The year in cricket might have had some sizeable holes in it, for obvious reasons. But the pandemic did not deprive cricket fans of their fix entirely.
There was more than enough time for players to create lasting memories, whether it be in a bio-secure bubble in the UK, at an IPL exiled to the Emirates, or in front of frenzied support in Kathmandu.
Here are 20 of the best moments cricket created either side of lockdown.
1. Rahul Tewatia in Sharjah
For all the luminosity of the IPL 2020 season in exile in the UAE, much of the cricket has probably already been forgotten. Tewatia's logic-defying innings to win the game for Rajasthan Royals against Kings XI Punjab in Sharjah should live long in the memory, though. It made a journeyman cricketer a star.
2. Naseem Shah’s hat-trick
Naseem Shah was already widely known about as a teen prodigy, when touring Australia with Pakistan last year. His effort in becoming the youngest player to take a Test hat-trick, aged just 16, against Bangladesh in February, suggested there is substance to go with the hype.
3. Ben Stokes still Mr Incredible
It needed a lot for Stokes to match his 2019 heroism, what with the World Cup final, Headingley, and all that. But he was still remarkable, in between lockdowns and compassionate leave. His high water mark was the Cape Town Test in January, when he broke catching records, score vitals runs, and forced the win with the ball.
4. West Indies restarting cricket
West Indies did the world of sport a favour by agreeing to leave the Caribbean – where few cases of Covid had been reported – to travel to play cricket in the hot-spot that was the UK in July. They gave the summer some indelible images, too, like when captain Jason Holder led his players' support of the Black Lives Matter cause.
5. Double Super Over
During the first Super Over of IPL 2020, Jofra Archer tweeted: "How could you not like cricket?" It captured the mood perfectly. Sundays became the most thrilling days. On October 18, both matches were tied, and the second – between Kings XI and Mumbai Indians – needed two Super Over deciders.
6. Shan Masood v James Anderson
The last time he toured England, Shan Masood might have feared that was him done with international cricket, such was the hold James Anderson had over him. He returned in 2020 as a player revived, though. His ton – which included navigating Anderson – at Old Trafford in August was his third in a row in Tests.
7. James Anderson’s 600
Anderson might have been briefly blunted by Masood, and generally struggled on his return to cricket following lockdown. But he found his stride by the end of the UK summer, and in August became the first seam bowler to reach 600 Test wickets
8. Stirling performance
Chasing 328 to avoid a clean-sweep against the world champions England, Ireland were written off in their ODI in Southampton. Not for the first time, they found a hero. For Kevin O’Brien at Bangalore in the 2011 World Cup, this time read Paul Stirling, who blazed 142 to bring about a remarkable win.
9. Nicolas Pooran’s gymnastics
Two of the 2020 IPL’s salient images came in the same match. Before Tewatia finished the game by launching a tirade of sixes into the road in Sharjah, Pooran had pulled off one of the most sensational pieces of fielding in the history of the sport. All to stop a six.
10. Zak Crawley betters Tendulkar
By the age of 22, and in his eighth Test, Crawley might have felt like he had completed cricket. His 267 in a drawn Test against Pakistan in August is higher than Sachin Tendulkar’s Test best of 248 not out.
11. Natthakan Chantam’s stop
Thailand’s leading batter was scarcely afforded a chance to show her worth after being recruited to play for Trailblazers in the Women’s T20 Challenge in Sharjah. She still caught the eye, though, via an extraordinary boundary stop in the final win against Supernovas.
12. Sandeep Lamichhane’s six-for
Nepal's first one-day international series on home soil finished in spectacular fashion in February, as they thrashed United States in record-breaking fashion in Kathmandu. Sandeep Lamichhane took 6-16 as USA were bowled out for just 35 – the joint lowest ODI score in history
13. Shaheen Afridi’s four in four
Shaheen Afridi made the most of the sparing opportunities 2020 afforded by establishing himself as Pakistan’s leading all-formats bowler. But his most stunning return came in an English county T20 match in September when he took four wickets in four balls to win a game for Hampshire against Middlesex.
14. Hardik Pandya’s belligerence
Some pundits had India down for beatings in all three series on tour in Australia. They failed to factor in the match-winning capabilities of Hardik Pandya, who was named player of the series for his excellence in the T20s in December.
15. Stuart Broad reaches 500
Bizarre to think, now, that Stuart Broad was out of the England side when cricket restarted after lockdown, and venting his frustrating with a TV interview during a match he was not playing in. After that, he dominated the summer, and took his 500th Test wicket in the process, against West Indies in July.
16. Alishan Sharafu’s rapid 100
Players in the Abu Dhabi T10 have spent four years trying to make a 10-over hundred. Chris Lynn, Jonny Bairstow, Alex Hales … all have got close, but fallen short. A 17-year-old schoolboy managed the feat in a T10 tournament in Ajman in December. Alishan Sharafu is one to watch in UAE cricket.
17. Babar Azam’s champion quality
Multan Sultans dominated the Pakistan Super League. Then it shutdown because of the onset of coronavirus just as it was reaching its business stage. When it was eventually restarted, nine months later, Babar Azam owned it instead, as he took charge of both the semi-final and final to take Karachi Kings to their first title.
18. Jos Buttler delivers
Only Jofra Archer has spent more time in quarantine than Jos Buttler this year. The time spent away from family might have been weighing on him during his Test struggles in the UK summer. Then he scored 75 and 113 in a comeback win over Pakistan, and all was right with the world again
19. Smriti Mandhana’s magic
Scoring on the slow Sharjah Stadium track proved tricky during the Women’s T20 Challenge in November. For all except Mandhana, it seemed. The opener smoked 68, the top score of the tournament, to set up the final win for Trailblazers.
20. Dawid Malan’s record
It was always going to take something special to dislodge Babar Azam from the top of the T20I ratings for batsmen. In the end, it took something record-breaking. Dawid Malan's 99 not out as part of England's 3-0 clean sweep of South Africa in November brought him a rating of 915 – the highest ever recorded in T20s.
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SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20NOTHING%20PHONE%20(2A)
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ENGLAND TEAM
England (15-1)
George Furbank; Jonny May, Manu Tuilagi, Owen Farrell (capt), Elliot Daly; George Ford, Ben Youngs; Tom Curry, Sam Underhill, Courtney Lawes; Charlie Ewels, Maro Itoje; Kyle Sinckler, Jamie George, Joe Marler
Replacements: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ellis Genge, Will Stuart, George Kruis, Lewis Ludlam, Willi Heinz, Ollie Devoto, Jonathan Joseph
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
RESULT
Manchester City 1 Sheffield United 0
Man City: Jesus (9')
The Settlers
Director: Louis Theroux
Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz
Rating: 5/5
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
SERIE A FIXTURES
Saturday Spezia v Lazio (6pm), Juventus v Torino (9pm), Inter Milan v Bologna (7.45pm)
Sunday Verona v Cagliari (3.30pm), Parma v Benevento, AS Roma v Sassuolo, Udinese v Atalanta (all 6pm), Crotone v Napoli (9pm), Sampdoria v AC Milan (11.45pm)
Monday Fiorentina v Genoa (11.45pm)
Scores
Scotland 54-17 Fiji
England 15-16 New Zealand
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
What is dialysis?
Dialysis is a way of cleaning your blood when your kidneys fail and can no longer do the job.
It gets rid of your body's wastes, extra salt and water, and helps to control your blood pressure. The main cause of kidney failure is diabetes and hypertension.
There are two kinds of dialysis — haemodialysis and peritoneal.
In haemodialysis, blood is pumped out of your body to an artificial kidney machine that filter your blood and returns it to your body by tubes.
In peritoneal dialysis, the inside lining of your own belly acts as a natural filter. Wastes are taken out by means of a cleansing fluid which is washed in and out of your belly in cycles.
It isn’t an option for everyone but if eligible, can be done at home by the patient or caregiver. This, as opposed to home haemodialysis, is covered by insurance in the UAE.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
How to come clean about financial infidelity
- Be honest and transparent: It is always better to own up than be found out. Tell your partner everything they want to know. Show remorse. Inform them of the extent of the situation so they know what they are dealing with.
- Work on yourself: Be honest with yourself and your partner and figure out why you did it. Don’t be ashamed to ask for professional help.
- Give it time: Like any breach of trust, it requires time to rebuild. So be consistent, communicate often and be patient with your partner and yourself.
- Discuss your financial situation regularly: Ensure your spouse is involved in financial matters and decisions. Your ability to consistently follow through with what you say you are going to do when it comes to money can make all the difference in your partner’s willingness to trust you again.
- Work on a plan to resolve the problem together: If there is a lot of debt, for example, create a budget and financial plan together and ensure your partner is fully informed, involved and supported.
Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
match info
Southampton 0
Arsenal 2 (Nketiah 20', Willock 87')
Red card: Jack Stephens (Southampton)
Man of the match: Rob Holding (Arsenal)
SCHEDULE
Thursday, December 6
08.00-15.00 Technical scrutineering
15.00-17.00 Extra free practice
Friday, December 7
09.10-09.30 F4 free practice
09.40-10.00 F4 time trials
10.15-11.15 F1 free practice
14.00 F4 race 1
15.30 BRM F1 qualifying
Saturday, December 8
09.10-09.30 F4 free practice
09.40-10.00 F4 time trials
10.15-11.15 F1 free practice
14.00 F4 race 2
15.30 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi
Washmen Profile
Date Started: May 2015
Founders: Rami Shaar and Jad Halaoui
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Laundry
Employees: 170
Funding: about $8m
Funders: Addventure, B&Y Partners, Clara Ventures, Cedar Mundi Partners, Henkel Ventures
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Business Insights
- Canada and Mexico are significant energy suppliers to the US, providing the majority of oil and natural gas imports
- The introduction of tariffs could hinder the US's clean energy initiatives by raising input costs for materials like nickel
- US domestic suppliers might benefit from higher prices, but overall oil consumption is expected to decrease due to elevated costs
End of free parking
- paid-for parking will be rolled across Abu Dhabi island on August 18
- drivers will have three working weeks leeway before fines are issued
- areas that are currently free to park - around Sheikh Zayed Bridge, Maqta Bridge, Mussaffah Bridge and the Corniche - will now require a ticket
- villa residents will need a permit to park outside their home. One vehicle is Dh800 and a second is Dh1,200.
- The penalty for failing to pay for a ticket after 10 minutes will be Dh200
- Parking on a patch of sand will incur a fine of Dh300
Padmaavat
Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Starring: Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor, Jim Sarbh
3.5/5
The biog
Name: Samar Frost
Born: Abu Dhabi
Hobbies: Singing, music and socialising with friends
Favourite singer: Adele
The Pope's itinerary
Sunday, February 3, 2019 - Rome to Abu Dhabi
1pm: departure by plane from Rome / Fiumicino to Abu Dhabi
10pm: arrival at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
Monday, February 4
12pm: welcome ceremony at the main entrance of the Presidential Palace
12.20pm: visit Abu Dhabi Crown Prince at Presidential Palace
5pm: private meeting with Muslim Council of Elders at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
6.10pm: Inter-religious in the Founder's Memorial
Tuesday, February 5 - Abu Dhabi to Rome
9.15am: private visit to undisclosed cathedral
10.30am: public mass at Zayed Sports City – with a homily by Pope Francis
12.40pm: farewell at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
1pm: departure by plane to Rome
5pm: arrival at the Rome / Ciampino International Airport