The game of cricket is still among the most frequently played and viewed sports, despite its long history dating back to the 16th century. Cricket has undergone a major transformation in its nature and character over the years, thus making it far more exhilarating and enjoyable.
It has reached a point where it is now able to boast of the status of being the most popular and most viewed sport in the world. The enormous strides that this bat and ball game has made in terms of popularity and value have collectively turned it into one of the defining sports across the globe.
Cricket and India have always been linked, and the country celebrated its first Cricket World Cup victory in 1983. Nowadays, Indian cricket fans play a major role in the international fan base, as India continues to be one of the leading international cricketing nations.
People have always had an emotional connection with sports, and that is why the rivalry between teams and even audiences is often what defines the sport. It is usually through great sports rivalries that the competitiveness of the team or individual gets to be expressed.
Moments of sports rivalry are often filled with strong emotions and at the same time very special.
In this article, we shall highlight the five most significant rivalries in cricket history.
5. West Indies and England
Although the West Indies have lost the strength that used to make them a very ruthless and winning team, they still are an unpleasant surprise for some. Among the history of rivalries, the conflict with England is one of the major ones.
The rivalry between them came about when Tony Greig announced that he would make the West Indies dirty and humiliate them during the 1976 series which the West Indies took as a racist remark. The West Indies won the series 3-0, and Greig was less than forgotten when the series ended. After the last match, he crawled in pretense, acting like he was going down on hands and knees.
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4. India and Australia
It is not a surprise that a cricket giant like India will always have an array of opponents challenging them constantly.
The rivalry between India and Australia started in 2001 when India defeated Australia in a fantastic manner producing a remarkable comeback. They had many encounters since then, among which the most notable was the 2003 World Cup finals.
These two teams are very competitive, thus, every time they play you can expect to see some spectacular matches. Sadly, some off-field issues, like racism, have playoff the intensity of the rivalry.
3. South Africa and Australia
South Africa and Australia battle it out in almost every sport one of which is cricket.
Australia was almost everybody’s foe, tough and hard till South Africa came as a shock in 2008-09 by being the first team to beat Australia on their home soil after 16 years. This switch in events has made the rivalry between the two teams even stronger.
2. England and Australia
This ranks among the oldest rivalries in the history of the sport. The competition was called “the Ashes” following England’s defeat by Australia in 1882, and it has been a worn-out conflict ever since.
Maybe the rivalry has its roots in some off-field history too. The English defeat on Australian ground was likened to English cricket getting burned, and the ashes being returned to England.
Australia has often looked to be the better side in the Ashes series but of late, England has reversed the trend. The 2005 victory was very crucial for England as it broke an 18-year drought. The Ashes remains an exhilarating cricket series, and the extensive TV and media coverage adds to its intensity.
1. India and Pakistan
India and Pakistan are undeniably the top two competitors in cricket. It is noteworthy that the severe rivalry is a by-product of the long-standing diplomatic difficulties over the territories.
When it comes to the game, the spectators lose control and the whole place is simply amazing. No other match draws as many spectators as the classic India-Pakistan clash.
According to estimates, a cricket match between India and Pakistan attracts about 300 million viewers all over the world. It’s a great competition and the mere fact that it is taking place is very interesting considering their history.
Even though there is a rivalry between these two nations, the conflicts are always reduced to a minimum during cricket matches as the game acts like a glue that bonds them. At some points, cricket matches have been the means for the two nations to engage in diplomatic discussions and consequently, repair their ties.
