Roy Gilchrist

Umesh Kulkarni never dreamt of anything; perhaps he didn't know what dreaming meant. Eventually exasperated, his mother pleaded with her brother Manohar Rege to take the son to Bombay so that he could earn some money.

Those that played alongside or saw him wield the willow feel Kalyan Mitter could have gone far further than he did if only he had the desire and discipline.

Over the years, some of cricket’s biggest names have landed in minor as well as major troubles, for violating laws of the game or for their conduct outside the cricket field.

Legendary pacer Wes Hall reminisces about his cricket career, including a memorable Test match at Eden Gardens in 1958-59 where Rohan Kanhai scored a double hundred against West Indies.

Sachin Tendulkar and former India captain Sourav Ganguly released a book on former India opener Late Pankaj Roy in the presence of the entire Indian squad.

Daniel Noboa, the scion of a business family, has been elected as the president of Ecuador, fulfilling a long-held family aspiration. He won the election by pledging to create jobs and tackle criminal gangs. Noboa, who comes from Ecuador's elite class and has a background in business and politics, is the youngest president-elect in the country's history at 35 years old. He campaigned on a platform of economic development, fighting crime and corruption, and strengthening democracy.

Andrew Symonds' sudden death triggered an outpouring of emotional tributes in the cricketing world with a host of past and present players, including his Australian teammates and international stars, expressing shock and disbelief at the tragic news.

Hanif Mohammad's monumental 337 against the West Indies in 1958 secured Pakistan's first Test draw. He batted for 970 minutes, showcasing incredible patience and resilience to save his team from defeat after following on. This innings remains the longest in Test cricket history by time.

Former Bengal all-rounder Kalyan Mitter, who will be conferred the Cricket Association of Bengal's Kartick Bose Lifetime Award, gave Sourav Ganguly the credit for Team India's success under MS Dhoni.

The Antigua Test, which concluded on Sunday, thus presented an unprecedented scenario - it was the Indian pace attack which had the batsmen on the hop while home fast bowlers struggled against even tailenders.

It was West Indies multi-pronged pace arsenal which, more than anything else, used to symbolize the historic supremacy of West Indies during the golden era of 1970s and 80s. Now, all that it epitomizes is decline and rust.

The trio of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Pat Cummins has been instrumental in Australia's success in world tournaments across formats. While they may not be as revered as the previous Australian fast bowling groups, their efficacy, longevity, and performance are undeniable. They have helped Australia win multiple World Cups and the World Test Championship. Their ability to perform in various conditions and formats is commendable.

Pune and Maharashtra stalwart, the late Kamal Bhandarkar, was widely regarded as the best coach in India from 1950 until his death in 1986. Chandu Borde, Sunil Gavaskar, Chetan Chauhan, Yajurvindra Singh, Hemant Kanitkar, Milind Gunjal, Shrikant Kalyani, Shubhangi Kulkarni are just some of the names that benefited from his tutelage.

An accidental Indian captain who matched the peerless Vijay Hazare stroke for stroke with a cover drive to die for, Dattajirao Gaekwad should have played more than 11 Tests, given the talent this remarkable player from Baroda possessed.

Pakistan's first cricketing icon, Hanif Mohammad, instilled a culture of resilience, teaching the nation how not to lose. His extraordinary 970-minute innings against the West Indies in 1958, a testament to his defensive prowess and unwavering spirit, remains legendary. This 'Little Master' transformed cricket into a sport for all, leaving an indelible mark on Pakistan's sporting identity.