Batsmen and teams fear 111 and its multiples and such scores led David Shepherd to execute a quaint hop and leap. Arunabha Sengupta remembers Admiral Horatio Nelson, the man who gave his name to this strange superstition, on his 254th birth anniversary.
Thirteen years ago, umpires Steve Dunne and Dave Orchard became engaged in a game of gaffes, somehow officiating through three seven-ball overs in a game between West Indies and Pakistan in Toronto. Arunabha Sengupta looks back at the curiously confusing contest.
BCCI recently rejected the new design of the Indian jersey, insisting that the team play the upcoming T20 World Cup clad in the lucky colours worn during the 2011 triumph. Arunabha Sengupta says that superstitions in cricket is not new and looks at some of the queerest in cricketing history.
Twenty four years ago, Franklyn Stephenson managed to reach the double of 1000 runs and 100 wickets in a county season by scoring two hundreds and taking 11 wickets in the final fixture of the season. Arunabha Sengupta recalls his heroic feats.
Brian Lara has been inducted to the International Cricket Council (ICC) Hall of Fame. Arunabha Sengupta takes this opportunity to contrast the career of the great left-hander with the other supreme batsman of his times, Sachin Tendulkar.
This is a week which connects two partners who piled up runs for Sussex – KS Ranjitsinhji and CB Fry. Arunabha Sengupta covers their immortal partnerships which kept English crowds enthralled at the turn of the last century.
Fifteen years ago, the perennially gentle and largely lethargic Inzamam-ul-Haq leapt into the crowd, bat in hand, charging towards a megaphone wielding heckler. Arunabha Sengupta looks back at the day when cricket was faced with a hot-potato situation. 
Forty three years ago, the greatest leg-spinner of modern times saw the light of the day. Arunabha Sengupta looks back at the larger than life exploits of Shane Warne on and off the field.
In one of the most emotional moments in Indian cricket, Yuvraj Singh returned to the side and batted like the man everyone knows. Arunabha Sengupta retells how the match was lost, but the battle with death was won.
Kyle Mills and Brendon McCullum collided while attempting to catch Yuvraj Singh, but got away without serious injury. Arunabha Sengupta recalls a similar collision with far more damaging impact that took place almost exactly 13 years ago.
Clamours of retirement notwithstanding, whenever Sachin Tendulkar fields a ball on the field, the whole stadium erupts. Arunabha Sengupta writes why he continues to be an icon and why the retirement of the maestro will be more than a cricketing decision.
When the two planes plunged into New York’s iconic twin towers, ripples were felt in far corners of the cricket world. Arunabha Sengupta traces how cricket – especially in Pakistan – has been affected by 9/11.
Would Padmakar Shivalkar be considered among the best left-arm spinners of his day? Wouldn’t it make sense to rank Vince van der Bijl ahead of Rodney Hogg as a fast bowler, although the former never played Test cricket? Arunabha Sengupta lists 20 cricketers who were the best of their day, but never got to play at the highest level.
Stemming the mini-collapse and taking the team from 166 for five to the target of 262 exemplified the way Mahendra Singh Dhoni goes about his business. Arunabha Sengupta argues why his combined value as batsman-wicketkeeper-captain is an asset the nation has never known before.
Marvan Atapattu walked off after scoring 201 to allow teammates to feast on a seriously inept Bangladesh bowling attack. Arunabha Sengupta recalls the day, eleven years ago, that saw the dismissal ‘retired out’ for the first time in Test cricket.
Andrew Flintoff delivered a knock-out punch by announcing his intentions of becoming a professional boxer. Arunabha Sengupta looks at cricketers who moved to other sports once their cricket careers were done and dusted.
From the beginning of 2007 to the summer of 2011, Zaheer Khan enjoyed a golden spell during which he was one of the very best in the world. However, the returns of the last year and a bit have been alarming. Arunabha Sengupta wonders whether these are warning signs that he is going down the hill.
Exactly 132 years ago, the first Test match was played on English soil. It was also the debut of the great WG Grace. Arunabha Sengupta looks back at the historic match at The Oval which culminated in a thrilling finish.
Two and a half years ago, Gautam Gambhir was seen as one of the best emerging batsmen in cricket. Since then the 21 Test slump has been shocking.Arunabha Sengupta traces the plummeting fortunes of the opener in Test cricket, wondering whether he is focused about the five-day game.
Three times on the trot the ball has crashed into Sachin Tendulkar’s stumps and we are reminded of the similar dismissals of Rahul Dravid not too long ago. Arunabha Sengupta does a statistical study if batsmen are more prone to getting bowled as they age.
One was an all-rounder who started a publication that became synonymous with cricket. Another was a philosopher, statesman and President of India with a deep love for the noble game. Arunabha Sengupta traces two men born on September 5 who curiously combined cricket and academia.
India did triumph against New Zealand, but the glaring failures of the Virender Sehwag-Gautam Gambhir combination at the top of the order continue to because for major concern. Arunabha Sengupta looks at the abysmal figures of the duo ever since the England tour and wonders if it is not time for change.
Seventy three years ago, Britain declared war on Germany and cricket vacated the stage for the Second World War. However, the game went on and in its own way served in the war effort.
Sixteen years ago, a Singer World Series Cup match was delayed by eight minutes because the bails could not be found. Arunabha Sengupta recounts the day and how the four little pieces were ultimately unearthed.
Thirty two years ago, the much anticipated Centenary Test at Lord’s petered out into a dull draw. Arunabha Sengupta revisits the match which had beckoned stars of the yesteryear from far and wide, and was also the last Test described by the voice of John Arlott from the commentary box.
Seventy three years ago, Hedley Verity played his last First-Class match, taking seven wickets for nine runs. Arunabha Sengupta looks back at the exploits of the great left-arm spinner whose life was tragically cut short by the Second World War.
