Cricket History and Facts

BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) is widely recognized as the richest cricket board globally, with significant revenue from IPL and media rights. ICC is the international governing body but not as wealthy. CA (Cricket Australia) and RC are not the richest.

India has won the Miss Asia Pacific title three times - Zeenat Aman (1970), Diya Mirza (2000), and later another winner. This makes India one of the most successful countries in this pageant.

Sunil Gavaskar was known for his ability to bat for very long durations, playing many long innings. Rahul Dravid, while also a capable batsman, was not particularly renowned for batting longer than Sunil in terms of sheer endurance at the crease.

Sachin Tendulkar's highest ODI score was 186*, achieved against New Zealand in 1999 at Hyderabad. This was a world record at the time and remained one of the highest individual scores in ODI cricket history. The asterisk indicates he remained not out.

Len Hutton was indeed given out 'obstructing the field' in a Test match against South Africa at The Oval in 1951. The ball hit his bat and rebounded onto the stumps while he was playing at it. This remains the only instance of 'obstructing the field' dismissal in Test cricket history. Inzamam-ul-Haq was given out obstructing the field in an ODI, not a Test match.

Len Hutton (England) was given out 'obstructing the field' in Test cricket against South Africa in 1951. While Inzamam-ul-Haq was also out obstructing the field, his dismissal was in an ODI, not Test cricket. This remains the only such dismissal in Test history.

Jason Gillespie scored 201* (not out) batting as a night watchman against Bangladesh in Chittagong in 2006, the highest individual score by any night watchman in Test cricket history. A night watchman is a lower-order batsman sent in to protect specialist batsmen when a wicket falls near the end of a day's play.

Jim Laker (England) took 10 wickets for 53 runs against Australia at Old Trafford, Manchester in 1956 - the first instance of 10 wickets in an innings in Test cricket. Anil Kumble later became the second bowler to achieve this feat (10/74 vs Pakistan, 1999). Courtney Walsh and Walter Robins never took 10 wickets in an innings.

Don Bradman needed just 4 runs for a career batting average of 100 but got out for 0 (a duck) in his final Test innings at The Oval in 1948, ending his average at 99.94. This was his last Test match innings before retirement, making it one of cricket's most famous statistical near-misses.

Woodfull's statement referred to Bodyline bowling tactics used by England's fast bowlers (specifically Harold Larwood and Bill Voce) in the 1932-33 Ashes series. Bodyline involved bowling directly at the batsman's body with a packed leg-side field, which many considered intimidatory and unsportsmanlike.

Sir Viv Richards is widely regarded as the most devastating batsman in cricket history, known for his aggressive style and dominance of fast bowling without wearing a helmet throughout his entire career. Kris Srikanth, Kapil Dev, and Martin Crowe were notable players but none are regarded in the same category of devastating batting.

Ricky Ponting was the captain of the Australian cricket team in 2010, having led the team since 2002. Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden were senior players but not captains. Michael Clarke became captain later in 2011.

Shakib Al Hasan was the captain of the Bangladesh cricket team in 2010. He took over the captaincy in 2009 and led the team during that period. Mashrafe Mortaza was captain earlier, and Mushfiqur Rahim became captain later.