1) World Cup:
Just like other games. World Cup has the special mention when it comes to Cricket. It is the most prestigious and honorable tournament. It’s played once in every 4 years. It’s one among the world’s most viewed sport event. ICC claims it as the biggest and the number one event in the Cricket. It has a good number of matches. It has 4 stages, Super 8, 6, semi finals and finals.
This is the dream-come-true trophy for every cricketer; Sachin once said that lifting the world cup is the best moment in life and the fulfillment of cricket comes through winning this trophy. Earlier various trophies were presented as seen in the picture, but later on ICC fixed one final trophy which is seen in the center of the photograph. All in all Cricket’s best trophy and tournament that every cricket player aspires to win and every cricket lover dreams their country to hold.
2) Champions Trophy:
It is an ICC initiative tournament and stands out as the second importance after the great World Cup. It is played by the Top 8 ranked nations. Initially it was called as ICC Knock out tournament and later it got this name. It is also considered as mini world cup. It really has less number of matches. Hence it is one of the best played and viewed ODI series so far. Sadly, it is said that this is the last Champions trophy 2013 which has come to final stages now. ICC will replace the ICC World Test Championship instead of this tournament from next year in its calendar.
3) T20 World cup:
The trophy weighs up to 7.5 Kilograms. It is the most viewed and popular tournament as it the shortest and has the best source of entertainment and excitement. The very first tournament was held in the year 2011 and surprisingly India took it away and that is how this format made a huge impact in India. And T20 World Cup became highly popular in all the nations soon enough. The excitement and the energy are unparalleled and interest among the cricket lovers is astonishing! This tournament brought the pinch hitters and even clever wicket takers. Here the strength and selection of shots matter rather than technique and class defense.
4) Ashes:
The Ashes is known as the clash of two continents, two nations and a great rivalry between the England and Australia. The name of this tournament has an interesting story, when England was beaten by Aussies in 1882. One of the Journalists of that wrote an Obituary, ‘in affectionate remembrance of English cricket which died at The Oval. The body will be cremated and the Ashes taken to Australia.’ The Australian supremacy was reluctantly accepted and then England took a pledge that it will be taking back its ashes and they did it in very next series by winning the tournament. This is the series which is followed by both the nations at times their players have expressed that this is the best tournament and the happiness of winning this is more than a World cup.
5) Border Gavaskar trophy:
This is a battle of 2 nations India and Australia. The format is test and it has witnessed the most exciting test matches ever. It was named as the gratitude for Australia’s Allan Border and India’s Sunil Gavaskar as both were first to reach the 10,000 club and were the skippers of the respective teams at that time. They hailed the test cricket at that time. India has been very successful and dominant in this tournament as it won 7 titles so far.
6) Commonwealth Bank series:
Earlier at the beginning stage it was known as Benson and Hedges World Series. Later Carlton and United then VB series and now it is known as CB series. It is an official Australian series held during the months of Dec and Jan-Feb. Just after the Christmas and continuing Australian summer season. This tournament has benefited the hosting team to the fullest as they won 19 out of 33 times. No other team performed gloriously apart from West Indies at the beginning stages. But it never disappointed fans and cricket lovers. And ICC always gives it a lot of importance in its Cricket Calendar.
7) Asia Cup:
As the name says it is just like a world cup restricted to all the Asian countries like India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, UAE, etc. It is organised by Asian Cricket Council and was started in the year 1984. It is conducted in various venues alternatively. Hence, it’s been the biggest tournament of the Asian continent so far. It was cancelled 2 times so far due to political reasons and relations among the nations at that time. Hence, this is a restricted world cup tournament for all the Asian countries.
8) NatWest series:
This is the exclusive England based One day International tournament that was started in the year 2000 and sponsored by National Westminster Bank. It is generally the tri angular series where each team meets another 2 times in the series and the best two teams fight for finals at The Mecca of Cricket Lords. The most historical match was the final in the year 2004 where India chased the huge target of 324 against England. And no one can forget the dada’s shirt twirling moments at the Lord’s gallery which will be reminisced until the game exist. All the qualified test teams have played this tournament so far. And it has been the prestigious tournament for the England Cricket and challenging for the other Nations as well.
9) Indian Premier League:
Who doesn’t know this mega cricket extravaganza? This is the India’s most viewed sport event. And also has its mark in other nations as well. This is the tournament which unites youngsters, Indian players and Internationals players in the same team and gives a perfect example for united we stand no matter how divided we are. Most of the matches are nerve cracking and exciting. This is the tournament which goes for 2 long months and can be treated as summer bonanza. So far there are been 6 seasons and almost all were in news in every possible way. It is also the care of address for many controversies and recent IPL 6 has taken it to the peaks. But still this cricket tournament is the combination of glitz, glory and glamour. IPL is a trim mix of Cinema and cricket and a perfect combo of Sport and politics.
10) Champions League Twenty20:
It is also shortly known as CLT20. This is the biggest tournament in the domestic level cricket. Every year the top played cricketing nations play in this tournament. It is owned by 3 countries BCCI, Cricket Australia and Cricket South Africa. All the domestic teams which involve young and experienced players fight with the other team with the same formatted team. It is a very good platform for all those young domestic players who can prove themselves and walk into the National team like a boss! Once they give fine performance here. In simple worlds it can be called as the next level or next step of the IPL. It is the newly emerged tournament which will surely need some time to establish itself.
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