Top 10 Performances from World Cricket in November
November has been quite a month. From an amazing Test series in Pakistan to Bangladesh’s throttling of Zimbabwe and the tragic passing of Phil Hughes. November has been a month of entertainment and introspection.
We have picked the top 10 performances of the month, add your thoughts about who missed out in the comments section.
10. Pakistan vs. New Zealand Test Series in the UAE
1 of 10
Before moving on to individual performances, it’s worth assessing team and series performances in isolation. The Test series between Pakistan and New Zealand was fantastic entertainment.
From Pakistan’s top-class performance in the first Test to New Zealand’s fightback in the third and final match to square the series, there was some fantastic cricket played all-round.
9. Khurram Khan 132* vs. Afghanistan
2 of 10
Khurram Khan was born in the same year the first one-day international was played. On 30 November 2014, he scored his first ever one-day century at the ripe old age of 43.
The United Arab Emirates player has been playing international cricket since 2004, but because of the lack of cricket Associates play, he's had to wait over 10 years since making his debut to get his first hundred.
8. SA Women’s Team Beating India in India
3 of 10
Another nod for a team performance. After being beaten in the one-off Test, the South African women bounced back to win the ODI series against India 2-1. Everybody knows that India is a tough place to tour, and it's even tougher if you're a team that doesn't play much cricket.
The South African women's cricket team have made steady progress this year and their ODI series victory in India is a massive step forward in their constant progression. Chloe Tryon and Mignon du Preez were the standouts with the bat, while Dane van Niekerk was super with the ball.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
7. Shakib Al Hasan: All Round vs. Zimbabwe, 21 November
4 of 10
Shakib Al Hasan has long been one of Bangladesh's best players. He showed why against Zimbabwe when he hit 101 off 99 balls and took four wickets to help his team to an 87-run win.
In fact, Al Hasan probably deserves a mention for all his performances in November. His century and 10-for in the second Test against Zimbabwe was equally impressive, and he deserves lots of credit for his feats.
6. Mark Craig, 7 for 94 vs. Pakistan in Sharjah
5 of 10
The series itself has already gotten a mention, but Mark Craig taking seven wickets in an innings against Pakistan in the third and final Test gets a nod, too. He followed up those seven wickets with three more in the second innings.
Trent Boult was instrumental in dismantling the batting in the second innings, but it was Craig who helped set the foundation for an impressive win.
5. Josh Hazlewood 5 for 31 vs. South Africa in Perth
6 of 10
In a low-scoring ODI in Perth, Josh Hazlewood gave Australia some hope. With the hosts being bowled out for 154, Hazlewood ripped through South Africa's batting in an impressive bowling display.
He struggled for wickets in the rest of the series, but it became clear that he has a long future ahead of him.
4. Morne Morkel 5 for 21 vs. Australia in Perth
7 of 10
In the same match where Hazlewood took five wickets, Morne Morkel set the tone. Destructive, aggressive and completely exploiting the Perth wicket, Morkel's bowling performance was outstanding.
It was a textbook lesson in how to use extra pace and bounce. Just one Australian batsman, Mitchell Marsh, managed to pass the 25-run mark. South Africa won by three wickets in the end.
3. Rohit Sharma, 264 vs. Sri Lanka in Kolkata
8 of 10
Rohit Sharma became the first ever player to score two double centuries in one-day cricket. It was a fine knock that he managed to accelerate to perfection.
After scoring 142 in the warm-up match against Sri Lanka, Sharma hammered a ferocious 264 off just 173 balls. It was brutal, it was unforgiving and it was one of the most head-spinning knocks you will ever see.
2. Brendon McCullum, 202 vs. Pakistan in Sharjah
9 of 10
Brendon McCullum played one of the finest Test innings of the year against Pakistan in the third and final Test.
Well supported by Kane Williamson, McCullum's knock was really special. It was aggressive in the way very few players can manage in Tests and proved that he is certainly one of the best players of his generation. It helped set the foundation for a mammoth Black Caps total which ultimately helped them seal an impressive victory.
1. The Cricket Community After Phil Hughes Passed Away
10 of 10
While this is not a performance as such, this list cannot be complete without a mention to how the cricket community rallied around when Phil Hughes tragically passed away.
From Michael Clarke’s touching speech, to the Twitter tributes and everyone “putting their bats out” for a player whose life was taken far too soon. In fact, the whole sporting world, from English Premier League clubs to rugby teams, all paid tribute to Hughes.
It was touching and a beautiful reminder of how uniting sport can be, even in dark times.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
