On November 1, 1998 in Dhaka, South Africa beat West Indies by four wickets in the inaugural ICC KnockOut Trophy final — the tournament that would become the Champions Trophy. It was also the first ICC senior tournament hosted by Bangladesh, a strategic gift to the Test-aspirant nation.
ICC chief executive David Richards conceived the KnockOut Trophy in 1997 as a revenue-raiser to fund associate-nation development. The format — straight knockout, Test-playing countries only, neutral venue — was deliberately compact to fit a fortnight's window.
Bangladesh was selected as host both for symbolic reasons (helping their Test bid) and practical ones (Bangabandhu had recent international experience and dependable infrastructure). The tournament ran October 24-November 1, 1998.
The 1998 Wills International Cup — also called the ICC KnockOut Trophy — was a knockout tournament featuring all nine Test-playing countries plus a qualifier (New Zealand beat Zimbabwe in the pre-quarter-final play-in). Held entirely at Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka, it was effectively a 'mini World Cup' designed to raise revenue for the ICC's developmental programmes. Bangladesh, then a non-Test nation, was deliberately chosen to host as a goodwill gesture. South Africa, captained by Hansie Cronje, beat Sri Lanka and New Zealand in the knockouts; West Indies beat England and India. In the final, Brian Lara captained the West Indies to 245 batting first; South Africa chased it down with 47 overs and four wickets to spare. Jacques Kallis was Player of the Match (37 runs, 5/30 with the ball) and Player of the Tournament. The trophy was renamed the ICC Champions Trophy from the 2000 edition onwards.
Pre-quarter-final play-in: New Zealand beat Zimbabwe
Quarter-finals: SA, WI, SL, IND, NZ, ENG, AUS, PAK contest
Semi-finals: SA beat NZ, WI beat IND
Final: WI 245 (Lara captain); SA 248/6 in 47 overs
Jacques Kallis Player of the Match and Tournament
October 24, 1998
Tournament opens at Bangabandhu National Stadium.
October 28-30
Quarter-finals and semi-finals.
November 1, 1998
Final: South Africa beat West Indies by 4 wickets.
2000
Tournament renamed the ICC Champions Trophy.
“We needed a major ICC tournament. Bangladesh delivered the perfect inaugural setting.”
“It was great to win an ICC trophy. We had been waiting a long time.”
South Africa's first major ICC trophy. The tournament was deemed a success by the ICC and was repeated in 2000 (Kenya), 2002 (Sri Lanka), 2004 (England), 2006 (India), 2009 (South Africa) and beyond — by then renamed the Champions Trophy. Bangladesh secured Test status in 2000.
An ICC innovation that worked — a quick, intense knockout that gave the world cricket calendar a second showcase tournament between World Cups, and gave Bangladesh international visibility on the road to Test status.
The Champions Trophy became one of cricket's signature tournaments through the 2000s. The 1998 inaugural tournament's revenue is credited with funding ICC associate development for half a decade. South Africa's win remains, at the time of writing, their only senior ICC men's title.
Yorkshire v Essex
1932-06-16
On 15-16 June 1932 Herbert Sutcliffe (313) and Percy Holmes (224*) put on 555 for the first wicket against Essex at Leyton, breaking the world first-class record for any wicket and adding a layer of folklore — including a scoreboard that read 554 for several minutes and a hastily reversed declaration — that has clung to the partnership ever since.
Australia v England
1933-02-14
With the fate of the Bodyline series in the balance and England 216 for 6 chasing 340, Eddie Paynter checked himself out of a Brisbane hospital where he was being treated for acute tonsillitis, taxied to the Gabba in pyjamas and a dressing gown, and batted for nearly four hours to score 83. England drew level on first innings, won the Test by six wickets and the series 4-1.
Australia
1934-09-25
Days after the 1934 Oval Test, Bradman fell seriously ill with appendicitis that progressed to peritonitis. With antibiotics not yet available, he was given little chance of survival; his wife Jessie left Adelaide on a sea voyage to England prepared for the worst. He recovered after weeks of intensive nursing in a London nursing home and returned to first-class cricket the following Australian summer.