It has been a 2018 filled with highs and lows as another eventful year in the world of cricket draws to a close.
There has been no shortage of standout performances or controversies. As the New Year approaches, we take a look at the best and worst in the world of cricket in 2018.
HIGHS
AFGHANISTAN AND IRELAND MAKE TEST BOWS
It was a year to savour for two former Associates in Afghanistan and Ireland as they made their Test bows after being awarded Full Membership status by the ICC.
Afghanistan’s tryst with red-ball cricket got underway with a one-off Test against No1 ranked India at Bengaluru. It was a painful introduction to Test cricket for the Afghans as they fell to an innings defeat but the experience should hold them in good stead heading into 2019.
On the other hand, Ireland gave Pakistan an almighty scare in their first-ever Test at Malahide, Dublin before falling to a narrow five-wicket defeat.
The Irish gave Pakistan a a proper scare in Dublin.
LOWS
AUSTRALIA’S ‘SANDPAPERGATE’ CONTROVERSY
There are no prizes for guessing this one with Australia’s ‘Sandpapergate’ moment during the tour of South Africa taking the cake. It has been the saga which has dominated most of 2018 as Australian cricket hit unprecedented lows.
Skipper Steve Smith and his deputy David Warner were served with one-year bans from international and domestic cricket while protagonist Cameron Bancroft was slapped with a nine-month ban.
The ugly episode also led to the end of tenures of head coach Darren Lehmann and a host of Cricket Australia’s top brass as Australian cricket was forced to introspect. The ball-tampering episode still casts a big shadow over the national team who are now attempting to overhaul the cricketing culture under new coach Justin Langer and skipper Tim Paine.
The press-conference that changed it all.
SURPRISE OF THE YEAR
AB DE VILLIERS ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT
2018 saw some greats of the game hang up their boots in the form of England opener Alastair Cook and Sri Lanka spinner Rangana Herath. However, it was the retirement of AB de Villiers that surprised the cricket world with the Proteas batsman citing the pressure of an ever-increasing workload as the reason for his decision.
What makes De Villiers’ retirement a bitter pill to swallow for the South Africans is the fact that the batsman was still at the top of his game in all formats. With the Proteas still searching for a maiden World Cup title, the 34-year-old’s international retirement came at the worst possible time for his country with the global showpiece set to take place in England in 2019.
A retirement that sent shock waves through the world of cricket.
LIMITED-OVERS BATSMAN OF THE YEAR
ROHIT SHARMA
While Virat Kohli once again finished as the top-scorer in the ODI format with over 1,200 runs and six tons while averaging a staggering 133, it is his deputy Rohit Sharma who takes this honour after a stupendous 2018.
The India opener is the second highest run-getter in the calendar year in the one-day format with 1,030 runs and five centuries along with an average of over 73. He pips Kohli to this honour due to his equally stellar performances in T20I cricket where he was once again the second highest run-getter with almost 600 runs in 18 innings.
Rohit registered two more T20 tons to his name, taking his overall tally to four in the format which is staggering.
Rohit Sharma hit new heights in white-ball cricket.
LIMITED-OVERS BOWLER OF THE YEAR
RASHID KHAN
The Afghanistan leg-spin sensation had a prolific 2018 in both the ODI and T20 formats as he continued his meteoric rise in international cricket.
Rashid was the highest wicket-taker in the ODI format with 45 scalps in 20 matches at an average of less than 15 and an economy-rate of less than four runs an over. His T20 record wasn’t too shabby either with 22 wickets in eight matches at an average less than nine and an economy-rate of 6.36.
No surprises then that he his now ranked No1 and No2 in the ICC bowler’s rankings in the T20 and ODI formats respectively.
Rashid continues to get better and better.
TEST BATSMAN OF THE YEAR
VIRAT KOHLI
The India skipper has enjoyed a sensational year in both the ODI and Test formats but it has been his performances in the latter which have been the biggest highlight of Kohli’s year.
The top-scorer in the format in 2018 by some distance with 1,322 runs from 24 innings at an average of over 55, Kohli has taken Test cricket by storm. The 29-year-old reached the highest Test rating points ever achieved by an Indian batsman while scoring five tons in the calendar year.
Four of those tons have come in testing overseas conditions of South Africa, England and Australia which makes Kohli’s achievements all the more remarkable.
A momentous year in Test cricket for King Kohli.
TEST BOWLER OF THE YEAR
MOHAMMAD ABBAS AND KAGISO RABADA
There are several contenders for this honour including India’s Jasprit Bumrah and Australia’s Pat Cummins but it is Pakistan seamer Mohammad Abbas and South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada who stood head and shoulders above the others.
Having made his international bow in only 2017, Abbas has played just seven Tests this year but managed to bag 38 wickets with a sensational average of 13.76. The 29-year-old helped Pakistan to a famous win over England at Lord’s with an eight-wicket haul and was in unstoppable form in the ‘home’ series against Australia in the UAE where he bagged 17 wickets in just two matches.
Rabada, meanwhile, became the youngest pacer to attain the top ICC bowler’s ranking in a year where he finished as the highest wicket-taker with 52 scalps in 10 Tests.
Just no separating these two bowlers in 2018.
