Cricket highlights in 2018: Alastair Cook’s final century, James Anderson’s record-breaking wicket, Surrey’s impact and more
It has been a year of highs for England’s Test side, with a legend bowing out, one carrying on and new stars emerging. Here are City A.M’s cricket highlights of 2018.
Cook bows out on a high
Alastair Cook had been a rock at the top of the England batting order for so long that his departure, no matter how long it had been anticipated, felt like a significant moment.
It was fitting, then, that his 161st and last Test match went exactly as if plotted by a script writer. Having gone nine months without one, Cook scored a 33rd Test century – reaching it in bizarre style through overthrows – with his successor as captain at the other end and his family in the Oval stands.
As Cook’s form waned in the twilight of his career it had been easy to forget just how important he had been as captain, opener and personality.
But his closing 147 in front of an adoring home crowd, which made him the fifth highest Test run-scorer of all-time ensured he went out in a fitting way at the conclusion of a 4-1 series win over the world’s No1 side India.
A rumoured knighthood in the new year honours would cap a dream year for Cook.
Anderson claims top spot
The India Test at the Oval in September was a truly celebratory time for England.
After Cook had enjoyed his time in the spotlight it was James Anderson who brought the series to its end, bowling last man Mohammed Shami to claim his 564th Test wicket – a figure that saw him surpass Australia’s Glenn McGrath as the most successful fast bowler in Test history.
Anderson is three years older than his friend Cook, which puts his longevity and continued excellence into some sort of context.
The nature of the game left emotions running high. “I’m trying not to cry,” Anderson said afterwards. “It’s a special achievement for me.” It’s a match England fans won’t ever forget.
Super Surrey make their mark
If a well-deserved first County Championship title in 16 years with two games to spare wasn’t enough, Surrey have made their mark elsewhere too.
September was the month which brought the trophy, but everyone involved in the club had been enjoying the ease with which one of their young stars had jumped up a level for months.
Sam Curran’s start to Test cricket has quite frankly been ridiculous – a mix of valuable lower-order runs scored with style and comfort and controlled left-arm swing, which after impacts against Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka leave him undroppable.
If that wasn’t enough, it was soon the turn of wicket-keeper Ben Foakes to amaze, leaving his holiday in Portugal to step into the void in Sri Lanka, score a century on debut and look more than secure behind the stumps.
Throw in captain Rory Burns’ assent to the England squad and all in all it’s been a pretty decent year for Surrey.
Afghanistan step forward
It took some time, but Afghanistan finally played their first Test match this year – an important piece of history on the assent of one of cricket’s rising nations.
Just under a year on from being granted Test status by the International Cricket Council, Afghanistan played India in Bangalore in June. That they were squashed by the world’s No1 side on home soil isn’t really the point; the fact a 12th side was allowed into the elite club meant everything.
Afghanistan may be just starting out on their Test journey, but they are already established in other formats.
A tie with India and wins over Sri Lanka and Bangladesh at the 50-over Asia Cup shows they belong playing against the best, while the likes of Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Mohammad Nabi are already among the most sought-after Twenty20 players worldwide.
Women’s cricket continues to grow
The Women’s World Twenty20 – the first standalone edition of the tournament – was a significant milestone for the women’s game last month.
No longer are the players be forced to share the stage with the men.
There were 60,000 spectators over the 12 days in the West Indies to see Australia beat England to the trophy and the news that women’s T20 is in the running to be featured in the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham indicates a sport on an upward curve.