da imperador bet： ESPNcricinfo writers look back at their favourite moments in English cricket in 2014
da leao： ESPNcricinfo staff28-Dec-20141. Jos Buttler’s whirlwind hundred
As the Kevin Pietersen dispute hung over an English Spring, the Lord’s crowd watching an ODI against Sri Lanka needed something to lift their spirits – especially after Sri Lanka posted 300+. Jos Buttler responded to a near-impossible task with England’s fastest ODI hundred and victory was still possible when he was run out in the final over. Truly, a glorious failure – David Hopps.Jos Buttler’s ODI century at Lord’s was not enough to win the game,but it was more than enough to offer hope of a new, exciting futurefor England – George Dobell.
2. Back from the AshesThe restatement that Joe Root had the attributes of a top-quality international batsman, comfortable across all formats. The odds were always in his favour, but he showed you don’t have to be broken by an Ashes whitewash – Andrew McGlashan.
3. Destruction of IndiaDay One of the Oval Test against India – after a summer of troubles, England were back to their dominating best in home conditions, rifling out the hapless tourists and building a strong reply by the close – Alex Winter.
4. Anderson’s tearful last standJames Anderson’s tears after losing the Headingley Test. His dismissal from the penultimate ball gave Sri Lanka their first series win in England – and followed another final-over finish at Lord’s. Anderson summed up the emotions only Test cricket can evoke – Alan Gardner.
5. Lord’s farewell is a BreeseGareth Breese, in his farewell match for Durham, at the Royal London Cup Final: taking a few wickets, scoring the winning runs and then Marco Tardelli-ing it around the Lord’s outfield before embracing his kids. A touching moment that showed this game is not all about brash politicking – Vithushan Ehantharajah.
6. Tartan resurgenceScotland have been overtaken by Ireland on and off the pitch in the last decade but 2014 hinted at a Tartan resurgence. Scotland exhibited a new-found self-belief to reach the World Cup with seven straight wins. They will soon have a new home ground, too, with plans afoot to make Stirling the country’s cricketing base – Tim Wigmore.