2025 Entertainers Cricket League: Highlights of the season

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The Entertainers Cricket League 2025 was an exciting cricket competition that featured some of India’s biggest social media influencers and content creators. This has become a big trend in global sports, and as social media continues to grow, more projects will be made to accommodate them. 

This is seen in football with the Baller League in the United Kingdom and Germany, or the Kings League in Spain. Now, cricket has followed up with a version of its own with the ECL, which just concluded its second season. 

Defending champions Haryanvi Hunters played against the Rajasthan Rangers in the opening game of the season, on March 5, the official ECL cricket 2025 start date. Let’s revisit the biggest stories from these monumental highlights of the ECL 2025 fixtures.

Chennai Smashers’ impressive title win

ECL cricket 2025 crowned Chennai Smashers (CS) as the season’s top team across the Entertainers Cricket League 2025 schedule, which ran from March 5 to March 16. It was an intense tournament, with three other teams ending up with a 5-2 win-loss scoreline like Chennai Smashers. However, CS had an impressive Net Run Rate of +2968, giving them the top position of the campaign.

CS beat the Bangalore Bashers in the Finals by 10 wickets, making them the second team to win an ECL season. The impressive performance of batters Gulshan Nain and Rahul Bisht delivered the much-awaited win of the squad.

Ankit Nagar tops the ECL’s standouts as Player of the Series

The ECL was filled with big personalities, but it also showcased some budding cricket talents. Ankit Nagar was the standout not only for the Chennai Smashers, but also for the entire league. He was selected as the MVP of the competition, standing tall amongst many impressive players in the ECL T10 2025 circuit.

Apart from Nagar, the competition also had some strong standouts, particularly in the scoring department. Lucknow Lions’ Akash Yadav was the clear-cut best run-scorer in the ECL, pulling away with 529, with the closest being Dynamic Delhi’s Manvendra Singh Chauhan, who had 349. 

Here are the other players given the 2025 ECL awards for their impressive plays:

Batter of the SeasonAkash Yadav (Lucknow Lions)
Bowler of the SeasonMahesh Keshwala (aka Thugesh) (Chennai Smashers)
Most Sixes of the TournamentAkash Yadav (Lucknow Lions)
Player of the MatchMahesh Keshwala (Chennai Smashers)
Super Striker of the MatchKetan Patel (Bangalore Bashers)
Bowler of the MatchMahesh Keshwala (Chennai Smashers)
Most Sixes of the MatchGulshan Nain (Chennai Smashers)

The ECL has remained competitive across all teams

Similar to its inaugural season, the Entertainers Cricket League 2025 matches were played in T10 format. Inspired by the T20 format, T10 is a short cricket match where two teams play only one innings, with only 10 maximum overs on each side. A T10 match is expected to last for only 90 minutes.

The debuting Chennai Smashers might have won the championship, but all the Entertainers Cricket League 2025 teams showcased an impressive performance. Here are the final Entertainers Cricket League 2025 standings, showing a close fight on the top 4 of the ECL Season 2 points table:

TeamWinLossNRR (Net Run Rate)Points
Chennai Smashers52+2.96810
Lucknow Lions52+2.62610
Kolkata Superstars52+1.24910
Bangalore Bashers52-0.38810
Haryanvi Hunters43+0.7518
Dynamic Delhi34+0.5546
Mumbai Disruptors16-4.0812
Rajasthan Rangers07-3.8700

The future is bright for the ECL to continue

Various ECL cricket 2025 live streaming channels showcased the exciting matches of the league as they feature popular influencers and public personalities battle it out on the field. With the second edition wrapped up and fans already done with their ‘when will ECL 2025 start?’ searches, cricket enthusiasts’ attention has now shifted to the 2025 Indian cricket league since its start this week.

With the 2025 ECL a huge success, the league’s founders have also officially confirmed Season 3 during the ECL Finals game between Chennai Smashers and Bangalore Bashers. Cricket’s top league for social media stars will continue to bring the sport and entertainment together.

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How India became the new ICC Champions Trophy 2025 title holder

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India was hailed as the new ICC Champions Trophy title holder. It’s a testament to their skills, efforts, determination, and teamwork. Their path was filled with challenges, showcasing their resilience and commitment. Discover the inspiring story of how they secured the prestigious title and cemented their place in cricket history. 

Group Stage

India vs. Bangladesh

India’s first hurdle in the group stage was Bangladesh. The team’s strong openers posed a challenge, but India overcame the obstacles and dominated Bangladesh, winning by six wickets.

India vs. Pakistan

As longtime rivals, Pakistan went all out, relying on their biggest weapon against India—aggressive fast bowlers. However, India’s experience on the field proved superior, leading to a six-wicket victory.

India vs. New Zealand

New Zealand’s slow start gave India an early advantage, but NZ’s counterattack put IND under pressure. The high-intensity match between the two teams ended with a convincing win for India, who crushed New Zealand by four wickets. 

Semi-finals

India vs. Australia

India started strong, knowing Australia’s team could easily shift the game’s momentum. However, the team’s elite bowlers quickly dismissed India’s openers. Despite their efforts, India’s resilience prevailed, securing a four-wicket victory and a spot in the final round.

Final

India vs. New Zealand

After their previous faceoff in the group stage, India and New Zealand met again—this time for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 title. The grand finale has begun, and the coin has favoured New Zealand, which opted to bat first. 

Captain Kane Williamson of New Zealand aimed to set a defendable target, but India’s disciplined bowling attacks put immense pressure on the Kiwi side.

Both teams had delivered exceptional performances throughout the tournament, but India's all-round performance secured them the championship victory. 

Notable players

  1. Virat Kohli

His composure and precision during the semi-final match with Australia and the finale with New Zealand were essential to the team’s success. 

  1. Rohit Sharma

The captain’s explosive starts boosted India’s morale and gave the team a sturdy foundation for their next attacks. His century against Bangladesh was crucial to their road to victory. 

  1. KL Rahul

KL Rahul's batting skill, wicketkeeping ability, and experience make him a crucial asset to the Indian team in the Champions Trophy 2025.

Watch India as they conquer higher heights

Their impressive display of skill got them to where they are today. The well-deserved ICC Champions Trophy title is a fruit of the team’s hard work. From enduring the struggles they faced in the Group Stage to defeating elite teams in both the semi-finals and final rounds, the journey was not easy, but it was worth it for India. 

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Pioneers: The most influential cricket teams in history

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Cricket has been around since the 16th century, which means different standout teams across eras. Dominant teams have been performing throughout the years, shaping the history of a great sport. Exploring the eras and teams can help you get a good grasp of cricket, the quality of the sport, and its best representatives.

Dive into the most influential cricket teams ever. Check them out below:

West Indies (1970s to 1990s)

Every time people talk about dominance in cricket, they never fail to talk about the West Indies from the latter decades of the 20th century. The national team was known for their focus on fast bowlers as they knew they had the power to make every opponent wary when they had to bat. 

They won the first two Cricket World Cups in 1975 and 1979, setting the golden standard for all cricket teams. The West Indies always looked invincible during those times, which made them such a scary team to go against. Their fast bowlers were known for instilling fear in every opposing team.

Bowlers like Malcolm Marshall, Joel Garner, and Michael Holding were focal points for the Caribbean cricketers. At the same time, they were also superb in the leadership and strategy sense as captains like Viv Richards made the team nigh-unbeatable.

Pakistan (1990s)

Through the eras of cricket, there have been many standout teams. However, they were never the most unpredictable to go against, which made Pakistan such a good team during the 1990s. This was headlined by their 1992 World Cup victory under captain Imran Khan.

Fast bowling was a big part of their game with names like Wasim Akram leading the charge. They were always wild cards, which made it tough to play and game plan against them. That fearless play style has bled into the modern era across different teams, but Pakistan was the starting point for that kind of team.

As one of the most talented groups of cricket athletes, Pakistan’s 1990s era remains iconic. Cricket fans who want to learn about Pakistan's prime, the 1990s is always the era they go back to. They are still a decent team today, but they will have to be lucky to get this kind of success again.

Australia (1999 to 2007)

Ahead of the 21st century, Australia started to establish themselves as the world’s best cricketing country. During these eight years, they earned two separate 16-match winning streaks in Test cricket. They also won three consecutive World Cups, going unbeaten in 2003 and 2007.

Ricky Ponting was the obvious standout player during this era, but he had some help with players like Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne, and Matthew Hayden. This Australian era is arguably the pinnacle of competitive cricket, which could be argued against, but it cannot be denied that they were superb during this time.

India (2016 to the present)

Every cricket fan in the world knows that India is well-known for their intense passion for cricket. It has been a top country for a long time as they see cricket as one of the country’s biggest sports. The cricket community in the country is comparable to what you see with football worldwide.

That is the level of passion for cricket from Indians. With that kind of love and passion, it was obvious that more Indian athletes would dive into cricket. They did so and have continued to produce the best talents in the sport’s history.

With names like Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, and more, India has won plenty of trophies through the years. You can never go wrong with picking India as a top cricketing country as they have unlocked their potential. They continue to have strong players in their development pipeline, and they will keep progressing with their tactics as the years go by.

Cricket will keep evolving

The sport of cricket has produced remarkable moments throughout its history. Every country that has stood out in cricket has earned their way to becoming the best nation in the world. There are now established cricket titans like the aforementioned teams, but there is room for improvement and evolution that could take fresh faces to the top.

Teams like New Zealand, South Africa, and Ireland are mainstays of the cricket tournaments. However, there might be untapped potential that could make them the next nation to become a top team. The future is bright for cricket, and it will only keep growing from here.

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Why India’s batting lineup is a nightmare for opponents

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India has always been a powerhouse in cricket, and today’s team remains superb. They are stellar across the squad, but the batsmen are probably their biggest strength. This was evident during their winning run in the 2025 Champions Trophy. With almost every batsman, India had a world-class player, making it such a terrifying opponent. 

The batsmen are always confident

Every time the batsmen step up for India, they showcase the team’s superb dominance. Once they show their confidence, it will be tough for the opponents to chip away at that. Players like Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill are always prepared to show why India is one of the best teams. 

That duo of the veteran and young star helps stabilise the team. That kind of quality proves India is a strong team as they would have players like Kohli and younger players who are determined to showcase their talent.

With the confidence they showed in every game across all the formats, India has one of the best batting lineups. For them, no team is better as they see India the best due to their sheer talent.

India has a good mix of experience and youth

The Indian cricket team is already known for its quality, but that stretches all over the system. They have talented veterans leading the charge, but they also have eager young players who want to prove themselves.

Players like Kohli and Rohit Sharma are still playing for the team despite being older veterans. Despite this, they are still producing at a high level, as they set the tone in the big matches. Kohli’s calm under pressure and Sharma’s aggression are what make them stand out in the team. 

Younger players like Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal represent the new generation. Their youth is superb, especially with how consistent they are with their batting. At the same time, that youthful energy is present when looking at the aggression with their batting. Even if they have world-class bowlers against them, India has dominated, which Gill has spoken about.

He said, ‘The depth in our batting helps free up the batters at the top. We can play freely because we know we have the depth. This is one thing we used to struggle with earlier. We didn't have the batting depth, so the pressure on the top order was more to score more and stay longer. But I think the depth allows us to play more freely’.

India thrives across all three formats

Batters from India have a rare ability to perform well across One-Day International, Test, and T20 cricket formats. Considering they can adjust to any situation, that makes India such a tough matchup. 

There are plenty of countries that can do this, but they cannot reach the same level of success as India has. In Test cricket, they have shown they can be adaptable in tough conditions. Since Test cricket is a long fixture, the batsmen doing this makes them even tougher to play against. 

India has a great balance between skill and smarts when they play ODI cricket. With the veterans leading the way, they know the right time to turn it up and dominate the bowlers they’re playing against. 

In T20, they don’t need to pace themselves as they have multiple power-hitters. India can chase down or set high targets. Aggression is the biggest trait needed in T20 cricket, and the Indian players are ready to keep playing at the highest level.

Game-changing players are present

Across the Indian cricket system, the team has superb players who can be considered match-winners. They can turn games on their head with their batting, which makes the team hard to play and scheme against.

Here are some players who are known for their game-changing qualities: 

India will keep improving with time

What makes India a good team is they constantly produce high-level talent that could surpass any team and player around the world. They might have Kohli leading the way for his generation, but he gets quickly followed up by a top talent like Gill. 

India has an embarrassment of riches with their cricket talent since they always find a way to unearth great talents, especially with the batting department. The current crop of players is influential enough to the next generation, so youngsters will still climb the ranks and become the successors.

Gill, in particular, has talked about what it’s like playing alongside some greats from India. He said, ‘This is the best batting lineup that I have been a part of. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli I think are the all-time one-day greats in the world. Rohit, one of the best openers in white-ball cricket, and Virat, I don’t think I need to say anything about him’.

Now that India has continued to get big wins, players like Gill will also help inspire the next generation. It is a production line of top-tier batsman talent, and other countries must do their best to beat them.

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From highest total to best bowling figures: Know every Test record at Sydney Cricket Ground

The Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) is one of the oldest sport stadiums located in the Moore Park suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Established in 1948, the Sydney Cricket Ground is owned and operated by Venues NSW, an agency of the Government of New South Wales. The SCG has a seating capacity of 48,000.

It is the home ground of the Australia cricket team, New South Wales Blues cricket team and the Sydney Sixers of the Big Bash League. 

The Sydney Cricket Ground hosted its first international cricket match, a Test played between arch-rivals Australia and England in February 1882. The Billy Murdoch-led Australia won the Ashes Test by five wickets.

Since then, it has staged more than 110 Tests so far. With that being said, let’s have a look at the Sydney Cricket Ground Test records and stats.

Sydney Cricket Ground Test records and stats

Highest total

The India cricket team registered the highest total at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Test cricket. During the fourth Test of India’s tour of Australia in January 2004, the Sourav Ganguly-led visitors posted a mammoth total of 705/7d after opting to bat first. Sachin Tendulkar’s unbeaten 241, VVS Laxman’s 178 along with contributions from Virender Sehwag (72), Parthiv Patel (62), Aakash Chopra (45) and Rahul Dravid (38) helped India post the highest Test total at the venue. India later bowled out Australia for 474 and then declared their second innings at 211/2. Chasing 443, Australia were 357/6 in the fourth innings as the match later ended in a draw.

Lowest total

The Australia cricket team recorded the lowest total at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Test cricket. During the only Test of England’s tour of Australia in February 1888, the hosts were bundled out for 42 in their first innings after England scored 113. Tom Garrett top-scored for Australia with 10. For England, left-arm spinner Bobby Peel bagged six wickets while right-arm pacer George Lohmann picked up five wickets. England later managed 137 in their second innings. Australia were later bowled out for 82 while chasing 209 as England won the Sydney Test by 126 runs.

Most runs

Former Australia cricket team captain Ricky Ponting scored the most runs at this ground in cricket’s longest format in Sydney. Between 1996 and 2012, Ricky Ponting amassed 1,480 runs in 16 matches at an impressive average of 67.27. The former right-handed batter slammed six centuries and as many fifties at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Test cricket. Australia cricket legend Allan Border features second on the list with 1,177 runs in 17 matches at an average of 56.04. 

Most wickets

Legendary Australia spinner Shane Warne bagged the most wickets at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Test cricket. The former leg-spinner claimed 64 wickets in just 14 matches at an average of 28.12 between 1992 and 2007. Warne recorded four four-wicket hauls and four fifers at this venue in Sydney in Test cricket. His former teammate Stuart MacGill is second on the list with 53 wickets in eight Tests at an average of 24.47.

Highest individual score

Former Australia cricketer Michael Clarke holds the record for the highest individual score at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Tests. Batting at No. 5, Michael Clarke slammed an unbeaten 329 against India in their first innings of the second Test in Sydney in January 2012. Michael Clarke’s magnificent triple century was laced with 39 fours and one six to help Australia post 659/4d after India were skittled out for 191 in their first innings. India were bowled out for 400 in their second innings as Australia won the Sydney Test by an innings and 68 runs.

Best bowling figures in an innings

England pacer George Lohmann registered the best bowling figures in an innings of a Test at this venue in February 1887. The former right-arm medium fast recorded match-winning figures of 8/35 to help England bowl out Australia for 84 in their first innings of the second Test at the iconic SCG. George Lohmann dismissed John Lyons, Walter Giffen, Reginald Allen, captain Percy McDonnell, Billy Midwinter, John Cottam , Tom Garrett and J.J. Ferris. Lohmann’s magnificent spell helped England register a 71-run victory in Sydney.

Best bowling figures in a match

Former Australia cricketer Charlie Turner holds the record for the best bowling figures in a Test match at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Charlie Turner took 12 wickets during the only Test of England’s tour of Australia in February 1888. While Turner picked up five wickets for 44 runs in the first innings, the right-arm pacer claimed seven wickets for 43 runs in the second innings. Turner’s incredible bowling performance went in vain as England won the Test by 126 runs.

Highest partnership

Former Australia cricketers Don Bradman and Sid Barnes recorded the highest partnership at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Test cricket. During the second Test of England’s tour of Australia in December 1946, Don Bradman and Sid Barnes stitched an incredible 405-run stand for the fifth wicket to power Australia to 659/8d in their first innings. Opening the innings, Sid Barnes scored 234 while Don Bradman slammed 234 batting at No.6. Under the leadership of Bradman, Australia won the Sydney Test by an innings and 33 runs

Photo credit: Imago

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ICC Champions Trophy winners list: India, Australia feature on top

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The ICC Champions Trophy is a marquee cricket tournament that is played in One-Day International (ODI) format. 

Previously named the ICC KnockOut Trophy, the ICC Champions Trophy was introduced by the  International Cricket Council (ICC) in 1998.

The ICC Champions Trophy was launched in order to raise funds for the development of the sport in non-Test playing countries.

The inaugural edition of the ICC Champions Trophy was held in Bangladesh in June 1998. A total of nine teams participated. South Africa later won the first edition of the tournament after defeating West Indies by four wickets in the final at the Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka.

In a bid to increase the popularity of the game in ICC Associate member nations, the second edition of the ICC Champions Trophy was staged in Kenya in 2000.

New Zealand were crowned champions after they beat India by four wickets in the 2000 final to claim their maiden ICC title.

Since 2002, the hosting of the ICC Champions Trophy has been shared between countries under an unofficial rotation system with six ICC members having staged at least one match in the tournament.

It is also often dubbed the "Mini World Cup" as it involved all of the full members of the ICC from the 2002 tournament onwards.

India and Sri Lanka shared the ICC Champions Trophy in 2002 after the final was abandoned due to rain on two occasions.

The ICC Champions Trophy current format involves a qualification phase. It is held in the preceding edition of the Cricket World Cup to determine which teams qualify for the tournament phase. 

Australia and India are the most successful teams in the ICC Champions Trophy history with two titles each. South Africa, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, West Indies and Pakistan have clinched the trophy once each.

Meanwhile, Pakistan are the defending champions of the ICC Champions Trophy after they beat archrivals India by 180 runs in the 2017 final at The Oval in London.

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will be held in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Get ICC Champions Trophy winners list.

ICC Champions Trophy winners list: Know all the champions from 1998-2025

Year

Host Nation(s)

Winner

Runner-up

1998

Bangladesh

South Africa

West Indies

2000

Kenya

New Zealand

India

2002

Sri Lanka

India and Sri Lanka shared trophy

2004

England

West Indies

England

2006

India

Australia

West Indies

2009

South Africa

Australia 

New Zealand

2013

England and Wales

India

England

2017

England and Wales

Pakistan

India

2025

Pakistan and United Arab Emirates

TBD

TBD

Most successful teams in ICC Champions Trophy: By each country

Team

Titles

Winning Year(s)

India

2

2002, 2013

Australia

2

2006, 2009

South Africa

1

1998

New Zealand

1

2000

Sri Lanka

1

2002

West Indies

1

2004

Pakistan

1

2017

Photo credit: Imago

 

From highest total to best bowling figures: Know every Test record at SuperSport Park in Centurion

The SuperSport Park, located in Centurion, Gauteng, South Africa, is one of the most renowned cricket grounds in the world. 

Originally named Centurion Park, the cricket venue is popularly known as SuperSport Park after television company SuperSport bought shares in the stadium. 

Known for its state-of-the-art facilities, the Centurion cricket ground features Beach Cabana type hospitality chalets on the grass banks. It has a beautiful outfield with modern drainage facilities.

With a seating capacity of 22,000, the SuperSport Park is the home ground of the South African cricket team, Titans cricket team and SA20’s Pretoria Capitals.

It staged its first international match, a one-day International (ODI) between hosts South Africa and India in December 1992. India won the match by four wickets.

The SuperSport Park later hosted its first Test match played between South Africa and England in November 1995. The match ended in a draw.

Since then, it has staged 28 Test matches till date. Let’s have a closer look at the SuperSport Park Test records and stats.

SuperSport Park Test records and stats

Highest total

The South Africa cricket team holds the record for the highest total at the SuperSport Park in Test cricket. During the first Test of Sri Lanka’s tour of South Africa in 2020, the hosts, led by Quinton de Kock, posted the highest total of 621 in their first innings at this venue. Faf du Plessis’ 199 along with contributions from Dean Elgar (95), Keshav Maharaj (73), Temba Bavuma (71) and Aiden Markram (68) helped South Africa record a mammoth total. Earlier, Sri Lanka were bowled out for 396 in their first innings after electing to bat first. The Proteas bundled out the visitors for 180 in their second innings to win the Centurion Test by an innings and 45 runs.

Lowest total

The England cricket team recorded the lowest total at the SuperSport Park in Tests. Chasing 382 in the fourth innings, England were bowled out for 101 in 34.4 overs against South Africa in the final Test of a four-match series in January 2016. James Taylor top-scored for England with 24. For South Africa, pacer Kagiso Rabada was the wrecker-in-chief with six wickets. Earlier, AB de Villiers’ South Africa posted 475 in their first innings after opting to bat first while England managed 342. The hosts declared their second innings at 248/5. Despite South Africa’s 280-run victory in the match, England clinched the series 2-1.

Most runs

Former South Africa batter Hashim Amla has scored the most runs at this ground in cricket’s longest format. Between 2007 and 2018, the right-handed batter accumulated 1,356 runs in 13 matches at an impressive average of 75.33. Amla slammed five centuries and eight fifties at the SuperSport Park in Test cricket. His highest Test score of 208 at the Centurion cricket ground came against the West Indies in 2014. Jacques Kallis features second on the list with 1,267 runs in 16 Tests.

Most wickets

South Africa cricketer Dale Steyn has picked up the most wickets at the SuperSport Park in Test cricket. The former right-arm fast bowler bagged 59 wickets in 10 matches at an average of 17.94 and a strike rate of 31.62. Steyn registered five four-wicket hauls and four fifers at this venue in Tests between 2006 and 2018. Steyn’s former teammate Makhaya Ntini is second on the list with 54 wickets in 10 Tests.

Highest individual score

Hashim Amla also registered the highest individual score at the SuperSport Park in Tests. Batting at number four, captain Hashim Amla scored 208 off 371 balls in the first innings of the opening Test of West Indies’ tour of South Africa in 2014. His magnificent double hundred was laced with 22 fours and helped South Africa post 552/5. West Indies could only manage 201 and 131 in their two innings and lost the Centurion Test by an innings and 220 runs. South Africa won the three-match Test series 2-0.

Best bowling figures in an innings

South Africa’s Kyle Abbott recorded the best bowling figures in an innings of a Test match at this venue in 2013. The right-arm pacer registered figures of 7/29 to bowl out Pakistan for 156 in the first innings. Abbott dismissed Mohammad Hafeez, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Saeed Ajmal, Ehsan Adil and Mohammad Irfan to bundle out the visitors for a paltry total. South Africa won the Test by an innings and 18 runs.

Best bowling figures in a match

South Africa pacer Kagiso Rabada holds the record for the best bowling figures in a Test match at the SuperSport Park. The right-arm fast bowler took 13 wickets during the fourth Test of England’s tour of South Africa in 2016. While Rabada scalped seven wickets for 112 runs in the first innings, he claimed another six wickets for just 32 runs in the second innings. Rabada’s magnificent bowling performance powered South Africa to a 280-run victory.

Highest partnership

South Africa’s Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers recorded the highest partnership at the SuperSport Park in Test cricket. Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers forged a massive 308-run stand for the fourth wicket in the first innings of the first Test against the West Indies in 2014. Amla scored 208 while de Villiers was dismissed for 152.

Photo credit: Alamy

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From highest total to best bowling figures: Know every Test record at Melbourne Cricket Ground

The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) is an iconic cricket venue located in Yarra Park, Melbourne, Victoria.

Established in 1853, the Melbourne Cricket Ground was founded and managed by the Melbourne Cricket Club.

Also known locally as “The G”, the Melbourne Cricket Ground  is officially the largest stadium in the Southern Hemisphere with a seating capacity of nearly 1,00,000 including standing room.

The MCG is situated adjacent to the Melbourne Park and is an integral part of the Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Precinct.

The Melbourne Cricket Ground hosted its first international cricket match, a Test played between arch-rivals Australia and England in March 1877. Since then, the venue has staged 117 Tests, 161 ODIs and 27 T20Is. 

It has also served as the centrepiece stadium of the 1956 Summer Olympics, the 2006 Commonwealth Games and two 50-over Cricket World Cups in 1992 and 2015. It has also been used as the principal venue for the Australian Football League (AFL) matches including the AFL final. 

The historic venue also staged a few matches of the 1988 Women's Cricket World Cup, 2020 ICC Women's T20 World Cup and 2022 ICC Men's T20 World Cup. 

With that being said, let’s have a look at the Melbourne Cricket Ground Test records and stats.

Melbourne Cricket Ground Test records and stats

Highest total

The Australia cricket team holds the record for the highest total at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Test cricket. During the second Test of Pakistan’s tour of Australia in December 2016, the Steven Smith-led hosts posted a mammoth total of 624/8d after Pakistan declared at 443/9 in their first innings. Captain Steven Smith led from the front with an unbeaten 165 while David Warner slammed 144, along with contributions from Usman Khawaja (97), Mitchell Starc (84) and Peter Handscomb (54) to record the highest Test total at the venue. Australia later bowled out Pakistan for 163 in their second innings to win the Melbourne Test by an innings and 18 runs.

Lowest total

The South Africa cricket team recorded the lowest total at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Test cricket. South Africa were bundled out for 36 in the first innings of the fifth Test against Australia in February 1932. Captain Jock Cameron top-scored (11) for South Africa. For Australia, Bert Ironmonger picked up a five-wicket haul while Laurie Nash bagged four wickets. In reply, the Bill Woodfull-led Australia posted 153 in their first innings. Australia later bowled out South Africa for 45 in their second innings to register a victory by an innings and 72 runs.

Most runs

Australia cricket legend Don Bradman holds the record for the most runs at this ground in cricket’s longest format in Melbourne. Between 1928 and 1948, Don Bradman amassed 1,671 runs in 11 Test matches at a staggering average of 128.53. The former right-handed batter slammed nine centuries and three fifties at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Test cricket. Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting features second on the list with 1,338 runs in 15 matches at an average of 58.17 with four hundreds and seven half-centuries to his name.

Most wickets

Former Australia fast bowler Dennis Lillee bagged the most wickets at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Test cricket. The former right-arm pacer scalped 82 wickets in just 14 matches at an average of 21.92 between 1972 and 1983. He claimed four four-wicket hauls and seven fifers at this venue in Melbourne in Test cricket. Legendary Australia spinner Shane Warne is second on the list with 56 wickets in 11 Tests at an average of 22.92.

Highest individual score

Former Australia cricketer Bob Cowper holds the record for the highest individual score at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Tests. Batting at number 5, Bob Cowper slammed 307 against England in their first innings of the fifth Test in Melbourne in February 1966. Bob Cowper’s magnificent triple century was laced with 20 fours to help Australia post 543/8d after England declared at 485/9 in their first innings. England were 69/3 in their second innings as the Melbourne Test later ended in a dull draw.

Best bowling figures in an innings

Pakistan pacer Sarfraz Nawaz registered the best bowling figures in an innings of a Test at this venue in March 1979. The former right-arm pacer recorded match-winning figures of 9/86 to help Pakistan bowl out Australia for 310 in their second innings of the first Test at the iconic MCG. Sarfraz Nawaz dismissed Dav Whatmore, Andrew Hilditch, Allan Border, Kim Hughes, Graeme Wood, Peter Sleep, Wayne Clark, Rodney Hogg and Alan Hurst to guide Pakistan to a 71-run victory in Melbourne.

Best bowling figures in a match

Former England cricketer Wilfred Rhodes holds the record for the best bowling figures in a Test match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Test cricket. Wilfred Rhodes took 15 wickets during the second Test of England’s tour of Australia in 1904. While Rhodes picked up seven wickets for 56 runs in the first innings, the left-arm spinner claimed eight wickets for 68 runs in the second innings. Rhodes’ incredible bowling performance helped England win the Test by a massive 185 runs.

Highest partnership

Former Australia cricketers Don Bradman and Jack Fingleton recorded the highest partnership at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Test cricket. During the third Test of England’s tour of Australia in January 1937, Don Bradman and Jack Fingleton stitched an incredible 346-run stand for the sixth wicket to power Australia to 564 in their second innings. Don Bradman slammed 270 while Jack Fingleton scored 136. Under the leadership of Bradman, Australia won the Melbourne Test by 365 runs.

Photo credit: Imago

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South AfricaAustraliaDon BradmanRicky Ponting

ACC U19 Asia Cup winners: India, Bangladesh headline list

The ACC U19 Asia Cup is a prestigious cricket tournament for Under-19 teams from its member nations. 

Organised by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), the first edition of the ACC U19 Asia Cup was held in Bangladesh in 1989.

Arch-rivals India and Pakistan along with Sri Lanka featured in the inaugural ACC U19 Asia Cup. Matches were played in a double round-robin format with India and Sri Lanka later advancing to the final. 

Under the leadership of Ranjib Biswal, India won the first edition of the ACC U19 Asia Cup after beating Sri Lanka by 79 runs.

The likes of Sourav Ganguly, Vinod Kambli, Ajay Jadeja, Aashish Kapoor and Jatin Paranjape were part of the Indian squad that clinched the first-ever ACC U19 Asia Cup.

The second edition of the ACC U19 Asia Cup was staged after 14 years in Pakistan in 2003.

Led by Ambati Rayudu, India retained the ACC U19 Asia Cup after thrashing hosts Pakistan by eight wickets in the 2003 final.

The third edition of the ACC U19 Asia Cup was held in Malaysia in 2012. India and Pakistan shared the trophy after the 2012 final ended in a tie.

Since then, India have been the most successful team in the ACC U19 Asia Cup history, having clinched the title on eight occasions in 1989, 2003, 2012, 2013/14, 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2021.

Bangladesh are the defending champions of the ACC U19 Asia Cup after they beat India by 59 runs in the 2024 final. They also won the previous edition in 2023.

Apart from India and Bangladesh, Afghanistan have won the ACC U19 Asia Cup once in Malaysia in 2017. Get ACC U19 Asia Cup winners list.

ACC U19 Asia Cup winners list: Know all the champions from 1989-2024

Year

Host Nation

Winner

Runner-up

1989

Bangladesh

India

Sri Lanka

2003

Pakistan

India

Sri Lanka

2012

Malaysia

India and Pakistan shared trophy

2013/14

United Arab Emirates

India

Pakistan

2016

Sri Lanka

India

Sri Lanka

2017

Malaysia

Afghanistan

Pakistan

2018

Bangladesh

India

Sri Lanka

2019

Sri Lanka

India

Bangladesh

2021

United Arab Emirates

India

Sri Lanka

2023

United Arab Emirates

Bangladesh

United Arab Emirates

2024

United Arab Emirates

 Bangladesh India

Most successful teams in ACC U19 Asia Cup: By each country

Team Titles Winning Years
India 8 1989, 2003, 2012, 2013/14, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021
Bangladesh 2 2024,2023
Pakistan 1 2012
Afghanistan 1 2017

Photo credit: Imago

From highest total to best bowling figures: Know every Test record at The Gabba in Brisbane

The Gabba is one of the oldest cricket grounds located in Brisbane, the capital of Queensland, Australia.

Established in 1895, The Gabba is owned by the Queensland Government and has a seating capacity of around 37,000.

Also known as the Brisbane Cricket Ground, The Gabba serves as the home ground of the Brisbane Heat in the Big Bash League (BBL) and Women’s Bash League (WBBL) and also for the Queensland Bulls in domestic cricket.

Apart from cricket, The Gabba is known to be a multi-speciality stadium which has staged athletics, rugby league, rugby union, Australian rules football, Association football, cycling, baseball, pony, greyhound racing and concerts.

The Gabba hosted its first international cricket match, a Test played between Australia and South Africa in December 1931. Under the leadership of Bill Woodfull, Australia won the Test by an innings and 163 runs.

It later staged its first One-Day International (ODI) that featured England and West Indies in December 1979. 

The Gabba hosted its first-ever T20 international played between hosts Australia and South Africa in January 2006. 

Overall, it has staged 68 Tests, 80 ODIs and 11 T20Is so far. With that being said, let’s have a look at The Gabba Test records and stats.

The Gabba Test records and stats

Highest total

The Australia cricket team holds the record for the highest total at The Gabba in Test cricket. During the first Test of England’s tour of Australia in 1946, the Donald Bradman-led hosts posted a mammoth total of 645 in their first innings after electing to bat. Captain Donald Bradman (187), Lindsay Hassett (128) and Colin McCool (95) helped Australia record the Test total at the venue. Australia later bowled out England for 141 and 172 in their two innings to win the Brisbane Test by an innings and 332 runs.

Lowest total

The India cricket team recorded the lowest total at The Gabba in Test cricket. India were bundled out for 58 in their first innings after Australia posted 382/8d in Brisbane in 1947. Captain Lala Amarnath top-scored for India(22) while Chandu Sarwate (12) was the other batter to reach double digits. For Australia, left-arm medium Ernie Toshack was the wrecker-in-chief with bowling figures of 5/2. After Australia enforced follow-on, India were bowled out for 98 in their second innings as the hosts won the first Test by an innings and 226 runs. Under the leadership of Donald Bradman, Australia won the five-match Test series 4-0.

Most runs

Former Australia cricket team captain Ricky Ponting scored the most runs at this ground in cricket’s longest format in Brisbane. Between 1996 and 2012, Ricky Ponting amassed 1,335 runs in 17 Test matches at an average of 63.57. The right-handed batter  slammed four centuries and 10 fifties at the Brisbane Cricket Ground in Test cricket. Ponting’s former teammate Michael Clarke features second on the list with 1,030 runs in just 10 matches at a staggering average of 103 with five hundreds and two half-centuries to his name.

Most wickets

Legendary Australia spinner Shane Warne bagged the most wickets at The Gabba in Test cricket. The former right-arm leg-spinner scalped 68 wickets in just 11 matches at an average of 20.30 between 1993 and 2006. He claimed seven four-wicket hauls and three fifers at this venue in Brisbane in Test cricket. Former Australia pacer Glenn McGrath is second on the list with 65 wickets in 13 Tests at an average of 21.75.

Highest individual score

Former Australia cricketer Michael Clarke holds the record for the highest individual score at The Gabba in Tests. Batting at number 5, Michael Clarke slammed an unbeaten 259 against South Africa in their first innings of the first Test in Brisbane in November 2012. Michael Clarke’s magnificent double century was laced with 26 fours to help Australia post 565/5d after they bowled out South Africa for 450. South Africa scored 166/5 in their second innings as the Brisbane Test ended in a draw.

Best bowling figures in an innings

Legendary New Zealand all-rounder Richard Hadlee registered the best bowling figures in an innings of a Test at this venue in November 1985. Richard Hadlee recorded match-winning figures of 9/52 to help New Zealand bowl out Australia for 179 in their first innings. The former right-arm pacer dismissed Kepler Wessels, Andrew Hilditch, David Boon, Allan Border, Greg Ritchie, Wayne Phillips, Greg Matthews, Craig McDermott and Bob Holland. New Zealand won the Brisbane Test by an innings and 41 runs. Led by Jeremy Coney, New Zealand later clinched the three-match Test series 2-1. 

Best bowling figures in a match

Richard Hadlee also holds the record for the best bowling figures in a Test match at The Gabba in Test cricket. Richard Hadlee took 15 wickets during the first Test of New Zealand’s tour of Australia in 1985. While Hadlee picked up nine wickets for 52 runs in the first innings, the right-arm fast bowler claimed six wickets for 71 runs in the second innings. Hadlee’s incredible bowling performance helped New Zealand win the Test by an innings and 41 runs.

Highest partnership

Former England cricketers Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott recorded the highest partnership at The Gabba in Test cricket. During the first Test of England’s tour of Australia in November 2010, Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott forged an unbeaten 329-run stand for the second wicket to power England to 517/1d in their second innings. Opening batter Alastair Cook slammed 235 not out while Jonathan Trott remained unbeaten on 135. The Brisbane Test later ended in a dull draw.

Photo credit: Imago

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Alastair CookMichael ClarkeRicky PontingShane Warne