 1976 in which he took 11 wickets in a game resulting in a win by New Zealand cemented his place in the side. In 1978, Hadlee helped New Zealand to a historic first win over England by taking 6 for 26 in England's second innings, bowling the visitors out for 64 chasing a target of 137.

In 1980, New Zealand faced the West Indies in a home test series at a time when the West Indies were developing into a formidable world cricket power. In the first test in Dunedin New Zealand achieved a shock 1-wicket win, thanks in no small part to Hadlee's 11 wickets in the game. In the second test of the series, Hadlee recorded his maiden test century, helping New Zealand draw the test and win the series 1-0. The result was the start of a 12 year unbeaten home record for New Zealand in test match series. He was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 1980 Queen's Birthday Honours.

1985 began a period in which Hadlee developed from a very good fast bowler to a truly great one. In New Zealand's tour to Australia, an outstanding all-round performance helped destroy the home team in the first test at Brisbane, beginning with a personal test best 9 for 52 in Australia's first innings. In a home series against India in 1990, Hadlee become the first bowler in history to take 400 test wickets when he dismissed Sanjay Manjrekar in the second innings of the first test. Shortly after helping New Zealand to another test victory over Australia at Wellington by taking his 100th first class 5 wicket haul in an innings, Hadlee announced that he would be retiring after the upcoming tour to England.

From Richard Hadlee to Sir Richard Hadlee

It was announced that Hadlee was to be knighted for his services to cricket. Hadlee did not have his knighthood conferred on him while still a test cricketer: Though the honour was announced in the Queen's Birthday Honours of 16 June 1990, it was only conferred on 4 October 1990, some months after his last test match on 10 July 1990.

HANSIE CRONJE (SA)

Introduction

Wessel Johannes "Hansie" Cronje (September 25, 1969 to June 1, 2002) was a South African cricketer and captain of the South African national cricket team in the 1990s. He was voted the 11th greatest South African in 2004 despite having been banned for life from professional cricket for his role in a match-fixing scandal.

Full name: Wessel Johannes Cronje
Nickname: Hansie
Born: 25 September 1969 Bloemfontein, South Africa
Died: 1 June 2002 (aged 32) Cradock Peak, Outeniqua Mountains, South Africa
Role: Batsman
Batting style: Right-handed
Bowling style: Right-arm medium

Test debut (cap 237): 18 April 1992 v West Indies
Last Test: 2 March 2000 v India
ODI debut (cap 15): 26 February 1992 v Australia
Last ODI: 31 March 2000 v Pakistan

Tests & ODI Matches: 68 & 188
Runs scored: 3714 & 5565
Batting average: 36.41 & 38.64
100s/50s: 6/23 & 2/39
Top score: 135 & 112
Wickets: 43 & 114
Bowling average: 29.95 & 34.78
Best bowling: 3/14 & 5/32
Catches: 33 & 73

First Class Career

Cronje made his first-class debut for Orange Free State against Transvaal at Johannesburg in January 1988 at the age of 18. In the following season he was a regular appearing in all eight Currie Cup matches plus being part of the Benson and Hedges Series winning team, scoring 73 as an opener in the final. In 1989/90, despite playing all the Currie Cup matches, he failed to make a century, and averaged only 19.76; however, in one-day games he averaged 60.12.

During that season, he scored his maiden century for South African Universities against Mike Gatting's rebels. After that poor season, he was given tough task of captaincy of his domestic team.

International Career

Cronje's form in 1991/92 was impressive especially in the one-day format where he averaged 61.40. He earned an international call up for the 1992 World Cup, making his One Day International debut against Australia at Sydney. During the tournament he played in eight of the team's nine games, averaging 34.00 with the bat while his medium pace was used bowling 20 overs.

After the World Cup, Cronje was part of the tour to the West Indies; India toured South Africa in 1992/93. In the one-day series Cronje managed just one fifty but with the ball he was economical and took his career best figures of 5/32, becoming the second South African to take 5 wickets in an ODI. In the Test series that followed he scored his maiden test century, 135 off 411 balls., after coming in at 0-1 in the second over he was last man out, after eight and three-quarter hours, in a total of 275. This contributed to South Africa's first Test win since readmission.

Stand-in captain

In international cricket he was named as vice-captain for the tour of Australia despite being the youngest member of the squad in 1993/94. He scored 71 in a rain affected first Test at Melbourne before a tense second Test that South Africa won by 5 runs, an injury to captain Kepler Wessels meant Cronje was captain for the final day of the match. Between the second and third Tests the one-day tournament continued, now with Cronje as captain, South Africa made the final series but lost it 2-1 to Australia. He became South Africa's second-youngest Test captain, when he led the team for the third Test at Adelaide.

In the first Test against Australia at Johannesburg, he added a century as South Africa won by 197 runs. This innings was the end of a 14 day period in which he'd scored 721 runs against the Aussies.

Permanent captain

South Africa lost the first Test in Johannesburg but before the second Test the two teams plus Pakistan and Sri Lanka competed for the Mandela Trophy, New Zealand failed to gain a win in the six match round robin stage while South Africa beat Pakistan in the final. This changed the momentum as South Africa secured wins in Durban and Cape Town, where Cronje scored his fourth Test century, he was the first captain since W. G. Grace to win a three-match rubber after being one down. In early 1995 South Africa won one-off Tests against both Pakistan and New Zealand, in Auckland Cronje scored the only century of the match before a final day declaration left his bowlers just enough time to dismiss the Kiwis.

In the 1996 World Cup, he scored 78 and 45* against New Zealand and Pakistan respectively as South Africa won their group but in the Quarter final with West Indies a Brian Lara century ended their 10 game winning streak.

Cronje's form at the 1999 World Cup was poor, finishing with 98 runs at 12.25 as South Africa was eliminated after the famous tied Semi-final againt Australia at Edgbaston. In October 1999 Cronje became South Africa's highest Test run scorer during the first Test against Zimbabwe. The two Test series was won 2-0 thanks to innings victories. The series with England was won in the fourth Test at Cape Town, Cronje's fiftieth as captain.

The fifth test of the 1999/2000 South Africa v England series at Centurion was ruined by rain - going into the final day only 45 overs had been possible with South Africa 155/6. On the final morning as they batted on news filtered through that the captains had met and were going to "make a game of it". A target of 250 from 70 overs was agreed. When South Africa reached 248/8 Cronje declared; both teams then forfeited an innings leaving England a target of 249 to win the Test, which they did with two wickets left and only five balls remaining. It ended South Africa's 14 game unbeaten streak in Test cricket. Cronje was later learnt to have accepted money and a gift from a bookmaker in return for making an early declaration in this Test.

Match fixing

On 7 April 2000, Delhi police revealed they had a recording of a conversation between Cronje and Sanjay Chawla, a representative of an Indian betting syndicate, over match-fixing allegations. On 8 April 2000 the UCBSA (United Cricket Board of South Africa) denied that any of their players were involved in match-fixing, Cronje said "the allegations are completely without substance". However, on April 11 Cronje was sacked as captain after confessing to Ali Bacher that he had not been "entirely honest". He admitted accepting between $10,000 and $15,000 from a London-based bookmaker for 'forecasting' results, not match fixing, during the recent one day series in India. On 11 October, Cronje was banned from playing or coaching cricket for life. He challenged his life ban in September 2001 but on 17 October 2001 his application was dismissed.

Plane crash

On 1 June 2002 Cronje's scheduled flight home from Bloemfontein to George had been grounded so instead he hitched a ride as the only passenger on a cargo flight in a Hawker Siddeley HS 748 turboprop aircraft. Near George airport, the pilots lost visibility in cloud, and were unable to land, partly due to unserviceable navigational equipment. While circling, the plane crashed into the Outeniqua mountains northeast of the airport. Cronje, aged 32, and the two pilots were killed instantly.

SIR IAN BOTHAM (ENG)

Introduction

Sir Ian Terence Botham (born 24 November 1955) is a former England Test cricketer and Test team captain, and current cricket commentator. He was a genuine all-rounder with 14 centuries and 383 wickets in Test cricket, and remains well known by his nicknames "Beefy" and "Guy the Gorilla". While a controversial player both on and off the field at times, Botham also held a number of test cricket records, and still retains the highest number of wickets taken by any England bowler.

Full name: Ian Terence Botham
Nickname: Beefy
Born: 24 November 1955 (1955-11-24) (age 52) Heswall, England
Height: 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Batting style: Right-handed
Bowling style: Right-arm fast-medium
Role: All-rounder

Test debut (cap 474): 28 July 1977 v Australia
Last Test: 18 June 1992 v Pakistan
ODI debut (cap 33): 26 August 1976 v West Indies
Last ODI: 24 August 1992 v Pakistan

Tests & ODI Matches: 102 & 116
Runs scored: 5200 & 2113
Batting average: 33.54 & 23.21
100s/50s: 14/22 & 0/9
Top score: 208 & 79
Wickets: 383 & 145
Bowling average: 28.40 & 28.54
5 wickets in innings: 27 & 0
Best bowling: 8/34 & 4/31
Catches: 120 & 36

Domestic Career

In first-class cricket, he played for Durham, Somerset and Worcestershire, as well as a season (1986-87) in Australia playing for Queensland. Botham started his first-class career in 1974 with Somerset. In 1985, he resigned from the Somerset County Cricket Club to protest the sacking of his friends Viv Richards and Joel Garner. He joined Worcestershire, playing for them between 1986 and 1991. In 1992, he joined County Championship newcomers Durham before retiring midway through the 1993 season. He was sacked from the Queensland team after being arrested for assault of a fellow airline passenger. In 1974, when playing against Hampshire and facing the West-Indian fast bowler Andy Roberts, a bouncer hit him straight in the mouth.

International Career

Botham made his Test debut for England on 28 July 1977 in the Third Test against Australia. He went on to enjoy a Test career spanning 15 years, in which he played in 102 matches.

Botham finshed his career with 5,200 runs at an average of 33.54; taking 383 wickets at an average of 28.40; and holding 120 catches. He is recognised as one of England's greatest Test players. He was also England's captain for 12 Tests in 1980 and 1981. As captain, Botham was generally considered to have been unsuccessful in that role.

Capataincy Record

His tenure was brief and he achieved no win, 8 draws and 4 losses. In his defence, 9 of his matches as captain were against the best team of the time, the West Indies.

Test Bowling & Batting Performances throughout his career

Records

Sir Ian Botham holds a number of Test records as an all-rounder, including being the fastest (in terms of matches) to achieve the "doubles" of 1,000 runs and 100 wickets, 2,000 runs and 200 wickets, and 3,000 runs and 300 wickets. He briefly held the world record for the greatest number of Test wickets. Ian holds the record for the highest number of test wickets ever taken by an Englishman at 383.

He scored a century and took 5 wickets in an innings in the same Test match on 5 occasions; no-one else has managed this feat more than twice. In 1980, playing against India, he became the first player to score a century and take ten wickets in a Test match. During the 1981 Ashes, Botham set a record of six sixes in a single Ashes Test Match at Old Trafford.

Honours

2008: Botham was awarded an honorary doctorate in Sports Science by Leeds Metropolitan University.
2008: Botham was awarded an honorary degree with the title Doctor of Laws from the University of Bath.
2007: Botham was knighted by the Queen in the Queen's Birthday Honours, again in recognition of his cricket achievements and his sustained efforts in raising money for Leukaemia research. The ceremony took place at Buckingham Palace on 10 October 2007.

2004: BBC Sports Personality of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award.
2003: First ever President of Leukaemia Research, the UK's leading blood cancer charity.
1992: Botham was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to cricket and for his charity work in the Queen's Birthday Honours.
1988: Awarded Pipe Smoker of the Year.
1981: Voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
1978: He was elected a Wisden cricketer of the year.

SIR DON BRADMAN (AUS)

Introduction

Sir Donald George Bradman, (27 August 1908 – 25 February 2001), often referred to as The Don, was an Australian cricketer, widely acknowledged as the greatest batsman of all time. Bradman's career Test batting average of 99.94 has been claimed to be statistically the greatest achievement in any major sport.

During a 20-year playing career, Bradman consistently scored at a level that made him, in the words of former Australia captain Bill Woodfull, "worth three batsmen to Australia". A controversial set of tactics, known as Bodyline, was specifically devised by the England team to curb his scoring. As a captain and administrator Bradman was committed to attacking, entertaining cricket; he drew spectators in record numbers. The focus of attention on his individual performances strained relationships with some team-mates, administrators and journalists, who thought him aloof and wary. A complex, highly-driven man, not given to close personal relationships, Bradman retained a pre-eminent position in the game by acting as an administrator, selector and writer for three decades following his retirement. Even after he became reclusive in his declining years his opinion was highly sought, and his status as a national icon was still recognised—more than 50 years after his retirement as a Test player, in 2001, the Australian Prime Minister John Howard called him the "greatest living Australian". Bradman's image has appeared on postage stamps and coins, and he was the first living Australian to have a museum dedicated to his life.

Full name: Sir Donald George Bradman
Nickname: The Don, The Boy from Bowral, Braddles
Born: 27 August 1908(1908-08-27) Cootamundra, New South Wales, Australia
Died: 25 February 2001 (aged 92) Kensington Park, Adelaide, Australia
Height: 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Batting style: Right-handed
Bowling style: Right-arm leg break

Test debut: 30 November 1928 v England
Last Test: 18 August 1948 v England
Matches: 52
Runs scored: 6,996
Batting average: 99.94
100s/50s: 29/13
Top score: 334
Balls bowled: 160
Wickets: 2
Bowling average: 36.00

Early Career

Bradman practised batting incessantly during his youth. He invented his own solo cricket game, using a cricket stump for a bat, and a golf ball. A water tank, mounted on a curved brick stand, stood on a paved area behind the family home. When hit into the curved brick facing of the stand, the ball rebounded at high speed and varying angles—and Bradman would attempt to hit it again. This form of practice developed his timing and reactions to a high degree. In more formal cricket, he hit his first century at the age of 12, playing for Bowral Public School against Mittagong High School.

First Class Cricket

Bradman made his first-class debut at the Adelaide Oval, aged 19. He secured the achievement of a hundred on debut, with an innings of 118 featuring what soon became his trademarks—fast footwork, calm confidence and rapid scoring. In the final match of the season, he made his first century at the SCG, against the Sheffield Shield champions Victoria.

In the first match of the Sheffield Shield season, he scored a century in each innings against Queensland. He followed this with scores of 87 and 132 not out against the England touring team, and was rewarded with selection for the first Test, to be played at Brisbane.

Test Career

He found his initial Test a harsh learning experience. Australia were all out for 66 in the second innings and lost by 675 runs (still a Test record). Following scores of 18 and 1, the selectors dropped Bradman to 12th man for the second Test. An injury to Bill Ponsford early in the match required Bradman to field as substitute while England amassed 636, following their 863 runs in the first Test. RS Whitington wrote, "... he had scored only nineteen himself and these experiences appear to have provided him with food for thought". Recalled for the third Test at Melbourne, Bradman scored 79 and 112 to become the youngest player to make a Test century, although the match was still lost. Another loss followed in the fourth Test. Bradman reached 58 in the second innings and appeared set to guide the team to victory when he was run out. It was to be the only run out of his Test career and the losing margin was just 12 runs.

The improving Australians did manage to win the fifth and final Test. Bradman top-scored with 123 in the first innings, and was at the wicket in the second innings when his captain hit the winning runs. Bradman completed the season with 1,690 first-class runs, averaging 93.88, and his first multiple century in a Sheffield Shield match, 340 not out against Victoria, set a new ground record for the SCG. Bradman averaged 113.28 in 1929–30. In a trial match to select the team that would tour England, he was last man out in the first innings for 124. As his team followed on, the skipper Bill Woodfull asked Bradman to keep the pads on and open the second innings. By the end of play, he was 205 not out, on his way to 225. Against Queensland at the SCG, Bradman set a world record for first-class cricket by scoring 452 not out; he made his runs in only 415 minutes.

During the 1938 tour of England, Bradman played the most consistent cricket of his career.

Last Appearance in 1948

In the final Test at The Oval, Bradman walked out to bat in Australia’s first innings. He received a standing ovation from the crowd and three cheers from the opposition. His Test batting average stood at 101.39. Facing the wrist-spin of Eric Hollies, Bradman pushed forward to the second ball that he faced, was deceived by a googly, and bowled between bat and pad for a duck. An England batting collapse resulted in an innings defeat, denying Bradman the opportunity to bat again and so his career average finished at 99.94; if he had scored just four runs in his last innings, it would have been 100. A story developed over the years that claimed Bradman missed the ball because of tears in his eyes, a claim Bradman denied for the rest of his life.

Performance Chart of his Career

Legend Cricketers

When we talk about the legends of cricket, we must remind many of the super stars of all time in the history of cricket. We are going to focus on the every single legend in a detail later on, but at this time, we are going to look one player of cricket from every team at a time. It is based in all forms of cricket, but mostly on test level. A list of very famous legends of all times is given here:

1. Sir Don Bradman (AUS)
2. Sir Ian Botham (ENG)
3. Hansie Cronje (SA)
4. Sir Richard Hadlee (NZ)
5. Clive Llyod (WI)
6. Kapil Dev (IND)
7. Imran Khan (PAK)
8. Arjuna Ranatunga (SL)

Twenty-20 Cricket

Introduction

As named represents, it is of 20 overs per innings match and take evn less amount of time of the people and excit much much more of the people in the today's world. A Twenty20 game is completed in about two and half hours, with each innings lasting around 75 minutes, thus bringing the game closer to the timespan of other popular team sports such as football. It was introduced to create a lively form of the game which would be attractive to spectators at the ground and viewers on television and as such it has been very successful.

History

On 17 February 2005, Australia defeated New Zealand in the first men's full international Twenty20 match, played at Eden Park in Auckland. The game was played in a light-hearted manner - both sides turned out in kit similar to that worn in the 1980s. Some of the players also sported moustaches/beards and hair styles popular in the 1980s taking part in a competition amongst themselves for best retro look. Australia won the game comprehensively, and as the result became obvious towards the end of the NZ innings, the players and umpires took things less seriously

The first Twenty20 international in England was played between England and Australia at the Rose Bowl in Hampshire on the 13 June 2005, which England won by a record margin of 100 runs. On 9 January 2006 Australia and South Africa met in the first international Twenty20 game in Australia. In a first, each player's nickname appeared on the back of his uniform, rather than his surname. The international match drew a crowd of 38,894 people at the The Gabba. Australia convincingly won the match with man of the match Damien Martyn scoring 96 runs. On 16 February 2006 New Zealand defeated West Indies in a tie-breaking bowl-out 3-0; 126 runs were scored apiece in the game proper.

T-20 Playing Nations

To date 16 countries have played the format, including all Test playing nations.

1. Australia on February 17, 2005


2. New Zealand on February17, 2005


3. England on June 13, 2005


4. South Africa on October 21, 2005


5. West Indies on February 16, 2006


6. Sri Lanka on June 15, 2006


7. Pakistan on August 28, 2006


8. Bangladesh on November 28, 2006


9. Zimbabwe on November 28, 2006


10. India on December 01, 2006


11. Kenya on September 01, 2007


12. Scotland on September 12, 2007


13. Netherlands on August 02, 2008


14. Ireland on August 02, 2008


15. Canada on August 02, 2008


16. Bermuda on August 03, 2008

One day Cricket (ODI's)

Introduction

As this type of cricket has limited number of overs and each team is to bowl limited overs in a limited period of time, so it is also known as 'Limited Overs International (LOI)'. In this type of cricket, there are 50 overs to be bowled in 3 hours and 30 minutes and it makes a match of total 7 hours without intervals. Hence, it becomes a One-Day Cricket, and it is more popular among the people as it takes less time to give the result.

Important one-day matches, international and domestic, often have two days set aside, the second day being a "reserve" day to allow more chance of the game being completed if a result is not possible on the first day (if play is prevented or interrupted by rain) and it is not necessary that every ODI's has reserve day, as it is being decided before the match (or series) whether to apply it or not.

History

The international one-day game is a late twentieth-century development. The first ODI was played on January 05, 1971 between Australia and England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. When the first three days of the third Test were washed out officials decided to abandon the match and, instead, play a one-off one day game consisting of 40 eight-ball overs per side. Australia won the game by 5 wickets.

"Kery Pecker Series"--A New Drama in ODI's History

A big controversy was held for the first time in the history of cricket when an Australian, Kery Pecker organized a Series with totally a new concept, and in the beginning most of the boards and officials along with players denied this but it become a fate of this form of cricket.
In the late 1970s, Kerry Packer established the rival World Series Cricket (WSC) competition, and it introduced many of the features of One Day International cricket that are now commonplace, including coloured uniforms, matches played at night under floodlights with a white ball and dark sight screens, and, for television broadcasts, multiple camera angles, effects microphones to capture sounds from the players on the pitch, and on-screen graphics. The first of the matches with coloured uniforms was the Australians in wattle gold versus West Indians in coral pink, played at VFL Park in Melbourne on 17 January 1979. It was credited with making cricket a more professional sport.

ODI's Playing Nations

The ten Test-playing nations (which are also the ten full members of the ICC) have permanent ODI status. The nations are listed below with the date of each nation's ODI debut shown in brackets:

1. Australia on January 05, 1971


2. England on January 05, 1971


3. New Zealand on February 11, 1973


4. Pakistan on February 11, 1973


5. West Indies on September 05, 1973


6. India on July 13, 1974


7. Sri Lanka on June 07, 1975


8. Zimbabwe on June 09, 1983


9. Bangladesh on 31 March 31, 1986


10. South Africa on November 10, 1991

The ICC temporarily grants ODI status to other teams; at present these are:

1. Kenya (from 18 February 1996, until the 2009 ICC Trophy)


2. Bermuda (from 1 January 2006 until the 2009 ICC Trophy)


3. Canada (from 1 January 2006 until the 2009 ICC Trophy)


4. Ireland (from 1 January 2006 until the 2009 ICC Trophy)


5. Netherlands (from 1 January 2006 until the 2009 ICC Trophy)


6. Scotland (from 1 January 2006 until the 2009 ICC Trophy)