ACS Overseas First-Class Annual 2010

Matches in 2009 Of the 192 first-class matches designated as belonging to the 2009 cricket season, 171 were played in England and Wales and full scores will be found in the 2010 edition of Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack . The remaining 21 matches are reproduced in this section. The games were played in many different parts of the world and are given in alphabetical order of the host country. Of the three Test rubbers included in this section, the most sensational, at least on paper, took place in the Caribbean, where West Indies hosted Bangladesh. The two Tests resulted in the visitors’ second and third wins in 61 attempts since 2000/01 and allowed them to record their first series victory overseas (having beaten Zimbabwe 1-0 at home in 2004/05). This success was achieved against what was little better than a scratch side, following the late withdrawal of the leading West Indian players owing to continuing disputes with the Board. Despite these unpropitious circumstances, however, both Tests were hard-fought contests. Elsewhere, Sri Lanka played home series of three and two Tests respectively against Pakistan and New Zealand, winning both rubbers by very convincing 2-0 margins and seldom looking troubled. There were six matches in the ICC Inter-Continental Cup 2009-2010, plus the inaugural game in the new ICC Inter-Continental Shield competition. Further details of these competitions, with league tables as at the end of the 2009/10 season, will be found on page 661 in the ‘Rest of the World in 2009/10’ section. Pakistan A toured Australia and Sri Lanka in 2009, playing two first-class matches in each country. The Bangladeshis in West Indies played a single first-class match in addition to the Tests, and the New Zealanders in Sri Lanka played two additional first-class matches. 11