On a treacherous track at Cuttack, Dilip Vengsarkar batted with phenomenal ease as he notched up his career-best score of 166. And Kapil Dev captured his 300th wicket as Sri Lanka surrendered meekly to lose by an innings. Arunabha Sengupta recalls the memorable Test match and the curious controversy that followed after it on January 7, 1987.
Read MoreDon Bradman hits world record 452
On January 6, 1930, Don Bradman pulverised the Queensland attack at Sydney by scoring an unbeaten 452 for New South Wales. Arunabha Sengupta recalls the mammoth knock that established his reputation as a run machine.
Read MoreFirst ever ODI is played to compensate for a rained off Test
The first-ever One-Day International was played January 5, 1971. Abhishek Mukherjee looks back at the time when a potentially abandoned Test match set a concept that has gone on to dominate the world of cricket for over three decades and boasts probably the most coveted reward in the sport.
Read MoreWhen an English pair put up the first ever century opening partnership for India
Jan 2, 1927. An English pair posted the first ever century opening partnership for India. Arunabha Sengupta and Sumit Gangopadhyay recall the feat.
Read MoreFirst Ever Hat-trick in Test Cricket
January 2, 1879. Fred ‘Demon’ Spofforth captured the first ever Test hat-trick in the third ever Test. Arunabha Sengupta recalls the way the weak England side capitulated to Dave Gregory’s band of 11 men.
Read MoreThe first ever Test hosted by Pakistan
The first ever Test match in Pakistan was played on New Year’s Day, 1955. Strangely, it was contested in the capital of the current day Bangladesh. Arunabha Sengupta looks back at the epochal event
Read MoreThe day Subrata Guha and Chuni Goswami overcame the mighty West Indian side
Dec 28, 1966 - Subrata Guha and Chuni Goswami bowled Central and East Zone to victory over then mighty West Indians
Read MoreBill Ponsford powers Victoria to 1107
December 28, 1926. Victoria’s innings finally came to an end with the total on 1107! Arunabha Sengupta recalls the day when Bill Ponsford, Jack Ryder and the others piled on misery for New South Wales.
Read MoreBishan Bedi's career-best figures against a background of violence
December 14, 1969. As India succumbed to a big defeat against Bill Lawry’s Australians, Bishan Singh Bedi carried on the fight alone, capturing seven wickets in the best bowling performance of his Test career. Arunabha Sengupta revisits the Calcutta Test which witnessed tragedy as six people were killed in a showdown between the crowds and police.
Read MoreSo near but so far: BB Nimbalkar's immortal quadruple hundred
BB Nimbalkar, born December 12, 1919, was a prolific scorer in domestic cricket, Nimbalkar’s eventful 443 not out scored for Maharashtra in 1948 remains the highest individual First-Class score by an Indian batsman. Arunabha Sengupta pays tribute to the man and his immortal innings.
Read MoreThe day Garry Sobers revived Test cricket
On Dec 9, 1960 Garry Sobers not only scored 132 in what was going i end up as the Tied Test. He did a lot more.
Read MoreNought not outs of note
Ben Stokes’ innings in the Headingley chase has obviously gone down as one of the greatest in history. Jack Leach’s 1 not out, on the other hand, has attained cult status of sorts. However, there have been even lower unbeaten, yes 0*, which have been vital in the context of the games. Abhishek Mukherjee looks back at some iconic 0 not outs in the history of Test cricket.
Read MoreEric Rowan scores match-saving hundred without gloves or box or hat
On his day Eric Alfred Burchell Rowan was a delight to watch. Few have been as fearless at the crease: batting against Ray Lindwall and Keith Miller without gloves or the box was no joke. Off the field he was the outspoken rebel, never hesitant to give it to the authorities. Abhishek Mukherjee looks back at the day when Rowan combined the two features, scoring one of the most astonishing hundreds of all time, on December 30, 1948.
Read MoreWhen WG Grace, batting 93, declared the innings
There were a lot of things WG Grace was capable of, but declaring his team innings closed in a ‘dead match’ because he had never made a certain score was fantastic even by his outrageous track record. However, he did exactly that on August 3, 1898.Abhishek Mukherjee looks back.
Read MoreSarfraz Nawaz captures 7 for 1
On March 15, 1979 Sarfraz Nawaz ran through a totally perplexed Australian batting line-up to snatch an incredible victory from the jaws of defeat. Abhishek Mukherjee looks back at a path-breaking bowling spell that not only won a Test for Pakistan, but has gone down as one of the most spectacular of bowling spells in history.
Read MoreSunil Gavaskar reaches 10000 runs as Imran's men wear helmets on field
March 7, 1987. While Sunil Gavaskar stood on the threshold of the 10,000 run landmark, crowd trouble at Ahmedabad prompted a hold up in play. The Pakistani fielders re-emerged with most of them wearing helmets. Arunabha Sengupta looks back at the eventful day of one of the dullest Test matches.
Read MoreMike Procter scores sixth First-Class hundreds in a row
March 5, 1971. Mike Procter entered the record books with his sixth century on the trot. Arunabha Sengupta looks back at the remarkable run of the all-rounder who balanced his run-making spree with 27 wickets in 8 matches, at 15.53 apiece.
Read MoreColin Croft takes 8 for 29, best-ever figures for a West Indian fast bowler
On March 4, 1977 Colin Croft demolished Pakistan with a demonstration of mean, hostile fast bowling. Abhishek Mukherjee looks back at the best bowling figures by a fast bowler in the history of West Indies cricket.
Read MoreAndy Sandham scores the first ever triple century in Tests
On April 3, 1930 began a Test with one of the most bizarre scorecards. Abhishek Mukherjee looks back at one of the longest Tests ever that witnessed many a record being shattered.
Read MoreGarry Sobers scores 365 not out, a Test record that stood 36 years
March 1, 1958. Garry Sobers, a 21-year-old left-handed all-rounder, scored his first Test century and made it a huge one. Arunabha Sengupta looks back at the innings that stood as the highest ever score in Test cricket for 36 years.
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