LOOKING BACK AT 2016

Cricbuzz commentary: Unforgettables from 2016

by Cricbuzz Staff • Last updated on

"Jadeja bowling. Nightmarish if you earn your bread like yours truly on ball-by-ball comm" © Cricbuzz

Now that we are in 2017, all of us, even inhabitants of the Baker Island, it's time to look back at last year's commentary nuggets that got you talking. And laughing. And thinking, perhaps.

When AB de Villiers' reaction matched Stokes' heart-stopping catch to dismiss him

One could have taken his face off and used it as a prop to explain the word "startled" to kids

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When a dog at Vizag graduated into a Twitter celebrity

Loud cheers. Not for Kohli. Not for Pujara. But for a dog. What's going on? They're taking tea. This is nothing like I've ever seen before. A spirited dog forces early tea. Madness

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When a certain ground refused to dry up

Queen's Park Oval doesn't have an outfield; it instead has a bladder that's too stubborn to let go: it holds water, it broods over it and then lets it pass ever so slowly. Actually, you know what, that's exactly what a 70-year old me would wish for - an overachieving bladder - but this me, who's younger, would want some play today.

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When DRS had Dharmasena reversing his decision twice against Moeen Ali

Two wasted celebrations in the last over..

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When rains arrived soon after Australia were 85 all-out at Hobart

Steady rain in Hobart. Looks to have settled in for the long haul. At least someone in Australia has

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When England waited in Kolkata as Mumbai decided on the second WT20 finalist between India and West Indies

England watch this in anticipation. Much like singletons who're forced to go Tinder-less by their conventional families and high data charges, England don't have the liberty to pick a partner either. They have to wait, watch and gamble on what an arranged marriage dishes out

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When Chinnaswamy's crowd was more than loyal

I think they'll scream "Aaaar ceee beeee" even when The Rock is wrestling the Undertaker here

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When Callum Ferguson dramatically fended one to slip to have Australia on the brink of 0-2 against South Africa

Half-ducking, half-swaying while doing that, almost symbolizing Australia's plight at the moment - undecided and embarrassing

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When a hold up in play inspired commentary dementia

Cursor on the sightscreen. I hate that thing when it comes on the screen when I am glued to an interesting scene of a movie. But that's life

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When Alex Hales's 171 unleashed his fury against Pakistan at Trent Bridge

Words won't describe this. Nor will a video of Brock Lesnar hurling people around in the ring. Nothing will. Carnage of the level of Mortal Kombat. Absolutely crazy

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When the great Imran Khan showed up in our commentary box .. #not

Pakistani style of cricket in the UAE and public speeches have one thing in common - they are scripted and they hardly divert from that

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When rain updates are all you do, all day

Those worrying about wasting their lives away, scroll down this page till eternity and see what I've been doing. If it helps. You're welcome

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When Boult had Kohli caught behind, a la James Anderson

For the umpteenth time in his Test career, Kohli has chased a wide ball outside off and got out. They say you shouldn't be chasing some things in life

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When Sami Aslam kept dropping catches off Amir at first slip

When Amir is bowling, all you perhaps have to do is guide the ball to where Aslam is positioned

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When Dhoni had Marsh run-out pretending that the throw is not coming to his end

My word! Gee, this guy, MS Dhoni, can not only captain, keep wickets and bat, he can also act

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When Cricbuzz almost prophesied India's 1-run win over Bangladesh in the World T20

Who knows, in a T20I, even that last ball extra run could potentially win or lose you the game

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When entrepreneurial dreams spilled over to pitch reports

This pitch under lights is very responsive, like a start-up's customer service in its infancy

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When Dhoni's batting struggles were at its peak in Zimbabwe

Walked in Dhoni, the herbivorous caricature of the Dhoni of yesteryear, fought on form (and criticism), or tried to, but lost his stumps to one of his bottom-handed glory swipes to highlight the irony

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When you are addicted to Virat Kohli's emotions on the field

Virat Kohli is animated. If you collect a dime for every time he's not, you would remain poor

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When Aleem Dar saw through Aponso's caught appeal against Steven Smith

No bat there. A silicone appeal. Fake

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When Rahul batted for over six hours, facing 311 balls in total, but couldn't be the Rahul he wanted to be

He plays reverse sweeps at will and publicly idolizes Rahul Dravid. That's a self-embraced identity crisis, the one you perhaps need to multidimensionally flourish in contemporary cricketdom

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When a commentator realized Virat Kohli's batting prowess, finally!

Just yesterday, I went to a shrine wanting to purge my sinful psyche. The headman obliged, escorting me to the hall foyer and asking me to wait, when he himself vanished into a dark chamber to seemingly prepare for the ritual. The fact that Kohli's WT20 Mohali masterpiece replayed on a big 50" LED made my wait rather enjoyable. But after what only felt like half-a-minute, the headman returned to interrupt, "That's enough. You've been purged." And then proclaimed, "You've been Kohlified, son."

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When 'New England' were winning just about everything

ODI wins coming easier to England than gossip at a kitty party

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When Ish Sodhi's long-hops had Pujara feasting

Pick a GIF of a man ramming his head against the wall. That's Williamson right now

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When Pakistan were 83 all-out against India. (Asia Cup, 2016)

Folks, this is a mismatch. An absolute mismatch. It is like Barcelona playing against a fourth division side, running riot over them.

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When poets take over commentary keyboards and review IPL in Billy Joel's style

We didn't start the fire...

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Second and the last part of this series feature will follow soon..

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