Top 10 Performances from World Cricket in 2014

The 2014 year is almost at an end. Now is a time to reflect on the events that transpired inside its 365 days before moving on to the bright new dawn of 2015.

International cricket has seen its fair share of notable performances, especially by its individual players across all three formats.

Let’s take a look at the 10 best performances from international cricket.

10. Rangana Herath (5-3, Sri Lanka vs. New Zealand T20I, March 31)

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Early in the year came the ICC World Twenty20, where Sri Lanka faced New Zealand with a place in the semifinals on the line.

Batting first, the Sri Lankans made just 119, a subpar total on a pitch that would likely be profitable for the spinners, but it was deemed woefully short of a winning score.

However, in reply the Black Caps were tied up by spinner Rangana Herath, who extracted turn and bounce with his loopy deliveries and had the batsmen flummoxed.

He ended up taking five wickets for just three runs in 3.3 overs, with two maidens thrown in there for good measure.

It was a winning contribution, and it meant the New Zealanders were bowled out for just 60 in a humiliating defeat.

9. Younis Khan (213, Pakistan vs. Australia Test, October 30)

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Pakistan were in the process of beating Australia 2-0 in the Test series in the United Arab Emirates. In the second game, they started brilliantly with a first innings total of 570.

They were led to that score by Younis Khan, who belied his advancing years with an imperious 213 from 349 balls.

It was an innings that included 15 fours and two sixes, and helped the Pakistanis to a win by 356 runs.

8. Kumar Sangakkara (221, Sri Lanka vs. Pakistan Test, August 6)

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Kumar Sangakkara of Sri Lanka was another senior batsman to impress this year. He helped his side take a big lead over Pakistan in the first Test in August.

Starting off with a deficit of 451, the hosts powered their way to 533, led by Sangakkara’s 221 from 425 balls.

It was an innings that helped propel the Sri Lankans to victory by seven wickets.

7. Taijul Islam (8-39, Bangladesh vs. Zimbabwe Test, October 25)

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Bangladesh spinner Taijul Islam made his own bit of history with 8-39 against Zimbabwe in the first Test of their series in October.

With Zimbabwe right in the game after the first innings, Islam got to work and helped spin them out for 114 to leave his side needing just 101 for victory.

Islam’s eight wickets came in just 16.5 overs, as he bowled first change and dismissed every batsman but Hamilton Masakadza and John Nyumbu.

6. Stuart Binny (6-4, India vs. Bangladesh ODI, June 17)

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In June, India travelled to Bangladesh for three one-day internationals. However, they were doing poorly in the second game, as they were bowled out for just 105 in 25.3 overs.

The hosts were hopeful of victory, but they were put in their place by Stuart Binny, who took 6-4 in 4.4 overs to dismiss the Bangladeshis for just 58.

It meant victory by 47 runs on the Duckworth-Lewis Method for India, who won the series 2-0.

5. Brendon McCullum (224, New Zealand vs. India Test, February 6)

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Brendon McCullum is one batsman who has looked hugely impressive throughout this year. He has appeared to flourish even with captaincy responsibilities.

In the first Test against India, the Black Caps batted first and were led to 503—thanks in large part to 224 from their skipper, who made his runs from 307 balls.

The hosts went on to win by 40 runs in Auckland and took the two-match series 1-0.

4. Rangana Herath (9-127 and 5-57, Sri Lanka vs. Pakistan Test, August 14)

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Sri Lankan spinner Rangana Herath makes another appearance in this list thanks to his dominant performance against Pakistan in Colombo.

First, Herath took nine wickets in the first innings to prevent Pakistan from taking too big a lead. He was only denied all 10 by Dilruwan Perera removing Ahmed Shehzad.

In the second knock, with the visitors needing 271, Herath worked his magic again to take 5-57 and leave them 165 all out, with Sri Lanka victorious by 105 runs.

3. Rohit Sharma (264, India vs. Sri Lanka ODI, November 13)

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It was the highest score in an ODI, and it was the second time Rohit Sharma passed 200 in his career in the format.

His first 100 runs came at a relatively sedate pace, but his subsequent 164 came at an astonishing rate as the Indian opener took apart Sri Lanka’s bowling attack.

He was dismissed for 264 from the last ball of the innings, and he helped India take an easy win by 153 runs.

2. Brendon McCullum (302, New Zealand vs. India Test, February 14)

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Brendon McCullum started off a superb year with a triple century against India that helped New Zealand draw the second Test in Wellington.

With his side facing an enormous deficit at the start of their second innings, McCullum hauled his team into the lead with 302, assisted by centuries from B.J. Watling and Jimmy Neesham.

Made from 559 balls, it showed McCullum’s ability to adapt to the situation and place the team’s needs above his own.

The Black Caps would go on to draw that game.

1. Kumar Sangakkara (319, Sri Lanka vs. Bangladesh Test, February 4)

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Bangladesh welcomed Sri Lanka for a two-match Test series early this year, but they were quickly put in their place by the visitors, who were led by Kumar Sangakkara.

The No. 3 scored a brilliant 319 off 482 balls in the second Test to help the away side to 587 in their first innings—although it was not enough to force a victory.

Sangakkara’s knock was the highest individual score in a Test innings, and it was the start of yet another very successful year for the left-hander.