In 2024, cricket fans witnessed the end of many long-awaited moments, with unforgettable successes and remarkable achievements gracing the 22 yards.
A Year of Milestones
For some teams, 2024 became the year to reclaim forgotten glory. While many celebrated historic triumphs, others were left with bitter disappointments. The year was also marked by record-breaking performances, both individual and collective.
West Indies’ Memorable Victory
In January, West Indies broke a long-standing drought by defeating Australia by 8 runs in the Brisbane Test. This win marked their first Test victory against Australia in 21 years and their first on Australian soil in nearly 27 years.
The hero of the match was pacer Shamar Joseph, who claimed 7 wickets for 68 runs in the second innings and a total of 8 wickets in the match. Chasing a target of 216, Australia folded for 207, despite Steven Smith remaining unbeaten on 91 at one end.
A Dream Debut for Shamar Joseph
The series also marked the Test debut of Shamar Joseph, a cricketer from a remote village in Guyana. In the first Test in Adelaide, batting at No. 11, he impressed with the bat and later showcased his bowling prowess by taking 5 wickets in the first innings. He became the first Caribbean bowler to claim five wickets on debut in Australia.
Although West Indies lost the first Test, Joseph was instrumental in their victory in Brisbane, where he claimed 13 wickets across two matches and won the Player of the Series award.
India Crowned T20 World Champions
India’s T20 World Cup win in June ended a 16-year wait since their maiden triumph in 2007 under MS Dhoni. After seven unsuccessful campaigns, India finally lifted the trophy in dramatic fashion.
Facing South Africa in the final in Barbados, India defended a target of 177 by 7 runs. South Africa, needing just 30 runs from 30 balls with six wickets in hand, suffered an inexplicable collapse to hand India the title.
Sri Lanka Breaks Long Streaks
Sri Lanka ended a 27-year wait in August by defeating India in a bilateral ODI series, claiming the series 2-1 on home soil. The decisive third match saw Dunith Wellalage deliver a career-best performance, taking 5 wickets for 27 runs.
In September, Sri Lanka also ended a decade-long drought against England by securing an 8-wicket win at The Oval, their first Test victory over England since 2014.
Kamindu Mendis: A Unique Record
Sri Lanka’s Kamindu Mendis etched his name in history during September, becoming the only batter in 147 years of Test cricket to score at least a fifty in each of his first eight matches. His unbeaten 182 against New Zealand further solidified his position as one of Test cricket’s most consistent newcomers.
T20’s Fastest Century
Estonia’s Sahil Chauhan smashed a record-breaking 27-ball century against Cyprus in June, surpassing Chris Gayle’s 30-ball feat in 2013 IPL. Chauhan’s unbeaten 144 off 41 balls included 18 sixes and 6 fours, setting a new benchmark in recognized T20 cricket.
Zimbabwe Sets T20 Run Record
In October, Zimbabwe scored a record-breaking 344 runs in 20 overs against Gambia during the African sub-regional qualifiers for the T20 World Cup. Sikandar Raza led the charge with a destructive 43-ball 133. However, Zimbabwe’s record was short-lived, as Baroda surpassed it in a domestic match in December.
New Zealand’s Historic Feat in India
New Zealand made history in India by whitewashing the hosts in a three-match Test series for the first time. Starting with an 8-wicket win in Bengaluru, they sealed the series in Pune and won a thrilling finale in Mumbai.
Mitchell Santner was the standout performer, claiming 13 wickets in the series, including a 7-wicket haul in the first match.
Pakistan’s 22-Year Wait Ends
In November, Pakistan defeated Australia 2-1 in a three-match ODI series on Australian soil, marking their first series win there in 22 years. Haris Rauf was instrumental, taking 10 wickets across the series.
England’s 800+ Run Milestone
England made history in October by posting 823/7 declared against Pakistan in Multan, the fourth-highest team total in Test history. This marked only the fourth instance of a team surpassing 800 runs in a Test innings, three of which belong to England.
England’s Test Series Victory in New Zealand
December brought another milestone for England, as they claimed their first Test series win in New Zealand in 17 years. A dominant 323-run win in Wellington secured the series 2-0, marking their 400th Test win in history.
New Zealand Women’s First T20 Title
The New Zealand women’s team finally clinched their maiden T20 World Cup title in October, defeating South Africa in the final. After years of heartbreak, the Kiwis triumphed with an impressive campaign, beating three Asian giants—India, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan—on their way to the trophy.
2024 will be remembered as a year of comebacks, breakthroughs, and record-breaking moments, leaving an indelible mark on cricket’s rich history.
