Sachin first to score five tons in World Cup

Sachin Tendulkar became the first batsman to score five centuries in World Cup. The master blaster achieved this feat by making 120 off 115 balls with 10 fours and five sixes against England at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore on Sunday (February 27).

Sachin Tendulkar’s fifth century in World Cup came in the 37th innings of 38th matches. Australian Ricky Ponting and Mark Waugh and India’s Sourav Ganguly shared the previous record of most centuries in World Cup by making four centuries each.

** Sachin Tendulkar also became the first batsman to smash 200 or more fours in World Cup. The seventh four off slow left arm spinner Michael Yardy during his 120-run knock was his 200th in 37 innings of 38 World Cup matches.

** By hitting five sixes during his 120-run knock, Sachin Tendulkar claimed the second position in most sixes hitter in World Cup. His 24 sixes is just one short of the record held by Sourav Ganguly. The former Indian skipper smashed 25 sixes in 21 innings of as many matches between 1999 and 2007.

** India recorded their second highest total against England by making 338 in 49.5 overs. Their highest total against England is 387 for five in 50 overs at Rajkot on November 14,2008.

** Virender Sehwag became only the third Indian batsman after Sachin Tendulkar (1455 runs in  37 matches) and Yuvraj Singh (1187 runs in 29 matches) to score 1000 runs against England. The right hand opening batsman achieved this feat during his 35-run knock. He scored 1008 runs in 27 matches till this match.

** James Anderson equaled his own record of worst bowling performance in an innings in one day internationals by giving 91 runs in 9.5 overs. He also conceded the same number of runs in 10 overs against Australia at Sydney on February 2, 2011.

** Andrew Strauss recorded the highest individual score for England in World Cup by making 158 off 145 balls with 18 fours and a six. Dennis Amiss who made 137 off 147 balls with 18 fours against India at Lord’s on June 7,1975.

** Andrew Strauss became England’s sixth and 77th batsman overall to score 4000 runs in one day internationals. The England skipper reached this landmark during his 158-run knock. It was 121 innings of his 122 matches in limited overs international cricket.

** The match was the fourth tied match in the World Cup and 24th overall in 3011 one day international matches. England’s total 338 for 8 in 50 overs was the second highest score to tie the match. New Zealand made 340 for seven in 50 overs to tie with England at Napier on February 20,2008.

Meet World Cup Trophy

The ICC World Cup Trophy is the prize presented to the winners of the tournament. The current Trophy was created for the 1999 event and is the first permanent prize in the tournament’s history.

It was designed and manufactured in London by Garrard, the Crown Jewelers, and is valued at more than £27,000 (About Rs 21 lakhs). Crafted in silver and gilt, the 60 cm trophy weights 11 kilos and features a golden globe held aloft by three silver columns. The globe itself is presented in the form of a stylized cricket ball, while the columns, styled as stumps and balls, represent the three essential pillars of the game–batting, bowling and fielding.

The Trophy was designed by Paul Marsden at Garrard. A number of craftsmen worked for two months, spending over 500 man-hours in the workshop, to create the finished article.

The trophy has been designed to ensure its uniqueness is instantly recognized, no matter from which angle it is viewed. The nine previous winners have been acknowledged on inscription plates at its base.

The actual Trophy is always kept by the ICC in its offices in Dubai but a replica, which is identical in all aspects apart from the inscription of the previous champions, is awarded to the winning team and remains in their possession.

The Prudential Cups were awarded to the winners of the World Cup from 1975-1983 when Prudential Assurance Company was the primary sponsors. The Trophies’ designs changed when the sponsors changed until the 1999 World Cup. So the first three world cups had a similar Trophy while 1987, 1992 and 1996 had different trophies because of different sponsors until the International Cricket Council decided to award its own trophy.

THE WORLD CUP WINNERS:

Year Trophy Name Winner

1975 Prudential World Cup West Indies

1979 Prudential World Cup West Indies

1983 Prudential World Cup India

1987 Reliance World Cup Australia

1992 Benson & Hedges World Cup Pakistan

1996 Wills World Cup Sri Lanka

1999 ICC World Cup Australia

2003 ICC World Cup Australia

2007 ICC World Cup Australia

India draw first series in South Africa

The three-Test match series between India and South Africa ended in 1-1 draw after third and final Test match ended without a result on the fifth day at Newlands, Cape Town on Thursday (January 6).

South Africa have won the first Test match at Centurion by won by an innings and 25 runs while the second Test match played at Durban was won by India by 87 runs.

India draw the series for the first time in five visits to South Africa. The first ever series played between India and South Africa in South Africa was won by the hosts by 1-0. Mohammed Azharuddin led the Indian team.

India lost the three Test series in 1996-97 by 2-0 under Sachin Tendulkar and two Test series 1-0 in 2001-02 under Sourav Ganguly.

India recorded first ever victory in South Africa under Rahul Dravid in 2006-07 but lost the three Test series 1-2.

Chris Woakes’ second best bowling for England in one dayers

Playing in his only second one day international match, Chris Woakes set the record of best bowling peformance for England against Australia by taking six wickets for 45 runs in the fifth match of the seven-one day match series at Brisbane Cricket Ground, Woolloongabba, Brisbane on Sunday (January 30).

It was England’s second best performance in limited overs international cricket after Paul Collingwood’s six for 31 against Bangladesh at Nottingham on June 21,2005.

Graeme Swann five for 28 at Chester-le-Street on September 20,2009 was the previous best for England against Australia while Mark Ealham’s five for 15 against Zimbabwe at Kimberley on June 30,2000 was the previous best by an England bowler in overseas one day international matches.

Chris Woakes also became only the second bowler after India’s Ajit Agarkar who took six wickets for 42 runs at Melbourne on January 9,2004, to take six wickets in an innings on Australian soil. Australia won both occasions.

The 21-year old also became the ninth bowler to take six or more wickets against Australia in limited overs international cricket.

The right arm medium pacer from Birmingham also became only the eighth bowler to take six wickets in an innings for losing cause. Imran Khan (Pakistan), Shane Bond (New Zealand), Shaun Pollock (South Africa), Ajit Agarkar (India), Tony Gray (West Indies), Chris Mpofu (Zimbabwe) and Ashish Nehra (India) were the other bowler to achieve this ‘unwanted feat’ before Chris Woakes.

By taking six for 45, Chris Woakes also recorded his best bowling performance in limited overs matches surpassing four for 37 for England Lions against Pakistan A at Dubai on February 26,2010.

Pakistan’s first series win in five years

Pakistan weathered a hostile opening spell that reduced them to 42 for 3 in 13 overs the first hour, worked their way to safety in the second session, and made a half-hearted attempt to win the Test before settling for a draw that gave them the series 1-0 on the fifth and final day of the second Test match at Basin Reserve, Wellington on Wednesday (January 19).

It was their first victory outside the sub-continent since the triumph in New Zealand in 2003-04, and their first anywhere since 2006-07. Pakistan’s last series win came at home against West Indies. They have won three Test series 2-0.

The 1-0 victory was another impressive result for a team that has managed to hold its own on the field – with Test wins against England and Australia, and a drawn series against South Africa – despite facing a mountain of problems off it.

Pakistan’s series win was seventh in 12 in New Zealand and 13th overall in 20 series against Kiwis.

** Asad Shafiq was on a pair for 22 balls before opening his account with a six and a four through Daniel Vettori’s open straight fields.

** Misbah-ul-Haq (70 not out) scored his sixth successive half-century, three of them unbeaten. After making nine in the first innings of his first Test match as captain against South Africa at Dubai in November 2010, Misbah-ul-Haq went to score a half century each in all six innings.

** Misbah-ul-Haq also became the seventh Pakistani skipper to win Test series against New Zealand in New Zealand. Intikhab Alam, Mushtaq Mohammed, Javed Miandad, Saleem Malik,Wasim Akram and Inzamam-ul-Haq were the other Pakistani skippers to achieve this feat before Misbah-ul-Haq.

First World Cup for seven Indian players

The exclusion of middle-order batsman Rohit Sharma was the only surprise in India’s 15-man World Cup squad announced in Chennai. The other bone of contention had been the second specialist spinner’s slot, and the selectors have picked both off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and leg-spinner Piyush Chawla, ahead of left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha. Most of the other names in the squad were along expected lines.

Seven on these 15 players will play for the first time. They are Gautam Gambhir, Suresh Raina,Virat Kohli,Yusuf Pathan, Ravichandran Ashwin, Piyush Chawla and Praveen Kumar.

India’s major concern ahead of the team selection was the injuries to four first-choice players – Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir and quick bowler Praveen Kumar – but the selectors picked all four, confident that they will be fit in time for the tournament which starts on February 19.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni will lead the team while Virender Sehwag will play in the role of deputy

Tim Southee;s hat trick in Twenty-20 cricket

Tim Southee became the second New Zealand bowler after Jacob Oram and third bowler to perform hat-trick in Twenty-20 cricket.

The right arm medium fast bowler from Whangarei achieved this feat by dismissing Younis Khan, Hafeez and Umar Akmal, who was wrongly given out leg before, in the first match of the three-match series against Pakistan at Eden Park, Auckland on Sunday (December 26) .

Brett Lee was the first bowler to take three wickets on successive balls in Twenty-20 cricket. The Australina fast bowler achieved this by dismissing Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan, Mashrafe Mortaza and Alok Kapali at Cape Town on September 16,2007.

New Zealand’s Jacob Oram recorded the second hat-trick in Twenty-20 cricket by dismissing Sri Lankan Angelo Mathews, Malinga Bandara and Nuwan Kulasekara at Colombo on September 2, 2009.

Tim Southee recorded the best bowling performance for New Zealand in Twenty-20 cricket by taking five for 18 in four overs. It was second best bowling performance in Twenty-20 cricket after Pakistan’s Umar Gul’s five for six against New Zealand at The Oval on June 13, 2009. Mark

Gillespie’s four for seven against Kenya at Durban on September 12, 2007 was the previous best for New Zealand in Twenty-20 cricket.

Sri Lankan Kaushalya Weeraratne who took four wickets for 19 runs at King City on October 11, 2008, held the previous record of best bowling against Pakistan in this type of cricket.

Rahul Dravid joins 12000-run Club in Tests

Rahul Dravid became the second Indian and third batsman overall in Test history to break the 12,000-run barrier. He reached the landmark by making final run during his 43-run knock on the fourth day of the first Test match against South Africa at Super Sport Park ,Centurion on Sunday (December 19).

The former Indian captain, managed to reach the mark in his 255th innings of 148th Test, in a career that began in against England at Lord’s in 1996. He took 14 years and 183 days to achieve this milestone. Twenty three of those runs, though, came for the World XI against Australia at Sydney in October 2005.

The first batsman to cross the 12000-run figure mark in Test cricket was Sachin Tendulkar. Master blaster who holds the record of scoring the highest number of runs in Test cricket achieved this feat during his 88-run knock in India’s first innings in the second Test match against Australia at Mohali on October 17,2008. It was 247th innings of his 152nd Test match.

Ricky Ponting was the second batsman to break the 12000-run barrier in Test match history. The Australian skipper reached this landmark during his 66-run knock in the second Test match against Pakistan at Leeds on July 23, 2010. He was playing 247th innings of his 146th Test match.

Rahul Dravid, the right hand top-order batsman, has scored 5270 runs at 50.75 with 14 centuries and 25 fifties in 115 innings of 67 Test matches at home while he made 6721 runs at 55.09 with 17 centuries and 34 fifties in 140 innings of 81 Test matches outside India.

After scoring 12,000 runs and 31 centuries, The Wall, really has nothing left to prove to anyone. But on a day when he frequently put two far more aggressive stroke makers in the shade, there was plenty for selectors and supporters to ponder. Instead of a Wall-like immoveable object, this was a free-flowing stream of an innings. “I’m not even thinking of selection,” he said when asked a question that alluded to his exclusion from the one-day scheme of things. “I’m just trying to play every single game.”

India’s first victory in South Africa comes in 2006-07

INDIA’S FIRST VICTORY IN SOUTH AFRICA COMES IN 2006-07:

India first toured South Africa in 1992-93 under Mohammed Azhaurddin and lost the three- Test series 1-0. India lost the three-Test series 2-0 when toured South Africa for the second time in 1996-97 under Sachin Tendulkar. Sourav Ganguly was the captain when Indis toured South Africa for the third time in 2001-02. India lost the two-Test series 0-1.

FOURTH TOUR:

India toured South Africa for the third time under the leadership of Rahul Dravid in 2006-07 and lost the three-Test series 1-2. They take the lead after winning the first match but lost the second and third Test match of the series. Graeme Smith led the home team in this series.

In a stunning reversal, India achieved their first Test win in South Africa, and what some observers thought was their best-ever away win. Their hero was Sreesanth, the wild and wacky seamer from Kerala playing only his sixth Test, who started South Africa’s collapse for 84 in their first innings with a maiden five-for. There was no eccentricity in Sreesanth’s actual delivery, which arrived with pace, aggression and a vertical seam. He ended the game with eight for 99, the match award, and a fine of 20% of his match fee for giving Hashim Amla an unnecessary send-off after claiming his wicket for the second time. South African total was their lowest, not just since readmission in 1991-92, but since England twice skittled them for 72 in 1956-57.

South Africa leveled the series by winning the second Test match at Durban by 174 runs. South Africa’s desperation to make amends for the humiliation of the previous Test was evident throughout this one. Although more than 100 overs were lost to the bad light which often characterises the Kingsmead Christmas, they scraped home with barely 10 minutes to spare before grey cloud and drizzle would have ended the match for good. Sachin Tendulkar, dropped by Graeme Smith at slip when 21, maintained his record of having scored at least one Test half-century every year since 1992 with a workmanlike 63.

The home team won the series by 2-1 after winning the third and final Test match at Cape Town. A compelling Test series ended with the best contest of the three. After winning the toss and batting on an uncharacteristically dry pitch, India made 414. Wasim Jaffer’s controlled hundred (116), ended when Jacques Kallis took his 100th Test catch. South Africa scored 373 in their first innings to concede 41-run lead.

Sachin Tendulkar scraped together a desperately unconvincing 14 from 62 balls before Dale Styen wrapped up the tail, helped by an error from Asad Rauf which allowed him a seventh ball at Patel, with which he polished off the innings. It set up a run-chase of 211 on a pitch by now offering extravagant turn.

South Africa made 211 for five to win the match and series 2-1.

THE SCORES:

** Played at Johannesburg on December 15,16,17,18,2006

Toss: India

India: 249 (Sourav Ganguly 51 not out, Shaun Pollock four for 39) and 236 (V.V.S. Laxman 73)

South Africa: 84 (Ashwell Prince 24, Sreesanth five for 40) and 278 (Ashwell Prince 97)

Result: India won by 123 runs

Man of the Match: Sreesanth

** Played at Durban on December 26,27,28,29,30,2006

Toss: South Africa

South Africa: 328 (Ashwell Prince 121, Herschelle Gibbs 63, Mark Boucher 53, Sreesnath four for 109) and 265-8 declared (Shaun Pollock 63 not out, Graeme Smith 58, Sreesnath four for 79)

India: 240 (Sachin Tendulkar 63, V.V.S.Laxman 50 not out) and 179 (Mahendra Singh Dhoni 47, Makhaya Ntini five for 48)

Result: South Africa won by 174 runs

Man of the Match: Makhaya Ntini

** Played at Cape Town on January 2,3,4,5,6,2007

Toss; India

India: 414 (Wasim Jaffer 116, Sourav Ganguly 66, Dinesh Karthik 63, Shaun Pollock four for 75, Paul Harris four for 129) and 169 (Rahul Dravid 47, Dale Steyn four for 30)

South Africa:373 (Graeme Smith 94, Hashim Amla 63,Jacques Kallis 54, Mark Boucher 50, Anil Kumble four for 117) and 211-5 (Graeme Smith 55)

Result: South Africa won by five wickets

Man of the Match: Graeme Smith

Brendon McCullum scored his maiden double hundred

Brendon McCullum scored his maiden double hundred in the 91st  innings of the 54th Test match by making 225 in 554 minutes off 308 balls with 22 fours and four sixes on the fifth day of the second Test match against India at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Uppal, Hyderabad on Tuesday (November 16).

The right hand batsman’s previous highest was 185 in 322 minutes of 272 balls with 17 fours and three sixes against Bangladesh at Hamilton in 2009-10 while 115 in 162 minutes off 140 balls with 13 fours at Napier in 2008-09 was the previous highest against India.

Brendon McCullum’s 225 was the third highest score by a New Zealand batsman against India after Draham Dowling’s 239 at Christchurch in 1967-68 and Bert Sutcliffe’s unbeaten 230 at Delhi in 1955-56.

Brendon McCullum also became 12th New Zealand batsman to score 500 runs against India in Tests. He batted nine innings of five Test matchesn to reach this milestone. The other New Zealand batsman to achieve this feat before him were Graham Dowling (864 runs in 11 Tests), Bert Sutcliff (885 runs in 9 Tests), John Wright (804 runs in 9 Tests), Mark Burgess (725 runs in 13 Tests), Bev Congdon (713 runs in 13 Tests), John Reid (691 runs in 16 Tests), Craig McMillan 647 runs in 8 Tests), Stephen Fleming (620 runs in 13 Tests), Glenn Turner (583 runs in 9 Tests), Daniel Vettori (565 runs in 14 Tests) and Jesse Ryder (520 runs in five Tests).

** Virender Sehwag’s unbeaten 54 off 54 balls with six fours and a six was the second half century in the 17th innings of the nine Test matches against New Zealand and 25th half century overall in 143^rd innings of 83 Test matches.

** The only six off Martin Guptill during his unbeaten 54-run knock puts Virender Sehwag on the fifth position in the list of highest sixes hitter. It was his 83rd six in 143 innings of 83rd Test match.

Only Adam Gilchrist (Australia-100 sixes in 137 innings of 96 Tests), Brian Lara (West Indies 88 sixes in 232 innings of 131 Tests), Chris Cairns (New Zealand-87 sixes in 104 innings of 62 Tests) and Vivian Richards (West Indies-84 sixes in 182innings of 121 Tests) smashed more sixes than Virender Sehwag in Tests. 

Brendon McCullum scored his maiden double hundred in the 91st  innings of the 54th Test match by making 225 in 554 minutes off 308 balls with 22 fours and four sixes on the fifth day of the second Test match against India at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Uppal, Hyderabad on Tuesday (November 16).

The right hand batsman’s previous highest was 185 in 322 minutes of 272 balls with 17 fours and three sixes against Bangladesh at Hamilton in 2009-10 while 115 in 162 minutes off 140 balls with 13 fours at Napier in 2008-09 was the previous highest against India.

Brendon McCullum’s 225 was the third highest score by a New Zealand batsman against India after Draham Dowling’s 239 at Christchurch in 1967-68 and Bert Sutcliffe’s unbeaten 230 at Delhi in 1955-56.

Brendon McCullum also became 12th New Zealand batsman to score 500 runs against India in Tests. He batted nine innings of five Test matchesn to reach this milestone. The other New Zealand batsman to achieve this feat before him were Graham Dowling (864 runs in 11 Tests), Bert Sutcliff (885 runs in 9 Tests), John Wright (804 runs in 9 Tests), Mark Burgess (725 runs in 13 Tests), Bev Congdon (713 runs in 13 Tests), John Reid (691 runs in 16 Tests), Craig McMillan 647 runs in 8 Tests), Stephen Fleming (620 runs in 13 Tests), Glenn Turner (583 runs in 9 Tests), Daniel Vettori (565 runs in 14 Tests) and Jesse Ryder (520 runs in five Tests).

** Virender Sehwag’s unbeaten 54 off 54 balls with six fours and a six was the second half century in the 17th innings of the nine Test matches against New Zealand and 25th half century overall in 143^rd innings of 83 Test matches.

** The only six off Martin Guptill during his unbeaten 54-run knock puts Virender Sehwag on the fifth position in the list of highest sixes hitter. It was his 83rd six in 143 innings of 83rd Test match.

Only Adam Gilchrist (Australia-100 sixes in 137 innings of 96 Tests), Brian Lara (West Indies 88 sixes in 232 innings of 131 Tests), Chris Cairns (New Zealand-87 sixes in 104 innings of 62 Tests) and Vivian Richards (West Indies-84 sixes in 182innings of 121 Tests) smashed more sixes than Virender Sehwag in Tests.

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