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The West Indies set the record for most ducks in a Test series. India's spin doctor, Anil Kumble rules himself out of the series against Australia. Australia humiliated the West Indies 5-0. Steve Waugh announces that India was the final frontier in the path of his record-breaking team. South African batting legend Barry Richards says he does not think Sachin Tendulkar is the best contemporary batsman. Debashish Mohanty creates a new Indian domestic record, claiming all 10 wickets in a Duleep Trophy game. Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Sharad Pawar is elected president of the Mumbai Cricket Association. Herschelle Gibbs is recalled to the South African team after a six-month ban from international cricket for conspiring in match-fixing.
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Former India skipper Pankaj Roy passes away. The Aussies arrive in India and announce that they are here to win. Death deals a cruel blow to cricket on Sunday, 26 February, when Sir Donald George Bradman passes away at the age of 92. The most exciting Test series of the year; India vs Australia begins in Mumbai. The Enforcement Directorate questions former captain Sunil Gavaskar over an alleged violation of foreign exchange rules. South Africa's inquiry into cricket match-fixing is brought to an abrupt end by Judge Edwin King because of the threat of legal action by disgraced former captain Hansie Cronje.
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Australia make it 16 Test wins on the trot in Mumbai. McGrath says he will target Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly in the second Test at the Eden Gardens. Harbhajan Singh becomes the first Indian bowler to take a hat-trick in Tests. India are down and out at the Gardens until V V S Laxman (281) produces an innings of rare brilliance to win the game and level the series with the Aussies. India's incredible performance is said to be the greatest comeback in cricket history. Harbhajan is rechristened 'The Turbanator' by the Aussie media. Kiwi batsman Craig McMillan sets a world Test record for most runs in a six-ball over against Pakistan, smashing 26 off leg-spinner Younis Khan's only over. Ajay Jadeja ties the knot with Aditi Jaitley, daughter of politician Jaya Jaitley. Sachin Tendulkar becomes the first batsman to score 10,000 runs in ODI history.
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The Indian government informs the BCCI of its decision, refusing permission to the team to participate in tournaments held in Sharjah, Toronto and Singapore. Steve Waugh admits that Australia needs young blood. Jamaican fast bowler Courtney Walsh, a gentleman and the highest wicket-taker in the history of Test cricket, retires from the game with a win over South Africa in the last Test of the series.
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Pakistan arrive in England and Waqar Younis says he is all out to avenge last summer's defeat at home. Laloo Prasad Yadav becomes the new boss of the Bihar Cricket Association. Sachin Tendulkar signs a five-year contract worth 800 million rupees ($17 million) with sports management company WorldTel, owned by Mark Mascarenhas.
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The Indian cricket team secures a record sponsorship contract for the next three years with the Sahara Group. India claims its first win outside the sub-continent in 15 years after beating Zimbabwe in the first Test. Darren Gough passes Ian Botham's England record for most wickets in ODIs. Afghanistan is admitted as an associate member of the ICC. Left-handed batsman Andy Flower, who had played in 172 consecutive one-day internationals and 52 consecutive Tests -- every match that Zimbabwe has played since gaining Test status in 1992 -- finally misses one.
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The 2001 edition of the Ashes begins in England. India tours Sri Lanka without Sachin Tendulkar for the first time. Australia become the first holders of the ICC Test championship trophy. Mark Waugh breaks the world record for maximum Test catches by a fielder. Wisden announces its list of the 100-best Test performances of all time. Curiously enough, the batting list has no place for Sachin Tendulkar, hailed by many as the greatest batsman of the modern era. Canada, Kenya, Namibia and the Netherlands qualify for the 2003 World Cup, to be held in South Africa.
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The man hailed as the poor man's Sachin Tendulkar, Virendra Sehwag, registers the seventh fastest century in ODI history. Australia retain the Ashes by crushing England 4-1 with Mark Butcher's 173 in the fourth Test being the only saving grace for England. Tendulkar makes it to the Don's World XI. The BCCI announces that it will introduce the contract system and graded payments scheme for cricketers. Michael 'Captain Grumpy' Atherton announces his retirement. India lose the Test series against Sri Lanka 2-1 after a valiant fightback in the second Test at Kandy.
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The ICC introduces new playing conditions that most importantly allow the bowling of one bouncer per over in ODIs. All-rounder Jacques Kallis breaks the world record for the longest time spent at the crease between dismissals on the final day of the drawn second Test between Zimbabwe and South Africa by batting for 1,028 minutes. Prize money for the 2003 Cricket World Cup boosts five-fold to US$5 million. ICC decides to start doping tests in cricket from 2002. Former ICC president Jagmohan Dalmiya elected BCCI president.
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For the first time in nearly half a century, two black bowlers, Makhaya Ntini and Mfuneko Ngam, are named among the top five South African cricketers for the year. Steve Waugh says he has no intention of retiring despite being diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis. The triangular series between SA, Kenya and India gets under way. England express concern over the Indian tour after the September 11 attacks in the U.S. Former skipper and coach Kapil Dev ends a self-imposed exile by renewing links with cricket.
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Javagal Srinath claims his 200th Test wicket. India lose against South Africa in the first Test despite Tendukar's 155 and Sehwag's century on debut, even as the Kiwis hold out for a draw against Australia. Australia's draw in the first Test is their first in 24 matches. England arrive in India amidst tight security. The Mike Denness controversy erupts following penalties imposed on six Indian players. Sachin is penalised for bringing the game to disrepute.
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Brian Lara has the consolation of becoming the first player in 28 years -- and only the fifth in history -- to make a century and double century in the same Test. He also becomes the first to end up on the losing side after doing that. SA arrive in Australia for a series, billed as the clash of champions. India seal a 10-wicket win at Mohali and draw the next two Tests against England to clinch the series 1-0. Left-arm paceman Chaminda Vaas finishes with a world record eight wickets as Sri Lanka dismiss Zimbabwe for 38 runs, the lowest score ever in ODIs.
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TEST OF THE YEAR
Ind vs Aus;
2nd Test- Eden Gardens
Match Reports:
- Bajju's trick spurs India
- India shamed at the Gardens
- Laxman puts his hand up
- Silent assassin strikes Aussies
- Aussies stumble at the Final Frontier
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Sir Donald George Bradman
1908 - 2001
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Wisden 100
A list of the 100-best Test performances of all time -- covering 1,552 Tests, 54,494 innings and 29,730 bowling performances.
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Camp John
The 25 Indian probables, and a few special invitees, worked out in Chennai, preparing for the series against Australia.
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POLL OF THE YEAR
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Is Sachin Tendulkar the greatest batsman ever?
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Yes |
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13812 Votes |
34% |
| No |
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25475 Votes |
63% |
| Maybe |
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447 Votes |
1% |
| Can't Say |
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156 Votes |
0% |
Total Votes : 39890
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Different Strokes
The rediff primer to every shot in the book.
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THE INDIAN YEAR
• England's Tour of India
• India's Tour of South Africa
• India's Tour of Sri Lanka
• India's Tour of Zimbabwe
• Aussie tour of India 2001
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The Mike Denness Controversy
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The Contract System
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RETIRED IN 2001
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Walsh, CA (WI)
38 yrs 171 days
Miller, CR (AUS)
37 yrs 40 days
Ranatunga, A (SL)
36 yrs 249 days
Atherton, MA (ENG)
33 yrs 153 days
Karim, SS (IND)
32 yrs 362 days
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DIED DURING 2001
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Bradman, DG (Aus)
27 Aug, 1908 - 25 Feb, 2001
Burge, PJP (Aus)
17 May, 1932 - 5 Oct, 2001
Gilchrist, R (WI)
28 Jun, 1934 - 18 Jul 2001
Gover, AR (Eng)
29 Feb, 1908 - 7 Oct, 2001
Langley, GRA (Aus)
14 Sept, 1919 - 14 May, 2001
Madondo, TM (Zim)
22 Nov, 1976 - 11 Jun, 2001
Mann, FG (Eng)
6 Sept, 1917 - 8 Aug 2001
Roy Pankaj (Ind)
31 May, 1928 - 4 Feb, 2001
Shepherd, BK (Aus)
23 Apr, 1937 - 17 Sept, 2001
Sutcliffe, B (NZ)
17 Nov, 1923 - 20 Apr, 2001
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