Crickets' best in 2005

Sorry it took a while to publish this as I was continuously involved with a hectic schedule and hardly got a time to write freely.

2005 remarked a great era for cricket. Many milestones were achieved and many extraordinary things happened. Overall it’s been good for cricket and we are happy to see some good cricket matches. I take this opportunity to rate top 5 best things happened in 2005 in my perspective.

Rise from the Ashes:
This is simply best cricket series I ever had seen. It got all from excitement to thrill to anticipation to disappointment. England had to wait for 18 years to achieve this feat again, and boy the way they did it is awesome. Freddie Flintoff, Kevin Petersen, Simon Jones was at their peak. This is the same time when England found out their new revelation of reverse swing. You can’t take Shane Warne off the screen in any circumstances, I still remember the way he bowled Andrew Strauss by pitching the ball far from the off side and turned and hit the leg stump in that series, and boy it's amazing. Looking forward for Operation "Demolition in Australia", hope England could repeat their heroics in the next ashes in Australia.

Thrilling Tie in the Final:
Once again it’s an Australia Vs. England show. This time it’s the Shorter version of the game and the finals played for Natwest Series at Lords. The game went to the wire and it was never the end until the last ball has been bowled. Australia was bowled with a highly packed batting line out only managing for mere 196 and England were at one stage were 33 runs with 5 wickets down. It was upto Paul Collingwood and Geraint Jones who had a 116 runs partnership for the 5th wicket, though they weren’t the heros of the particular day was Ashley Giles who snicked a 2 run leg bye off the last ball of the last over.

New Kid on the Block: Michael Hussey:
Frankly, had to wait until the VB Series is on to see this guy. I heard him when Australia toured England, and was starting to make loud echoes of him. What impressed me about him was his never say die attitude. Though he might be a Michael Bevan sought of a guy, he has more than him. His ability to have the big hits on time is quite impressing and he can’t simply stay in a place always in the run. I still remember the way hit that big hit in Telstra dome, and eventually it wasn't decided as six! That was disappointing.

Bangladesh's win over Australia:
Don’t ever think that your day dreaming. This happened, and every one was shocked to hear this news. It’s like a ant pulling off an elephant. Anyway, Bangladeshi put up a good show, hats off to them, but it’s very disappointing to see good performances by more often. Ashrafull scored an unbeaten century to pull off a shocker.

Return of Brian Charles Lara:
He is my favorite and he will be. I'll be glued to the TV when he is on song. I like to see every shot he plays. He went on a poor form in 2005, particularly in the Super Series, but he came back strongly with 231 Vs. Australia in Adelaide despite Australia trouncing the West Indies to win the series 3-nil. It’s very sad that even big score scored by a batsmen still ends up in the loosing side. Further, he announced that this would be his final tour to Australia. He still is the best.


Your comments and suggestions are most welcomed.

Regards,


Hifni Shahzard Nazeer, M.