Most iconic cricket events of each decade from the 1930s to the 2000s
As you will be aware, the first ever Test match took place between Australia and England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in 1877. Ever since then, the game of cricket has never stood still to its credit. Each passing decade has seen various landmarks being achieved and numerous changes to the game taking effect, all of which have largely been for the betterment of the game - whether it was “Bodyline” prompting a gradual ban on intimidatory bowling back in the 1930s or the surge in popularity of the T20 format as recently as in the 2000s.Here are some of the most iconic and momentous cricket events to have taken place in each decade:(Note: The below list of events in each decade is in chronological order)
#1 1930s to 1960s - \"Bodyline\"
Bodyline (1932)
The backdrop to the hugely controversial Ashes series of 1932-33, famously known as “Bodyline”, is provided by the fact that Don Bradman amassed a staggering 974 runs at a batting average of 139.14 in the previous Ashes series in England in 1930. So by the time the series in Australia came along, Bradman was at the absolute peak of his powers, and England captain Douglas Jardine felt they had no chance of regaining the Ashes unless they came up with an unorthodox tactic to counter not just Bradman but the Australian side as a whole.
As a consequence, Jardine instructed his bowlers to bowl at leg-stump and aim at the body of the Australian batsmen with a cordon of close-in fielders being placed on the leg side to grab any chance that comes their way.
While the plan had the desired effect with England winning the series 4-1 and Bradman averaging a relatively meagre 56.57, it led to the relations between the two sides deteriorating beyond repair. Australian captain Bill Woodful, referring to England’s unethical tactics, famously remarked, “There are two teams out there, one is playing cricket. The other is making no attempt to do so”.
Australia - The Invincibles (1948)
The Australian team which toured England in 1948 under the captaincy of Don Bradman came to be known as The Invincibles after becoming the first side to go through an entire tour of England without losing a single game. Till this date, it remains the only one to do so and is rightly regarded as one of the best cricket teams ever.
Containing greats like Keith Miller, Arthur Morris, Neil Harvey, Ray Lindwall and Bradman himself, Australia won the 5-match Test series 4-0 in addition to winning 23 and drawing 8 of the 31 first-class fixtures they played on the tour.
The tour also held special significance as it was Bradman’s final ever Test series, retiring with a phenomenal 6,996 runs at an aggregate of 99.94 from his 52 Tests.
Jim Laker’s 10-wicket haul
Jim Laker achieved a unique feat in Test cricket when he became the first bowler in Test cricket to take all 10 wickets in the 2nd innings of an Ashes Test against Australia at Old Trafford in 1956. Having taken 9 for 37 in the 1st innings as well, Laker finished with outstanding match figures of 19 for 90 to lead England to a colossal innings and 170-run win.
Since then, India’s Anil Kumble is the only bowler to mirror Laker’s feat, courtesy of his match-winning 10/74 against Pakistan at Delhi in 1999.
First ever tied Test (1960)
The 1960 Test match between Australia and West Indies at The Gabba, Brisbane, is widely considered among the greatest Tests ever played and rightly so, as the match was one of only two tied Tests in the format’s 138-year-old history. The other one came between India and Australia in Chennai in 1986, giving you a fair idea of how rare such an outcome is in Test cricket.
West Indies won the toss and posted 453 on the board after choosing to bat first, with Garry Sobers scoring a magnificent 132. In reply, Australia bettered West Indies’ effort as they amassed an imposing total of 505, thereby securing a lead of 52. Australia then managed to bowl out the West Indians for just 284, with left-armer Alan Davidson taking 6/87.
Davidson had to come to the rescue of the hosts with the bat too, as they found themselves precariously placed at 6/92 in pursuit of 233 for victory when Richie Benaud joined the left-armer at the crease. They stitched together an outstanding 134-run partnership to take Australia to 226/6 before a late-order collapse resulted in Test cricket’s first ever tie.