4 most memorable moments of 2019 in international cricket

2019 was quite an eventful year for international cricket. And it was meant to be as it was hosting the Cricket World Cup. Apart from the flagship event, the ICC Test Championship began this year, Afghanistan recorded their first Test win, India recorded their first Test series win down-under and Test Cricket returned to Pakistan after 10 years.

Among these events were moments which touched our hearts, made us feel what a great game cricket is. And this articles revisits 4 such moments that will be etched in the memories of cricket fans across the globe. Given it's too difficult to rank these moments, we have merely listed them in chronological order.

Let's dive in to relive these moments:

#1 Indian team's victory lap at the SCG

Virat Kohli

The Indian Test team lost 2-1 in South Africa in 2018 and followed it up with a disappointing 4-1 scoreline in England. So, inevitably Virat Kohli was asked if this was a make or break tour for India. Make or break because the Indian team was expected to win in South Africa and England. And most were beginning to question if the 'strong' Indian side has what it takes to win a Test series in the SENA nations. And among other things, Virat said, "We believe we have what it takes to win on this tour".

Also see – Under 19 world cup winner list

Sometimes the scorelines, the stats don't give out the accurate story. Virat knew this and so did the Indian team. The losses in South Africa and England made the Indian team more determined to create history in Australia. And history, did they create.

On January 6, 2019, as the rain ensured the Sydney Test ended in a draw, Kohli's men ended the 71-year drought of winning a Test series down-under. How fitting that it was in Sydney, the place where that Kohli sworn-in as a full-time captain of the Indian Test side in 2015.

The victory lap marked the arrival of the Indian Test side which gets on the field to dominate, whether home or away. A moment to celebrate not just for Indian fans but also for the lovers of Test cricket. They can be assured that they are in for a fierce, competitive, relentless brand of Test cricket from this Indian side in the coming decade.

#2 England finally lifting the World Cup

England finally became World Champions

You have to admit that it's tough being an England cricket fan or it was until they finally lifted the World Cup this year.

The finish to the final was inarguably the greatest ODI finish ever. And while it got controversial at the end, it's only fair to say that England were the deserving champions.

The team, after being knocked out from the group stages of the 2015 World Cup, worked with just one objective - to win the 2019 World Cup. They changed their style of play, the team selection criteria, the wickets they prepare -- they basically rebranded ODI cricket in the 4 years leading up to the 2019 World Cup.

England getting over the line in the Final was meant to happen. They worked so hard for the World Cup that they willed it into existence. And it was truly heart-warming seeing them lift the World Cup trophy.

#3 A gem of a sportsman that is Kane Williamson

The smile that exemplified the class of a true sportsman

It might amuse some (in a happy way) that in this list of most memorable moments, here's one which didn't even happen on the field. But this amusement might not even come close to the one that hit those who watched 15 minutes of Kane Williamson addressing the post-match press conference.

A man who had every reason to be angry, upset, dejected, rude, and what not, showcased utmost generosity and class while answering questions which required him to go over and over again the most heartbreaking moments of his sporting life.

There were two occasions where he mentioned how disappointing and tough it is for them but also that England deserved the victory. He did not even put a lot of emphasis on the boundary awarded when the throw deflected from Stokes' bat. His exact words were, "... you can't sort of look at that and think that perhaps that decided the match."

The world was amused (in a happy way), it just witnessed a sportsman who knew how to accept a sporting loss with grace.

The final question asked of him was whether he thinks if everybody should be a gentleman like him, to which he responded saying,

"Everybody are allowed to be themselves. That is a good thing about the world. And everybody should be a little bit different as well. Really difficult question to answer. That is probably my best answer, just be yourself and try and enjoy what you do."

And then all the journalists stood up to gave him a standing ovation.

#4 Take a bow, Ben Stokes!

Ben Stokes produced an inhuman effort at Headingley to keep England's Ashes hopes alive

Some 38+ years ago, in the summer of '81, Ian Botham and Bob Willis combined forces to produce a miraculous 18-run triumph against Australia at Headingley. It was so improbable that the odds placed on an England victory was 500-1 (though it was later denounced as more of a PR stunt than actual calculations).

Six weeks before Day 4 of the 2019 Headingley Test, England's superman, Ben Stokes played the most important knock of his career, taking his side to their maiden World Cup title.

The venue had witnessed a miracle 38 years ago, and Ben Stokes had delivered one some 6 weeks ago. Yet us mere mortals, fallible to our reasons and logic, hadn't expected what unfolded on August 25, 2019.

The Ashes was on the line, and most had concluded that it's going to Australia (which it eventually did) when England lost their 8th and 9th wicket within a span of 3 deliveries, still needing 72 runs to win. And that's when Ben Stokes decided to showcase the other extreme of his batting - the confident, clean, hard-hitter of the cricket ball. To encapsulate the batting class shown by Ben Stokes, here's a fact - at the end of Day 3, he was at 2 off 50 deliveries and scored his slowest fifty the next morning. He was blocking everything the Aussies were throwing until he was not.

It took Ben Stokes all of 60 minutes, 10.2 overs, and a resistance of 17 balls from his partner, Jack Leach, to accumulate the 72 runs England needed.

His inhuman effort of 135 not out, scoring 11 fours and 8 sixes could easily be the greatest Test knock of the decade, and among the best of all time. He roared as he scored the winning runs, so did the English dressing room. Jack Leach kissed him. And the Headingley crowd erupted into joy!