17th March: On This Day in Cricket History: Sri Lanka’s Historic 1996 World Cup Victory on March 17

Sri Lanka winning the 1996 World Cup final

Sri Lanka celebrates their 1996 World Cup victory as Arjuna Ranatunga hits the winning runs against Australia.

1996 – Sri Lanka's Fairy-Tale World Cup Victory

1996: Sri Lanka, 100-1 outsiders, stunned Australia in the World Cup final in Lahore. Aravinda de Silva's unbeaten 107, three wickets, and two catches led them to victory. Captain Arjuna Ranatunga hit the winning runs with 22 balls left, completing a dominant campaign after crushing England and India in the knockout stages.

2007 – Ireland Stuns Pakistan on St Patrick's Day

2007: Ireland shocked Pakistan in their first World Cup, dismissing them for 132 in Kingston. Niall O'Brien’s gritty 72 anchored a tense chase, despite rain breaks and umpiring errors. Elsewhere, Bangladesh stunned India, making it a historic day for underdogs. Pakistan’s early exit led to coach Bob Woolmer’s tragic death the next day.

1872 – The Late Bloomer Douglas Carr

1872: Douglas Carr, born today, became an unlikely England Test cricketer at 37. A Kent club cricketer, he mastered the googly late in life and debuted against Australia in 1909. In his only Test, he took 7 wickets, proving that age isn’t a barrier to success. Though his career was brief, his impact was inspiring for late bloomers.

1963 – The Electrifying Roger Harper

1963: Born today, Roger Harper was one of cricket’s finest fielders. At 6ft 3in, he stunned with his agility, pulling off iconic run-outs, including dismissing Graham Gooch in a flash at Lord’s. A useful offspinner, he claimed 46 Test wickets, boasting the best average of any West Indian spinner with 25+ wickets.

1977 – The Centenary Test's Eerie Similarity

1977: Australia won the Centenary Test against England by 45 runs, mirroring the margin of the first-ever Test at the MCG in 1877. Derek Randall’s 174 nearly scripted a historic chase of 463, but Dennis Lillee’s 11 wickets sealed the result. During the tea interval, Lillee cheekily asked the Queen for an autograph—she later sent him a signed photo.

2001 – England's Stunning Comeback in Sri Lanka

2001: England secured a sensational 2-1 series win in Sri Lanka despite losing all three tosses. Graham Thorpe’s century set up the victory as Sri Lanka collapsed from 57/3 to 81 all out. England, chasing 74, stumbled but held on to win by four wickets. This triumph capped off an incredible winter after their series win in Pakistan.

1966 – Andrew Hudson’s Gritty Debut Century

1966: South African opener Andrew Hudson, born today, made 163 on debut against the West Indies in 1991-92, facing Curtly Ambrose and Patrick Patterson. A resilient batter, he thrived on tough pitches, famously scoring 80 on a tricky Durban track in 1996-97. He also endured a fiery send-off from Shane Warne in 1993-94.

2020 – Sheffield Shield Cancelled Due to COVID-19

2020: The Sheffield Shield was canceled for the first time since World War II due to COVID-19. With nine of ten rounds completed, New South Wales were crowned champions. Victoria and Queensland, who were in contention for a final spot, missed out as the season ended prematurely. The pandemic disrupted cricket worldwide.

1986 – Australia's Collapse in Auckland

1986: New Zealand sealed an eight-wicket win in Auckland, completing a series double over Australia. David Boon carried his bat for 58 as Australia collapsed for 103, with John Bracewell taking 6 for 32. It was a low point for Australian cricket, winning just one of 13 Tests in this period before their revival in the late 1980s.

2020 – Pakistan Super League Suspended

2020: The Pakistan Super League was suspended during the playoffs due to COVID-19 concerns. Semi-finals featuring Multan vs Peshawar and Karachi vs Lahore were halted. The final rounds resumed in November, with Karachi Kings emerging as champions. The suspension came after a foreign player showed virus symptoms, but later tested negative.

1987 – Pakistan's Historic Test Win in India

1987: Pakistan won a Test series in India for the first time, sealing victory in Bangalore by 16 runs. Sunil Gavaskar, in his final Test innings, made a brilliant 96, but India fell short, bowled out for 204 while chasing 221 on a turning pitch. It ended an 11-match streak of draws between the two nations.

1987 – Pakistan's Historic Test Win in India

1989 – A 16-Year-Old Sachin Tendulkar's ODI Debut

1989: A teenage Sachin Tendulkar made his ODI debut against Pakistan in Gujranwala. Facing a fierce bowling attack led by Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis, he scored a modest 0. Though his debut was forgettable, he soon became a cricketing legend, rewriting records over a 24-year career with 100 international centuries.

1992 – The Birth of Bangladesh's Test Cricket Journey

1992: Bangladesh played their first ICC Trophy final against Zimbabwe, marking a crucial step toward their eventual Test status. Though they lost, it was a sign of things to come. Bangladesh gained Test status in 2000, and in 2021, they secured their first-ever Test win in New Zealand, proving their growth in international cricket.

1993 – Shane Warne’s ‘Ball of the Century’ Announced His Arrival

1993: Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne bowled the ‘Ball of the Century’ to Mike Gatting at Old Trafford. The delivery pitched outside leg stump, turned sharply, and clipped the top of off-stump, leaving Gatting stunned. It was a defining moment that established Warne as one of the greatest spinners in cricket history.

1994 – Kapil Dev Breaks Hadlee’s Record

1994: Kapil Dev surpassed Richard Hadlee’s record to become the highest wicket-taker in Test cricket. He took his 432nd wicket against Sri Lanka in Ahmedabad, cementing his place as India’s greatest all-rounder. His record stood until Courtney Walsh overtook him in 2000, but Kapil’s legacy as a cricketing icon remains unmatched.

1995 – The Rise of Steve Waugh as a Test Great

1995: Steve Waugh scored twin centuries in the Frank Worrell Trophy against the West Indies, leading Australia to a historic series win in the Caribbean. His performances marked the transition of Australia into world dominators, ending the West Indies' 15-year reign as the best Test side. Waugh would later captain Australia to greatness.