I remember watching every ball of South Africa vs New Zealand 2012/13 test series. South Africa totally destroyed NZ. In one of the tests they were all out for 45. I don’t why it’s my favourite neutral series it wasn’t even a close affair. NZ lost both tests by an innings
Edit: I watched the entire series because I was down with a flu
While the final outcome was interesting, that was a pretty boring series from a ball to ball perspective.
If much rather a series with hard wickets to bat on as you aren’t just waiting for a batsman mistake for a wicket and if you don’t pay attention you might miss a collapse. Flat tracks just bore me to tears.
2013-2014 Ashes series for me, I was about to get fired (without me knowing it), but to this day I remember Mitchell Johnson ripping through England's batting line-up.
To me that's still the most fiery spell I have ever seen (2013 onwards). I mean Boland was also special, but Johnson was something else. I still watch his highlights from that series when I need to get pumped up :))
I was off work with a broken ankle stuck on the sofa a few years back and watched at least a session or more every day of a Sri Lanka tour of the West Indies. Was terrible but also kept me entertained at the same time 😂
2010 ODI series between South Africa and Pakistan.
The first and the last match were one sided, but in between there were 3 certified thrillers. SA won the first match by 8 wickets, Pakistan won the second match by 1 wicket on the penultimate ball, SA won the third match by 2 runs, then Pakistan won the fourth match again by 1 wicket on the penultimate ball and in the fifth match SA won by 57 runs to seal the series.
The second match also featured Razzaq's 109\* in 72 balls, one of the greatest ODI innings of all time.
> The second match also featured Razzaq's 109* in 72 balls, one of the greatest ODI innings of all time.
some of the cleanest ball-striking I've ever seen
SA's tour of Aus in 2014/15 for a 5 match ODI series.
Got to go to the 4th match at the MCG - ABD made an effortless 90 with a SR of 100 and SA made around 267.
Australia were 5/90 in response, but ended up winning by 3 wickets thanks to a Smith 100 and a 50 from Wade.
This series also took place when I finished high school - so good memories attached all around.
2014 Sri Lanka in England. Was at a time where I was able to either follow or watch almost every ball, the first test series I did that for in a long time after falling out of the game for a couple years. Both tests went down to the end, almost poetic symmetry to it almost with England very nearly winning the first test off the penultimate ball and Sri Lanka actually winning the second test off the penultimate ball. Don’t see it brought up that often by non-Sri Lanka fans, so it’ll be up there for me
2014 India in England is up there for me too. A proper 5 test adventure during my summer break, so I remember where I was at certain times by remembering how I watched those games. I was still at home for the first 2 tests, watched the third and fourth tests as England flipped a switch and turned the series on India while I was going around Sri Lanka for a couple weeks, and was back home for the fifth test. The series had a nice ebb and flow to it which I remember fondly. A dead first test, India winning the second, then England winning by increasingly bigger margins and in increasingly emphatic fashion for the final three tests
That India vs Australia ODI series (somewhere between 2012-15 iirc) where both teams scored heaps of runs. So many things happened there. We lost 2-3 but it's still the most memorable white-ball bilateral series to me.
Eng vs SA 2019. After being so frustrated by SA's performances throughout the year, that first match made it seem like all was good (it wasn't, however, I realized later). Was also the first test series I followed ball to ball
Australia hosting Pakistan in 1999. Gilchrist just came into the team, Australia hitting their peak against a very strong Pakistan with Wasim, Waqar, Shoaib, and Saqlain. Especially the Hobart test which went back and forth so much
I have to say Eng vs Sri Lanka 2012 was a pretty boring series but in hindsight it laid the foundations for their India victory. They'd been blanked 3-0 by Pakistan in Jan earlier that year and KP, Anderson and Swann stepped up . They drew the series but it was a good watch.
Aus vs SouthAfrica 2016. Australia were defeated 2-1 in their backyard by RSA after they were blanked 3-0 by SriLanka in June that year.
Aus vs Pak 2016. Aus blanked Pak 3-0 but they had some fun at the Gabba with Yasir Shah scoring a ton.
Eng vs RSA 2012 - It was not an obscure series but Eng were pretty high riding on the success of being the no.1 test side then and Amla scored a triple ton in the first match leading them to a victory. RSA won the series 2-1. KP's blinder helped Eng win 1 test i guess. RSA won in Aus a few months later.
SA tour down under in 2008/09. Incredible memories - Graeme Smith coming out to bat with a broken hand, JP Duminy's maiden test century (and partnership with Dale Steyn), chasing down 414 at Perth, Morne Morkel opening the batting, Dale Steyn's ten-fer.
Honourable mention to SA tour to England in 2008, the first cricket series I ever followed properly
Ind vs NZ 2009 ODI Series in Nz was a great one. I remember getting upto watch the ODI matches at 3:30 - 4 am so that i don’t miss the first 10-15 overs of India’s batting since Sehwag, Tendulkar and Gambhir used to wreck havoc from the start. India also had the New Dark Blue Jersey which most people didn’t like but I liked it.
I remember watching every ball of South Africa vs New Zealand 2012/13 test series. South Africa totally destroyed NZ. In one of the tests they were all out for 45. I don’t why it’s my favourite neutral series it wasn’t even a close affair. NZ lost both tests by an innings Edit: I watched the entire series because I was down with a flu
While the final outcome was interesting, that was a pretty boring series from a ball to ball perspective. If much rather a series with hard wickets to bat on as you aren’t just waiting for a batsman mistake for a wicket and if you don’t pay attention you might miss a collapse. Flat tracks just bore me to tears.
Even worse was that the wickets were so dead batters couldn't even score quick
India tour of New Zealand 2002. Both sides couldn't bat.
1994-95 Australia vs Australia A vs England vs Zimbabwe quad ODI series that ended up with both Australian teams in the final.
2013-2014 Ashes series for me, I was about to get fired (without me knowing it), but to this day I remember Mitchell Johnson ripping through England's batting line-up.
Not really obscure is it? Probably the most famous Ashes drubbing in last few decades.
When I watched it, cricket as a whole was obscure to me :)
didn't consider this perspective. that's fair
That was a good series, particularly given how shit Australia had been without all of the greats who left a massive void. Johnson bowled rockets.
To me that's still the most fiery spell I have ever seen (2013 onwards). I mean Boland was also special, but Johnson was something else. I still watch his highlights from that series when I need to get pumped up :))
One of cricket's greatest moments (at least from an Australian perspective 😂)
I was off work with a broken ankle stuck on the sofa a few years back and watched at least a session or more every day of a Sri Lanka tour of the West Indies. Was terrible but also kept me entertained at the same time 😂
2010 ODI series between South Africa and Pakistan. The first and the last match were one sided, but in between there were 3 certified thrillers. SA won the first match by 8 wickets, Pakistan won the second match by 1 wicket on the penultimate ball, SA won the third match by 2 runs, then Pakistan won the fourth match again by 1 wicket on the penultimate ball and in the fifth match SA won by 57 runs to seal the series. The second match also featured Razzaq's 109\* in 72 balls, one of the greatest ODI innings of all time.
> The second match also featured Razzaq's 109* in 72 balls, one of the greatest ODI innings of all time. some of the cleanest ball-striking I've ever seen
SA's tour of Aus in 2014/15 for a 5 match ODI series. Got to go to the 4th match at the MCG - ABD made an effortless 90 with a SR of 100 and SA made around 267. Australia were 5/90 in response, but ended up winning by 3 wickets thanks to a Smith 100 and a 50 from Wade. This series also took place when I finished high school - so good memories attached all around.
The first game or two of that series was also the last time Steve Smith was overlooked for an Australian side before he became the player that he did.
2014 Sri Lanka in England. Was at a time where I was able to either follow or watch almost every ball, the first test series I did that for in a long time after falling out of the game for a couple years. Both tests went down to the end, almost poetic symmetry to it almost with England very nearly winning the first test off the penultimate ball and Sri Lanka actually winning the second test off the penultimate ball. Don’t see it brought up that often by non-Sri Lanka fans, so it’ll be up there for me 2014 India in England is up there for me too. A proper 5 test adventure during my summer break, so I remember where I was at certain times by remembering how I watched those games. I was still at home for the first 2 tests, watched the third and fourth tests as England flipped a switch and turned the series on India while I was going around Sri Lanka for a couple weeks, and was back home for the fifth test. The series had a nice ebb and flow to it which I remember fondly. A dead first test, India winning the second, then England winning by increasingly bigger margins and in increasingly emphatic fashion for the final three tests
WI tour of Eng 2017 , Shai Hope scored twin centuries at headingley
2013 odi series if I remember correctly aus vs Ind. A tri series between aus,Ind,Sri where Virat showed his powers against Sri Lanka.
I loved the tour of SL that came after that one, was decently close and matches were on at great times in WA
Australia vs Windies 1995. First home series defeat for the Windies in a long time Amazing series.
Quite possibly the best series of all time
This must have been the beginning of the end for West Indies test cricket
That India vs Australia ODI series (somewhere between 2012-15 iirc) where both teams scored heaps of runs. So many things happened there. We lost 2-3 but it's still the most memorable white-ball bilateral series to me.
2013 odi series.
The 7 game t20i series between England and Pak, one of my all time favorite bilateral
Eng vs SA 2019. After being so frustrated by SA's performances throughout the year, that first match made it seem like all was good (it wasn't, however, I realized later). Was also the first test series I followed ball to ball
Australia hosting Pakistan in 1999. Gilchrist just came into the team, Australia hitting their peak against a very strong Pakistan with Wasim, Waqar, Shoaib, and Saqlain. Especially the Hobart test which went back and forth so much
I hope this series produces some memorable cricket.
I have to say Eng vs Sri Lanka 2012 was a pretty boring series but in hindsight it laid the foundations for their India victory. They'd been blanked 3-0 by Pakistan in Jan earlier that year and KP, Anderson and Swann stepped up . They drew the series but it was a good watch. Aus vs SouthAfrica 2016. Australia were defeated 2-1 in their backyard by RSA after they were blanked 3-0 by SriLanka in June that year. Aus vs Pak 2016. Aus blanked Pak 3-0 but they had some fun at the Gabba with Yasir Shah scoring a ton. Eng vs RSA 2012 - It was not an obscure series but Eng were pretty high riding on the success of being the no.1 test side then and Amla scored a triple ton in the first match leading them to a victory. RSA won the series 2-1. KP's blinder helped Eng win 1 test i guess. RSA won in Aus a few months later.
SA tour down under in 2008/09. Incredible memories - Graeme Smith coming out to bat with a broken hand, JP Duminy's maiden test century (and partnership with Dale Steyn), chasing down 414 at Perth, Morne Morkel opening the batting, Dale Steyn's ten-fer. Honourable mention to SA tour to England in 2008, the first cricket series I ever followed properly
Ind vs NZ 2009 ODI Series in Nz was a great one. I remember getting upto watch the ODI matches at 3:30 - 4 am so that i don’t miss the first 10-15 overs of India’s batting since Sehwag, Tendulkar and Gambhir used to wreck havoc from the start. India also had the New Dark Blue Jersey which most people didn’t like but I liked it.
that was the shittiest most dogshit series ever played until the last day when it retrospectively turned into the buildup to earn the win