Highlights of 2017

A leap for Women's cricket

The ICC Women's World Cup 2017 saw a massive boost in the interest generated around the tournament. Part reason was the broadcast of 31 games of the tournament across 139 countries. The knocking out of favourites Australia in the semifinal at the hands of India, and a final against hosts England meant a whole lot of traction. India were at their competitive best on the big day, but England held their nerve a tad better to snatch a nine-run win and their fourth World Cup win.

Pakistan spring a surprise

After Pakistan's opener of the Champions Trophy against India, where they slipped to an embarrassing 124-run loss, them winning the title wasn't even in contention. Yet, that loss inspired a bunch of 15 men to defy that mindset and show better. From there on began their march, one which didn't relent until the final where they avenged their opening defeat with a 180-run thrashing that they handed India. Considering the nature and the climate of the victory, it wasn't surprising that many likened it to the triumph of Imran Khan's 'cornered tigers' in 1992.

International cricket returns to Pakistan

Since the attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in 2009, Pakistan was a no-go zone for most cricketing countries, who refused to tour the nation owing to security issues, with only Zimbabwe having toured the country in 2015 for a series. In 2017, a World XI from across seven nations was stacked up, who toured the country for a three-match Twenty20 International series in Lahore. A-level security arrangements were made, players' buses were bomb-proof and accompanied by police convoys, sell-out crowds thronged the stadium, and security measured galore, which resulted in players vouching for more games to be held in Pakistan and the home country a happy bunch.

In another exceptional gesture, Sri Lanka decided to return to the city that scarred its players in 2009 - Lahore - for the last T20I of a three-match series in October.

Windies stun England in Headingley

It was a tricky pitch in Headingley. Windies were chasing England's 322, and it was Day 5 of the second Test with Windies 0-1 down. Shai Hope was in the middle and ensured he stayed there until the final runs were scored. England couldn't rattle the youngster who led his Windies side to a five-wicket win - their first on England soil after 17 whole years. He remained unbeaten on 118, and was assisted by a patient 95 from Kraigg Brathwaite after they were reduced to 53 for 2 at one stage.

The fastest T20 centuries

There were two in the year - surprising anymore? Don't think so. First, it was David Miller who surpassed Richard Levi's record, scaling the landmark in just 35 balls. Against a hapless Bangladesh in October. Two months later, Rohit Sharma pummeled an equally hapless Sri Lankan side in Mohali to equal Miller's record.

The prodigy of Rashid Khan

The legspinner from Afghanistan has risen to the heights of ICC rankings in limited-overs cricket in 2017 after unleashing his prowess for the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL where he picked up 17 wickets. When he was picked for Afghanistan's tour of Windies, they found out why he was the latest sensation taking the cricket world by storm. He returned figures of 7 for 18 in 8.4 overs at Gros Islet, running through the hosts and bowling them out for 149 in a chase of 213.

Sri Lanka breach the UAE fortress

Sri Lanka had a rather poor run against India at home and were beaten comprehensively across formats, yet, the side that showed up in the UAE wasn't one that bore the scars of that defeat. They beat the hosts 2-0 in the two-Test series with a spirited performance to become the first team to win a Test series against Pakistan in the UAE.

Bangladesh overcome Steve Smith & Co. in a Test

It came down to the wire, but the ever-improving Bangladesh side held their nerve to pull off a 20-run win over Australia for the first time ever, in Dhaka. Australia's collapses in Asia are no secret, and on the day they lost 41 for 6 to hand the hosts a win and a lead in the two-Test series, reinforcing Australia's continual struggles in the subcontinent where they have managed just two wins in 23 Tests in the last decade.

Zimbabwe's first overseas win in eight years

Zimbabwe pulled off their first away-series victory since 2009. It also turned out to be their first series win over a full member in the latter's home since 2001, as they stunned hosts Sri Lanka by taking a five-match series 3-2 in July. It also was Sri Lanka's third consecutive series loss at home, a crushing blow to the eighth-ranked side to have squandered a series to a team placed three spots below them.

Misbah, Younis Khan retirements

Pakistan cricket's veteran duo, Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan, called time on their careers following their first Test series win in the Caribbean. Misbah, 42, and Younis, 39, were one of the greatest partnerships of the game with the former having amassed 5,222 runs in 75 Tests, including 10 tons and 39 half-centuries, while Younis managed 10,099 runs in 118 matches, including 34 hundreds and 33 half-centuries. Younis reached the 10,000th-run landmark in the first Test at Kingston, becoming the first Pakistan cricketer to reach the milestone.

Steve Smith's golden year

Everything that touched Steve Smith's bat turned to gold. He amassed over 1200 runs in 11 Tests since January this year at over 70. But, it's not really the numbers that tell the entire story; he stood up at various points when the team needed him, like he did many-a-times in the series against India and in the ongoing Ashes. His ODI numbers this year though, stack up to 449 runs in 13 innings, averaging 44.90.

First four-day pink-ball Test

The first pink-ball four-day Test lasted all of five sessions and just 907 balls - the fewest in 50 years, thanks to a dismal Zimbabwe, who were unable to resist the South African attack. Zimbabwe were bowled out for 68 in their first innings - the lowest Test innings total for a team in 2017. And that after, South Africa declared for 309 for 9, which was the lowest first-innings declaration in Test history to win the game by an innings.