ACS Overseas First-Class Annual 2018

Matches in 2018 This section includes matches that are designated as 2018, rather than 2017/18 or 2018/19, but were not played either in Ireland (which, as a Test nation, now receives a section to itself) or in England and Wales (for which, see the 2019 edition of Wisden ). There are a dozen matches in this category. Eight of them are Tests, including five in the West Indies. In May and June Sri Lanka undertook a tour of the Caribbean involving three Tests and one other first-class game. The rubber proved well contested as the home side secured a heavy win in the first Test, followed by a tense draw in the second (marred by a ball-tampering controversy). In the final Test West Indies fell for only 93 in the second innings, their lowest ever total against these opponents, and so the rubber ended at 1-1. The two-Test rubber against Bangladesh began with the visitors’ dismissal in only 112 deliveries for a paltry 43, their lowest in all Tests, and both matches ended in easy wins for the home team. The remaining Tests were India’s two-day demolition of new boys Afghanistan in a one-off match in June, and South Africa’s two-Test tour of Sri Lanka in July. In their four completed innings in these two games, the South Africans managed to record their three lowest Test totals against Sri Lanka, and unsurprisingly the home side recorded two handsome victories. Sri Lanka A toured Bangladesh in June and July for three games against Bangladesh A, resulting in two draws followed by an innings win for the visitors in the final game. Note that the tours of India by South Africa A and Australia A in August and September 2018, together with the Duleep Trophy in the same months, are classified as belonging to the 2018/19 season and will appear in next year’s Annual . (JCB) 663