Cardiff Local Guide A guide to all Things Cardiff
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2013
The Ashes in England: Without a doubt the Ashes this year was phenomenal. The build-up was as always controversial, not least with the Warner-Root incident but also Australia bringing in Darren Lehman at the helm. The series itself was spectacular. Durham got to host their first Ashes Test match at Chester-Le-Street and rose to the occasion. For an English fan there were some real highlights. The electric form of James Anderson made watching this series worthwhile, not to mention some big scores, not least Joe Root’s 180 at Lords. Stuart Broad’s dominant bowling display at Durham was on another level, taking 6 wickets in 45 balls, it was one of those displays that made you think any ball bowled could result in a wicket. The resulting 3-0 series victory saw England comfortably retain the urn.
ICC Champions Trophy: This year England hosted the ICC Champions Trophy and it was nearly a tournament to remember for the host nation. After passing through their group and demolishing South Africa in the semi-final, the host nation made it into the final but fell short by 5 runs and were denied by India in a match reduced to 20 overs. It helped England to silence some of their critics with regards to their limited overs form and saw numerous players shine, not least Joe Root and Ravi Bopara.
Sachin Tendulkar: Sachin came, he saw and boy did he conquer. 2013 saw the Little Master bow out of Test cricket in his 200th Test match making a composed 74 before delivering an emotional speech to a capacity crowd in Mumbai. What his departure allowed us was to reflect on one of cricket’s greatest ever players to have shined with the bat, as well as to contemplate the influence that Tendulkar had on Indian cricket, elevating the sport’s status in the country to unprecedented heights and in the process making himself a God in the eyes of some supporters.
Domestic Cricket: It was a good year for Durham! Not only did Chester-Le-Street host its first Ashes Test match but next year its trophy cabinet will be adorned with the County Championship trophy as Durham won the competition. In the Friends Life T20, Northamptonshire stormed home with an impressive 106 run victory after Duckworth-Lewis intervened on an exciting, action packed finals day. Meanwhile the Yorkshire Bank 40 overs competition was fiercely contested in a stellar final between Glamorgan and Nottinghamshire with Notts stealing the trophy from the Welsh-based side.
2014
IPL: The IPL will of course return in the New Year, with the Chennai Super Kings out to avenge the defeat at the hands of the Mumbai Indians, who won the competition in 2013. Unfortunately, there will only be eight teams as the Pune Warriors have withdrawn but hopefully international stars like Dale Steyn and Kevin Pietersen will return to light up cricket’s most exciting domestic limited overs competition.
The Finale of the Back to Back Ashes Series: The first Test of the 2013/14 series saw Australia deservedly annihilate England, with Mitchell Johnson and captain Michael Clarke shining to set up a thrilling series that will hook fans well into the new year. Furthermore, England look to be struggling at the time of writing in the second Test match in Adelaide, the New Year will see the back to back Ashes series conclude and hopefully there will be fireworks. Will Australia run away with the series and reclaim the urn? Or can England retain the Ashes after a poor start Down Under? The final test in Sydney early in January may be the decider that provides us with the answers to these questions.
Test Cricket: 2014 supplies cricket fans with a wealth of exhilarating Test cricket. The series in February between Australia and South Africa should be one to watch, whilst England once again host India for a Test series with India looking to avenge the whitewash they suffered on their previous visit which saw them surrender the mace and the number one Test team ranking to England.
ICC World Twenty20: The T20 World Cup is back, are you ready? Will defending champions West Indies manage to hold on to their title or will likely challengers in the form of South Africa and Pakistan wrestle the trophy from the clutches of the West Indian team? No doubt will this competition excite cricket fans across the world but as always the spectacle of T20 cricket will no doubt lure new fans to watch the game in its most exciting and entertaining form.
