In Case You Missed It: Disappointment, hope, and a decade in review
Our best content from last week
ESPNcricinfo staff
30-Dec-2019
Is this the start of South Africa's bounce back from rock bottom? • Associated Press
The year has ended with two Tests that have epitomised the state of cricket in 2019. For New Zealand, their latest series loss caps a year of disappointments, while a resurgent Australia have found their footing again after the many stumbles of 2018. England may have won the World Cup, but their Test form continues to be all over the map, while South Africa have clawed back from chaos to finally notch up an important win. It's also the end of an eventful decade in cricket, and we've got a comprehensive review of the highs, lows and pivotal moments of the last ten years.
Nathan Lyon, James Pattinson lead rampant Australia to series win
New Zealand crossed 200 for the first time in the series, thanks to opener Tom Blundell's inspirational 121 in the second innings, but overall the batting fell short again. Pat Cummins, with his five-for in the first innings, now ends the year as 2019's most prolific wicket-taker in Tests.
New Zealand crossed 200 for the first time in the series, thanks to opener Tom Blundell's inspirational 121 in the second innings, but overall the batting fell short again. Pat Cummins, with his five-for in the first innings, now ends the year as 2019's most prolific wicket-taker in Tests.
South Africa end Test drought with hard-fought win
Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje shared seven wickets as England fell well short. Faf du Plessis called his squad "a team of fighters", and Firdose Moonda reckons South Africa have finally embraced the struggle to find their form again.
Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje shared seven wickets as England fell well short. Faf du Plessis called his squad "a team of fighters", and Firdose Moonda reckons South Africa have finally embraced the struggle to find their form again.
Peter Siddle announces retirement from international cricket
Siddle played 67 Tests, taking 221 wickets at 30.66, his last match coming in the final Test of this year's Ashes series in England, capping a career that featured a birthday hat-trick and, as his first Test wicket, the scalp of Sachin Tendulkar.
Siddle played 67 Tests, taking 221 wickets at 30.66, his last match coming in the final Test of this year's Ashes series in England, capping a career that featured a birthday hat-trick and, as his first Test wicket, the scalp of Sachin Tendulkar.
Sourav Ganguly reveals 'Super Series' plan with England and Australia
The proposed tournament - with a fourth team participating - could become an annual affair, but may run contrary to the ICC's plans for the game in the next few years. CA chief Kevin Roberts, though, says the focus should also be on growing cricket outside of India.
The proposed tournament - with a fourth team participating - could become an annual affair, but may run contrary to the ICC's plans for the game in the next few years. CA chief Kevin Roberts, though, says the focus should also be on growing cricket outside of India.
The day Czech Republic held four world records in cricket
The small European side beat teams like Australia and India to make the highest total in T20Is. Sreshth Shah has the story of how it happened. And Hemant Brar looks at some of the unbelievable numbers that have made their way into the record books since international status was granted to all T20s between ICC member nations.
The small European side beat teams like Australia and India to make the highest total in T20Is. Sreshth Shah has the story of how it happened. And Hemant Brar looks at some of the unbelievable numbers that have made their way into the record books since international status was granted to all T20s between ICC member nations.
This is Kieron Pollard's West Indies, and they mean business
Coming off a hard-fought series in India, West Indies can expect good things around the corner under their new white-ball captain, says Deivarayan Muthu.
Coming off a hard-fought series in India, West Indies can expect good things around the corner under their new white-ball captain, says Deivarayan Muthu.
Hate to Love: Hero in blue, villain in maroon
For Crispin Andrews, as a Somerset and Australia supporter in the 1970s and '80s, Viv Richards was problematic.
For Crispin Andrews, as a Somerset and Australia supporter in the 1970s and '80s, Viv Richards was problematic.
Decade in review
What did cricket in the 2010s teach us?
In this past decade the game has both grown and shrunk, been haunted by past demons, and found resilience in mutability. Osman Samiuddin takes stock of the decade that was.
In this past decade the game has both grown and shrunk, been haunted by past demons, and found resilience in mutability. Osman Samiuddin takes stock of the decade that was.
Players pick the best performances they have watched this decade: Suzie Bates remembers Grant Elliott's six that took New Zealand's to the 2015 World Cup final. And Ashish Nehra picks as his favourite VVS Laxman's dogged 96 that almost won India a Test series in South Africa in 2010.
Team report cards for the decade: in part one, our writers and correspondents look at ngland, Australia, Pakistan, West Indies, women's cricket, Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka fared between 2010 and 2019. In part two, how India, Bangladesh, New Zealand, South Africa, Ireland and Afghanistan did.