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Cricket · Interesting Facts

Chapter 3: Tournaments

10 parts · 10 tests · 100 facts · updated 14 October 2026 · markdown

Cricket's competitions beyond the ICC's world events: multi-sport Games, regional cups, one-off series and the trophies two countries play for.

3.31Beyond the World Cups

Cricket at the Commonwealth and Asian Games, the first Asia Cup, the Champions League for domestic sides, and the one-off series against a World XI.

Test 1Games medals, regional cups and World XIsTake a test

  1. Bangladesh beat Afghanistan by five wickets in the Twenty20 final; it was the country's first gold medal at any Asian Games.

    Source: ESPNcricinfo, Asian Games 2010 final report, 'Bangladesh get first-ever Asian Games gold'; Olympics.com, Asian Games cricket winners · recall

  2. India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka met at the new stadium in Sharjah; India won both their matches to take the first title.

    Source: ESPNcricinfo archive of the 1984 Asia Cup; CricTracker, 'India defeat Pakistan to win first Asia Cup title' (1984) · recall

  3. In the ICC Super Series, Australia beat an ICC World XI by 210 runs inside four days; the ICC gave the match Test status.

    Source: ESPNcricinfo, Australia v ICC World XI, Super Series Test 2005 match report; ABC News, 'Aussies thrash World XI in Super Test' (2005) · recall

  4. Jones played at Lord's in 1970 and never again; the ICC removed the series' Test status in 1972, and the ECB marked the 50th anniversary with a cap, though the match is still not an official Test.

    Source: Lord's, 'Father Time Wall: 1970, Garry Sobers scores 183' (lords.org); ESPNcricinfo, 'Alan Jones earns England Test cap No. 696'; Wisden · recall

  5. New South Wales beat Trinidad and Tobago by 41 runs in the final at Hyderabad; the tournament for domestic T20 champions ran six editions, from 2009 to 2014.

    Source: ESPNcricinfo, Champions League Twenty20 2009/10 final scorecard · recall

  6. The 1844 match began the oldest international rivalry in sport, and the two countries still contest the Auty Cup.

    Source: USA Cricket, 'The oldest sports international in the world' (usacricket.org) · recall

  7. Sobers, captaining the Rest of the World, took 6 for 21 and then made 183; the visitors won the match by an innings.

    Source: Lord's, 'Father Time Wall: 1970, Garry Sobers scores 183' (lords.org); ESPNcricinfo, 'Alan Jones earns England Test cap No. 696'; Wisden · recall

  8. 1970, 1984, 1998 and 2005.

    Source: Lord's, Father Time Wall (1970); ESPNcricinfo (1984 Asia Cup; 2005 Super Series); Olympics.com (1998 Commonwealth Games) · recall

  9. 1900, 1998 (men), 2010 and 2022 (women).

    Source: Olympics.com (1998 Commonwealth Games; Asian Games cricket winners); ESPNcricinfo, Asian Games 2010 final report · recall

  10. South Africa beat Australia by four wickets in the 50-over final, Shaun Pollock taking 4 for 19; New Zealand beat Sri Lanka for bronze.

    Source: Olympics.com, '1998 Commonwealth Games cricket: when Shaun Pollock struck gold'; ESPNcricinfo, Commonwealth Games 1998 final scorecard · recall

3.32Trophies with a Story

The trophies two countries play for and the people behind their names: great spinners, cricketing families, a renamed England-India prize and a tribute to two freedom leaders.

Test 1Named trophies and the people behind themTake a test

  1. Series in England had been played for the Pataudi Trophy and series in India for the Anthony de Mello Trophy; the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy now covers both.

    Source: ESPNcricinfo, 'England-India Test series to be named Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy' (espncricinfo.com, 2025) · recall

  2. The winning captain of each England-India Test series now receives the Pataudi Medal.

    Source: ESPNcricinfo, 'England-India Test series to be named Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy' (espncricinfo.com, 2025) · recall

  3. The trophy honours D'Oliveira, the Cape Town-born all-rounder who played for England; England won the first series for it, in South Africa, 2-1.

    Source: Wisden, 'Basil D'Oliveira: the protagonist in one of cricket's greatest ever crises' (wisden.com); ESPNcricinfo trophy records · recall

  4. Ian, Greg and Trevor Chappell all played for Australia; from New Zealand, Walter Hadlee and his three sons all played for their country.

    Source: cricket.com.au, 'Old classics for a new era: some famous Chappell-Hadlee ODIs'; ESPNcricinfo, Chappell-Hadlee Trophy series results · recall

  5. Sri Lanka Cricket put forward the idea and Cricket Australia agreed; the trophy marked 25 years of Tests between the two countries, and Australia won the first series 2-0.

    Source: ESPNcricinfo, 'Teams will battle for Warne-Muralitharan Trophy' (2007) · recall

  6. Richie Benaud led Australia's first full tour of Pakistan in 1959; Abdul Qadir took 45 wickets in 11 Tests against Australia.

    Source: Cricket Australia and ICC, 'Pakistan and Australia to play for the Benaud-Qadir Trophy' (cricket.com.au, icc-cricket.com, 2 March 2022) · recall

  7. The BCCI and Cricket South Africa named their bilateral series after Gandhi and Mandela, the leaders of both countries' non-violent freedom struggles.

    Source: Gulf News, 'India vs South Africa named Gandhi-Mandela Series' (gulfnews.com, 2015) · recall

  8. 2004-05, 2007-08, 2022 and 2025.

    Source: Wisden (D'Oliveira Trophy); ESPNcricinfo (Warne-Muralitharan, 2007; Anderson-Tendulkar, 2025); Cricket Australia and ICC (Benaud-Qadir, 2022) · recall

  9. Qadir 236, Benaud 248, Warne 708 and Muralitharan 800.

    Source: ESPNcricinfo player profiles of Abdul Qadir, Richie Benaud, Shane Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan · recall

  10. The trophy has been played for in one-day series between Australia and New Zealand since December 2004.

    Source: cricket.com.au, 'Old classics for a new era: some famous Chappell-Hadlee ODIs'; ESPNcricinfo, Chappell-Hadlee Trophy series results · recall

3.33The First One-Day Cups

How limited-overs cricket began in England: the Gillette Cup, the Sunday League and the Benson and Hedges Cup.

Test 1England's first one-day competitionsTake a test

  1. Sussex beat Worcestershire and kept the cup in 1964.

    Source: ESPNcricinfo, Gillette Cup finals; Sussex Cricket heritage · recall

  2. The matches were cut to 60 overs a side from 1964.

    Source: ESPNcricinfo, Gillette Cup 1963 · recall

  3. Jack Bond's Lancashire were the first great one-day county side.

    Source: ESPNcricinfo, Gillette Cup finals · recall

  4. Afternoon games built for television, they drew big crowds on Sundays.

    Source: ESPNcricinfo, the Sunday League · recall

  5. Leicestershire beat Yorkshire in the final at Lord's.

    Source: ESPNcricinfo, Benson and Hedges Cup finals · recall

  6. The knockout kept its 60 overs and its September final at Lord's.

    Source: ESPNcricinfo, NatWest Trophy history · recall

  7. The competition ended when tobacco sponsorship was phased out.

    Source: ESPNcricinfo, Benson and Hedges Cup finals · recall

  8. 1963, 1969, 1972, 1981 and 2003.

    Source: ESPNcricinfo, English domestic competitions · recall

  9. 65, 55, 40 and 20 overs.

    Source: ESPNcricinfo, English domestic competitions · recall

  10. The razor maker's name stayed on the cup until 1980.

    Source: ESPNcricinfo, Gillette Cup history · recall

3.34Old Fixtures and Festivals

The Varsity Match, school matches at Lord's and the summer festivals of Canterbury, Cheltenham and Scarborough.

Test 1Long-running fixtures and festivalsTake a test

  1. It began at Lord's and is cricket's oldest surviving fixture between two teams of its kind.

    Source: Oxford University CC and Cambridge University CC histories; ESPNcricinfo · recall

  2. Cambridge's Blue is light blue and Oxford's dark blue.

    Source: Oxford University CC history · recall

  3. Harrow needed only 55 and were all out for 45.

    Source: Lord's (lords.org), Eton v Harrow history; ESPNcricinfo · recall

  4. Kent still stage it at the St Lawrence Ground each summer.

    Source: Kent Cricket, Canterbury Week history · recall

  5. The Old Stagers have performed in Canterbury during the Week since its first year.

    Source: The Old Stagers (oldstagers.com); Kent Cricket · recall

  6. It is held at North Marine Road, close to the sea.

    Source: Scarborough Cricket Club history · recall

  7. Gloucestershire play there each July, with marquees round the boundary.

    Source: Gloucestershire CCC, Cheltenham Festival · recall

  8. 1827, 1842, 1872, 1876 and 1910.

    Source: ESPNcricinfo; club histories · recall

  9. Eton won by nine runs at Lord's in July 1910.

    Source: Lord's (lords.org), Eton v Harrow history · recall

  10. The Duke of Norfolk's XI, later the Duchess's, hosted the touring sides at Arundel Castle.

    Source: Arundel Castle Cricket Foundation history · recall

3.35Leagues That Came and Went

Rebel leagues, a winner-takes-all match in Antigua and competitions that did not last.

Test 1Short-lived competitionsTake a test

  1. Zee's founder Subhash Chandra set it up as a Twenty20 league of his own.

    Source: ESPNcricinfo, the Indian Cricket League · recall

  2. An amnesty in 2009 let most of them return.

    Source: ESPNcricinfo, the Indian Cricket League · recall

  3. It was played at Stanford's own ground beside the airport.

    Source: ESPNcricinfo, Stanford Superstars v England 2008 · recall

  4. The Superstars won by ten wickets.

    Source: ESPNcricinfo, Stanford Superstars v England 2008 · recall

  5. He landed on the Nursery Ground.

    Source: ESPNcricinfo, Stanford at Lord's 2008 · recall

  6. His bank's scheme cost investors billions of dollars.

    Source: US Department of Justice, Stanford sentencing (2012) · recall

  7. Chennai Super Kings won that last edition.

    Source: ESPNcricinfo, Champions League Twenty20 · recall

  8. 2007, 2008, 2009, 2016 and 2019.

    Source: ESPNcricinfo · recall

  9. June 2008, November 2008, 2009 and 2012.

    Source: ESPNcricinfo; US Department of Justice · recall

  10. The money was split among the winning players, the reserves and the management.

    Source: ESPNcricinfo, Stanford at Lord's 2008 · recall

3.36Exhibition and Charity Matches

Anniversary matches, appeals for disaster relief and the Prime Minister's XI.

Test 1Special matchesTake a test

  1. Gordon Greenidge made a hundred for MCC; rain left the match drawn.

    Source: ESPNcricinfo, MCC v Rest of the World, Lord's 1987 · recall

  2. The World XI won by 112 runs.

    Source: ESPNcricinfo, ICC World XI v Asian XI, Melbourne 2005 · recall

  3. Hurricanes Irma and Maria had wrecked grounds in Anguilla and Dominica.

    Source: ESPNcricinfo, West Indies v World XI, Lord's 2018 · recall

  4. Sachin Tendulkar coached Ponting's side.

    Source: Cricket Australia, Bushfire Cricket Bash 2020 · recall

  5. Menzies loved the game and made the match an annual fixture against touring sides.

    Source: Cricket Australia, Prime Minister's XI history · recall

  6. Members were angry that play was held up on a dry day by a wet outfield.

    Source: ESPNcricinfo, England v Australia, Lord's 1980 · recall

  7. Their games on BBC2 showed the counties that Sunday cricket could draw a crowd.

    Source: ESPNcricinfo, the International Cavaliers · recall

  8. 1951, 1980, 1987, 2005, 2018 and 2020.

    Source: ESPNcricinfo · recall

  9. 1977, 1980, 1987 and 2014.

    Source: ESPNcricinfo; Lord's (lords.org) · recall

  10. The Prime Minister's XI plays at Manuka Oval.

    Source: Cricket Australia, Prime Minister's XI history · recall

3.37Breakthrough Wins

First Test wins and first series wins for the countries that joined Test cricket after 1930.

Test 1First winsTake a test

  1. Mankad took 8 for 55 and 4 for 53 as India won by an innings.

    Source: ESPNcricinfo, India v England, Madras 1952 · recall

  2. Fazal Mahmood took 12 wickets on a matting pitch.

    Source: ESPNcricinfo, India v Pakistan, Lucknow 1952 · recall

  3. Pakistan squared the series 1-1 in their first summer in England.

    Source: ESPNcricinfo, England v Pakistan, The Oval 1954 · recall

  4. They won the three-match series 1-0.

    Source: ESPNcricinfo, Pakistan v New Zealand 1969-70 · recall

  5. It came in their 14th Test, and they won the series too.

    Source: ESPNcricinfo, Sri Lanka v India, Colombo 1985 · recall

  6. His brother Andy, the captain, made 156 in the same innings.

    Source: ESPNcricinfo, Zimbabwe v Pakistan, Harare 1995 · recall

  7. Enamul Haque took 6 for 45 at Chattogram.

    Source: ESPNcricinfo, Bangladesh v Zimbabwe, Chattogram 2005 · recall

  8. February 1952, October 1952, 1969, 1985, 1995 and 2005.

    Source: ESPNcricinfo, Test records · recall

  9. 2, 11, 14, 25 and 35.

    Source: ESPNcricinfo, Test records · recall

  10. The leg-spinner bowled England out for 101 in the second innings.

    Source: ESPNcricinfo, England v India, The Oval 1971 · recall

3.38Youth World Cups

The Under-19 World Cup: its gap after 1988, its champions and the stars it found.

Test 1The Under-19 World CupTake a test

  1. Brian Lara and Inzamam-ul-Haq also played in that tournament.

    Source: ICC, Under-19 World Cup history · recall

  2. The second was held in South Africa in 1998, won by England.

    Source: ICC, Under-19 World Cup history · recall

  3. They beat Sri Lanka in the final in Colombo.

    Source: ICC, Under-19 World Cup 2000 · recall

  4. He made his senior one-day debut later that year.

    Source: ICC, Under-19 World Cup 2000 · recall

  5. Within months Kohli was playing for the senior side.

    Source: ICC, Under-19 World Cup 2008 · recall

  6. In 2006 they defended 109 against India in the final.

    Source: ICC, Under-19 World Cup history · recall

  7. They beat India in the final at Mirpur.

    Source: ICC, Under-19 World Cup 2016 · recall

  8. 1988, 1998, 2000, 2004, 2016 and 2020.

    Source: ICC, Under-19 World Cup history · recall

  9. 2000, 2008, 2012, 2018 and 2022.

    Source: ICC, Under-19 World Cup history · recall

  10. They beat India by three wickets in the final at Potchefstroom.

    Source: ICC, Under-19 World Cup 2020 · recall

3.39Cricket in the Desert

Sharjah's tournaments: Miandad's six, Tendulkar's 'Desert Storm' and Tests played far from home.

Test 1SharjahTake a test

  1. The six became one of the most replayed moments in Pakistan's cricket.

    Source: ESPNcricinfo, India v Pakistan, Sharjah 1986 · recall

  2. Miandad finished on 116 not out.

    Source: ESPNcricinfo, India v Pakistan, Sharjah 1986 · recall

  3. The organisers were called the Cricketers Benefit Fund Series.

    Source: ESPNcricinfo, Sharjah cricket history · recall

  4. India beat Australia to win the Coca-Cola Cup.

    Source: ESPNcricinfo, India v Australia, Sharjah 1998 · recall

  5. Australia won by an innings and 198 runs inside two days.

    Source: ESPNcricinfo, Pakistan v Australia, Sharjah 2002 · recall

  6. Pakistan used Sharjah as a home ground after teams stopped touring Pakistan.

    Source: ESPNcricinfo, Pakistan v West Indies, Sharjah 2002 · recall

  7. The Indian government kept the team away from such venues after the fixing scandals of 2000.

    Source: ESPNcricinfo, Sharjah cricket history · recall

  8. 1984, 1986, 1998 and 2002.

    Source: ESPNcricinfo, Sharjah cricket history · recall

  9. India lost the match but reached the final on run rate.

    Source: ESPNcricinfo, India v Australia, Sharjah 1998 · recall

  10. After the storm Tendulkar's 143 took India into the final.

    Source: ESPNcricinfo, India v Australia, Sharjah 1998 · recall

3.40Finals to Remember

Last-ball finishes, a car for the best player and a shirt waved at Lord's.

Test 1Memorable finalsTake a test

  1. Malinga trapped Shardul Thakur lbw with two needed.

    Source: ESPNcricinfo, IPL 2019 final · recall

  2. They came together at 147 for 8 and added 71 without being parted.

    Source: ESPNcricinfo, Champions Trophy final 2004 · recall

  3. He had come in with 34 needed off 12 balls.

    Source: ESPNcricinfo, Nidahas Trophy final 2018 · recall

  4. Bangladesh, the hosts, were playing in their first Asia Cup final.

    Source: ESPNcricinfo, Asia Cup final 2012 · recall

  5. Andrew Flintoff had taken his shirt off at Mumbai earlier that year.

    Source: ESPNcricinfo, NatWest Series final 2002 · recall

  6. They added 121 and Kaif saw India home with three balls left.

    Source: ESPNcricinfo, NatWest Series final 2002 · recall

  7. India beat England by five runs.

    Source: ESPNcricinfo, Champions Trophy final 2013 · recall

  8. 1985, 2002, 2004, 2012, 2018 and 2019.

    Source: ESPNcricinfo · recall

  9. The winning runs came with seven balls left.

    Source: ESPNcricinfo, Champions Trophy final 2004 · recall

  10. His teammates crowded on to the car for a lap of the MCG.

    Source: ESPNcricinfo, World Championship of Cricket 1985 · recall

Sources

Primary/official sources only, no Wikipedia citations: Olympics.com, ESPNcricinfo match reports and scorecards, Lord's, Wisden, USA Cricket, ABC News, cricket.com.au, the ICC, Gulf News. The ICC world events, the Olympics (1900 and 2028), the Hong Kong Sixes, the 1912 Triangular Tournament and the Frank Worrell, Richards-Botham and Trans-Tasman trophies are asked in Knowledge Testing and left out on purpose.

  • ICC, Under-19 World Cup history5
  • ESPNcricinfo3
  • ESPNcricinfo, Sharjah cricket history3
  • ESPNcricinfo, India v Australia, Sharjah 19983
  • Lord's, 'Father Time Wall: 1970, Garry Sobers scores 183' (lords.org); ESPNcricinfo, 'Alan Jones earns England Test cap No. 696'; Wisden2
  • ESPNcricinfo, 'England-India Test series to be named Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy' (espncricinfo.com, 2025)2
  • cricket.com.au, 'Old classics for a new era: some famous Chappell-Hadlee ODIs'; ESPNcricinfo, Chappell-Hadlee Trophy series results2
  • ESPNcricinfo, Benson and Hedges Cup finals2
  • ESPNcricinfo, English domestic competitions2
  • ESPNcricinfo, the Indian Cricket League2
  • ESPNcricinfo, Stanford Superstars v England 20082
  • ESPNcricinfo, Stanford at Lord's 20082
  • Cricket Australia, Prime Minister's XI history2
  • ESPNcricinfo, Test records2
  • ICC, Under-19 World Cup 20002
  • ESPNcricinfo, India v Pakistan, Sharjah 19862
  • ESPNcricinfo, Champions Trophy final 20042
  • ESPNcricinfo, NatWest Series final 20022
  • ESPNcricinfo, Asian Games 2010 final report, 'Bangladesh get first-ever Asian Games gold'; Olympics.com, Asian Games cricket winners1
  • ESPNcricinfo archive of the 1984 Asia Cup; CricTracker, 'India defeat Pakistan to win first Asia Cup title' (1984)1
  • ESPNcricinfo, Australia v ICC World XI, Super Series Test 2005 match report; ABC News, 'Aussies thrash World XI in Super Test' (2005)1
  • ESPNcricinfo, Champions League Twenty20 2009/10 final scorecard1
  • USA Cricket, 'The oldest sports international in the world' (usacricket.org)1
  • Lord's, Father Time Wall (1970); ESPNcricinfo (1984 Asia Cup; 2005 Super Series); Olympics.com (1998 Commonwealth Games)1
  • Olympics.com (1998 Commonwealth Games; Asian Games cricket winners); ESPNcricinfo, Asian Games 2010 final report1
  • Olympics.com, '1998 Commonwealth Games cricket: when Shaun Pollock struck gold'; ESPNcricinfo, Commonwealth Games 1998 final scorecard1
  • Wisden, 'Basil D'Oliveira: the protagonist in one of cricket's greatest ever crises' (wisden.com); ESPNcricinfo trophy records1
  • ESPNcricinfo, 'Teams will battle for Warne-Muralitharan Trophy' (2007)1
  • Cricket Australia and ICC, 'Pakistan and Australia to play for the Benaud-Qadir Trophy' (cricket.com.au, icc-cricket.com, 2 March 2022)1
  • Gulf News, 'India vs South Africa named Gandhi-Mandela Series' (gulfnews.com, 2015)1
  • Wisden (D'Oliveira Trophy); ESPNcricinfo (Warne-Muralitharan, 2007; Anderson-Tendulkar, 2025); Cricket Australia and ICC (Benaud-Qadir, 2022)1
  • ESPNcricinfo player profiles of Abdul Qadir, Richie Benaud, Shane Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan1
  • ESPNcricinfo, Gillette Cup finals; Sussex Cricket heritage1
  • ESPNcricinfo, Gillette Cup 19631
  • ESPNcricinfo, Gillette Cup finals1
  • ESPNcricinfo, the Sunday League1
  • ESPNcricinfo, NatWest Trophy history1
  • ESPNcricinfo, Gillette Cup history1
  • Oxford University CC and Cambridge University CC histories; ESPNcricinfo1
  • Oxford University CC history1
  • Lord's (lords.org), Eton v Harrow history; ESPNcricinfo1
  • Kent Cricket, Canterbury Week history1
  • The Old Stagers (oldstagers.com); Kent Cricket1
  • Scarborough Cricket Club history1
  • Gloucestershire CCC, Cheltenham Festival1
  • ESPNcricinfo; club histories1
  • Lord's (lords.org), Eton v Harrow history1
  • Arundel Castle Cricket Foundation history1
  • US Department of Justice, Stanford sentencing (2012)1
  • ESPNcricinfo, Champions League Twenty201
  • ESPNcricinfo; US Department of Justice1
  • ESPNcricinfo, MCC v Rest of the World, Lord's 19871
  • ESPNcricinfo, ICC World XI v Asian XI, Melbourne 20051
  • ESPNcricinfo, West Indies v World XI, Lord's 20181
  • Cricket Australia, Bushfire Cricket Bash 20201
  • ESPNcricinfo, England v Australia, Lord's 19801
  • ESPNcricinfo, the International Cavaliers1
  • ESPNcricinfo; Lord's (lords.org)1
  • ESPNcricinfo, India v England, Madras 19521
  • ESPNcricinfo, India v Pakistan, Lucknow 19521
  • ESPNcricinfo, England v Pakistan, The Oval 19541
  • ESPNcricinfo, Pakistan v New Zealand 1969-701
  • ESPNcricinfo, Sri Lanka v India, Colombo 19851
  • ESPNcricinfo, Zimbabwe v Pakistan, Harare 19951
  • ESPNcricinfo, Bangladesh v Zimbabwe, Chattogram 20051
  • ESPNcricinfo, England v India, The Oval 19711
  • ICC, Under-19 World Cup 20081
  • ICC, Under-19 World Cup 20161
  • ICC, Under-19 World Cup 20201
  • ESPNcricinfo, Pakistan v Australia, Sharjah 20021
  • ESPNcricinfo, Pakistan v West Indies, Sharjah 20021
  • ESPNcricinfo, IPL 2019 final1
  • ESPNcricinfo, Nidahas Trophy final 20181
  • ESPNcricinfo, Asia Cup final 20121
  • ESPNcricinfo, Champions Trophy final 20131
  • ESPNcricinfo, World Championship of Cricket 19851