If change is the only constant, cricket embodied that truth in 2022.
There was a palpable shift in the way the game is played, established practices making way for a promising new era.
The change was brought forth by England. Many talk about being aggressive but quickly go back into their shell at the first sign of danger. Not only did England embrace 'all out' cricket, they made a point to pursue it even at the cost of defeat. And they did it in the Test format, after losing 11 out of 17 Tests and winning just once.
The architects behind the new philosophy were new red-ball captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum. Just like Eoin Morgan laid out a clear template for playing ODI cricket after their embarrassing exit from the 2015 World Cup, England decided to go for the same fearless approach in Tests. And it worked magnificently.
Under Stokes, England have recorded nine wins from their last 10 Tests, including a historic 3-0 series whitewash in Pakistan that included a record 506-4 in 75 overs on the opening day of the Rawalpindi Test.
Their bravado was not limited to Tests. The champion white-ball team also recorded a T20 series win in Pakistan, before the main event of the year - T20 World Cup in Australia.
In unusually difficult conditions during Australia's rainy season, England survived a tricky group phase - where they lost to Ireland - before qualifying to the knockouts.
There, Jos Buttler and Alex Hales smashed India to pieces in the semi-final in a 10-wicket win while chasing 169 before it was the turn of Stokes, once again, to hold the team together during a difficult chase in the final against a superb Pakistan pace attack in Melbourne. Stokes hit a fifty to hand England both the 50-over and 20-over world titles at the same time.
England had by now mastered cricket in all it forms and their players had become trend setters. Their history making continued in franchise cricket, as all-rounder Sam Curran - player of the tournament at the T20 World Cup - became the most expensive player in IPL history when he was snapped up fore $2.23 million during the auction. Stokes and new batting star Harry Brook also landed million-dollar contracts, which was the icing on the cake.
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The England squad after winning the third Test to complete a series clean-sweep against Pakistan in Karachi, on Tuesday, December 20, 2022. AP -
England's Ben Duckett plays a shot on his way to an unbeaten 82 in the second innings. Reuters -
England's Ben Duckett and Ben Stokes celebrate the eight-wicket victory on Day 4 at the National Stadium in Karachi. AFP -
England captain Ben Stokes with head coach Brendon McCullumafter sealing victory. Getty -
England batter Harry Brook with the player of the series and player of the match awards. Getty -
England captain Ben Stokes celebrates victory. Getty -
Ben Duckett of England scored 82 off 78 balls, including 12 fours. Getty -
England captain Ben Stokes after winning the match. Reuters -
England's Ben Stokes plays a shot on his way to an unbeaten 35 off 43 balls. AP -
Pakistan's Azhar Ali of Pakistan waves to supporters after playing his last Test match for Pakistan. Getty
UAE make history ... and progress
The UAE team will also look back at the year with satisfaction. Not only did they make it to the opening stage of the T20 World Cup, they also became a part of history. Young leg-spinner Karthik Meiyappan took the fifth hat-trick in T20 World Cup history, against Sri Lanka.
While it was not enough for victory and even though the national team failed to progress to the Super 12 stage, there was belief that the team was moving in the right direction as they ended their campaign with a win over Namibia.
Pakistan came close to achieving glory themselves. After starting the T20 World Cup with a heartbreaking loss to India and then Zimbabwe, it seemed their campaign in Australia was over before it started.
But in the face of adversity, Pakistan chose to fight and went all the way to the final. Had it not been for the aggravation of a knee injury to pace ace Shaheen Afridi in the final, maybe Pakistan would have defended 138 and scripted one of the greatest World Cup comebacks.
Still there was the consolation of a full tour by Australia and England of their country for Pakistan to look back on the year a bit more fondly and with the belief that international cricket had truly returned after years of uncertainty.
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UAE's Karthik Meiyappan celebrates his hat-trick during the T20 World Cup match against Sri Lanka at the Kardinia Park in Geelong on Tuesday, October 18, 2022. AFP -
UAE's Karthik Meiyappan celebrates his hat-trick with teammate Junaid Siddique on Tuesday. AFP -
Karthik Meiyappan celebrates his hat-trick with teammates Junaid Siddique and Aryan Lakra in Geelong. AFP -
UAE's Karthik Meiyappan, centre, after his hat-trick against Sri Lanka. AFP -
UAE's Kashif Daud takes a catch to dismiss Sri Lanka's Bhanuka Rajapaksa in Geelong. AFP -
UAE's Aryan Lakra after taking the wicket of Sri Lanka's Kusal Mendis. AFP -
Sri Lanka's Pathum Nissanka scored a fifty on Tuesday. AFP
India endure inconsistent year
However, things did not pan out as smoothly for India. Even though Rohit Sharma had taken over as captain from Virat Kohli, the Indian team never settled down in any format, changing squads and captains almost every other series due to injuries or rotation policy, losing their grip in all three formats; they won four and lost three Tests, won 14 and lost eight ODIs, and prevailed in 28 T20s while suffering defeat in 10.
They saw England chase down 378 in the fourth innings of the Birmingham Test with ease, lost the ODI series in Bangladesh and were out-muscled in the T20 World Cup semi-final against Buttler's boys - all crushing defeats that have set the team back.
Kohli's otherworldly knock against Pakistan in the T20 World Cup, Suryakumar Yadav's blazing form in T20s and the rise of fast bowler Umran Malik were few of the positives for India which they can take into the new year.
Also, they are in with a good chance of making it to the World Test Championship final again in June, which could give them a chance to win their fist world title in a decade.
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India's Ishan Kishan celebrates after scoring a double-century during the third ODI against Bangladesh in Chittagong on Saturday, December 10, 2022. AP -
India's Ishan Kishan scored the fastest double ton in ODIs on Saturday. AOP -
Ishan Kishan scored 210 from 131 balls. AFP -
India's Ishan Kishan smashed 24 fours and 10 sixes during his double ton. AFP -
Ishan Kishan plays a pull shot. AFP -
India's Virat Kohli, right, also scored a century on Saturday. AP -
India's Virat Kohli scored a ton against Bangladesh during the third ODI. AP -
India's Virat Kohli bats in Chittagong on Saturday. AP -
India's Virat Kohli raises his bat to celebrate his century. AP
Australia dominate women's game
While England dominated the men's scene, Australia were unstoppable in the women's game. Alyssa Healy played the greatest innings in any World Cup final when she cracked 170 from 138 balls in the 50-over final against England to secure the title.
But one incident overshadowed everything that happened this year. Cricket lost one of its greatest exponents when Australian spin legend Shane Warne passed away. In a world that has grown a bit too accustomed to death during the pandemic, Warne's demise still shook it to its core.
The year had more than its fair share of heroics and tragedies. The journey now moves on to 2023, where another World Cup - the 50-over one in India - and many interesting battles await.
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Australian celebrate with the trophy after the 2022 Women's Cricket World Cup final match against England at the Hagley Park Oval in Christchurch on April 3, 2022. AFP -
Alyssa Healy poses with the trophy after Australia win the 2022 Women's Cricket World Cup. AP -
Australia captain Meg Lanning celebrates with coaching staff after their victory over England in the 2022 Women's Cricket World Cup final. Getty -
England players console each other after defeat in the 2022 Cricket World Cup final to Australia. Getty -
Ellyse Perry celebrates with teammates after Australia win the 2022 Women's Cricket World Cup. Getty -
Australia players Beth Mooney, Jess Jonassen and Meg Lanning celebrate winning the 2022 Women's Cricket World Cup. Getty -
England batter Natalie Sciver bats during the 2022 Women's Cricket World Cup final. Getty -
England's Natalie Sciver celebrates her century during the Women's Cricket World Cup final. AP -
Tahlia McGrath celebrates with Australia teammates after dismissing Sophie Ecclestone of England. Getty -
Sunset descends on the Hagley Oval during the 2022 Women's Cricket World Cup final. Getty -
An Australia fan shows his support during the 2022 Women's Cricket World Cup final. Getty -
Alyssa Healy plays a shot watched by the England wicketkeeper Amy Jones. AFP -
Alyssa Healy raises her bat in celebration after reaching 150 runs during the 2022 Women's Cricket World Cup final. Getty -
Alyssa Healy celebrates making her century against England during the final of the Women's Cricket World Cup. AP -
Alyssa Healy bats during the 2022 Women's Cricket World Cup final between Australia and England. Getty
