2005 in photos
January
Habibul Bashar led Bangladesh to an extraordinary series win over Zimbabwe. Bangladesh were 0-2 down in the series, but stormed back in the final three ODIs to clinch their first ever series win•Farjana K Godhuly/AFPJanuary
Kevin Pietersen announced himself, spectacularly, to international cricket against South Africa. Here he celebrates his maiden one-day century•Getty ImagesMarch
Very appealing. Tino Best tries his best to lift the West Indies but South Africa were too dominant•Getty ImagesMarch
Zimbabwe were humiliated by South Africa in the first Test at Cape Town, folding inside two days•Getty ImagesApril
...but Pakistan stormed back to take the next four matches; Shahid Afridi was at his bombastic and violent best•Emmanuel Dunand/AFP/Getty ImagesMay
England's bully-boy tactics of bowling short and fast proved decisive, as Bangladesh were unable to cope with the height of England's pacemen•Getty ImagesMay
Shiv Chanderpaul hit an unbeaten 153 in their second innings to set Pakistan a daunting 573 to win. They fell short by 276 runs•AFPJanuary
Andrew Strauss was named Man of the Series against South Africa, after scoring three hundreds, a fifty, over 600 runs at an average of 72.88. England won the 5-Test series 2-1•Getty ImagesFebruary
Brett Lee attempts a sensational catch, as Australia proved too strong for Pakistan in the VB series•Hamish Blair/Getty ImagesMarch
Not even Gravy could raise a smile, as the West Indies lost the Test series, and fell 5-0 in the one-day series against South Africa•DigicelMarch
Zimbabwe didn't fair much better in the second Test, and were routed by Monde Zondeki who took six wickets to give South Africa a series win•Getty ImagesMay
Another poor series for West Indies who were soundly beaten, at home, by South Africa. Andre Nel took 17 wickets at 17.29•Getty ImagesMay
Abdul Razzaq celebrates the dismissal of Wavell Hinds. Pakistan convincingly beat the West Indies in the three-match one-day series•Gordon Brooks/AFPJune
Pakistan stormed back in the second Test...•Gordon Brooks/AFPFebruary
Michael Clarke trudges back for 38, but again Australia beat Pakistan to tie up the VB series in comfortable fashion•Hamish Blair/Getty ImagesMarch
Jason Gillespie takes an incredible catch to bring to an end a miserable series for Stephen Fleming. Australia's series-win over New Zealand set them up for the Ashes...or so they hoped•Hamish Blair/Getty ImagesApril
Virender Sehwag scored a magnificent century in debilitating conditions as India took the first two ODIs against Pakistan...•Indranil Mukherjee/AFPMay
Chris Gayle celebrates his triple-century to give the home fans something to cheer on the fourth day of the 4th Test against South Africa•AFPMay
The second Test at The Riverside was the venue for Ian Bell's maiden, and unbeaten, hundred against Bangladesh•Getty ImagesMay
But the West Indies stormed back in the first Test, with Brian Lara notching his maiden century against Pakistan•Gordon Brooks/Getty ImagesJune
...with Younis Khan reaching a wonderful hundred as Pakistan levelled the series 1-1•Randy Brooks/AFP