Cricket in 2018: Virat Kohli shines in dark year of 'ball-tampering'- 2018's biggest stories in international cricket

Cameron Bancroft became the face of the worst scandal in Australian cricket since Trevor Chappell bowled an under-arm delivery against New Zealand in 1981. 

In an era when a cricketer's every move comes under the televised microscope, Bancroft did the unthinkable - and unthinkably foolish - in Cape Town, even if he was merely following instructions from senior team mate David Warner. Bancroft scuffed up the ball with a yellow tape and later, when alerted, sheepishly shoved it down the front of his trousers as the Australians' already ill-tempered series with South Africa simply exploded.

The mayhem that ensued first led to captain Steve Smith, deputy Warner and Bancroft being sent home in disgrace and slapped with lengthy bans. Darren Lehmann stepped down as head coach, to be replaced by Justin Langer in May, while long-serving CEO James Sutherland also vacated his post. 

Australia's Ashes rivals England rose to the top of one-day rankings a year before hosting the World Cup on home soil. Eoin Morgan's team registered impressive away series victories in Australia, New Zealand and Sri Lanka, offering signs that they could break England's World Cup duck.

The test team under Joe Root also impressed with a 3-0 whitewash in Sri Lanka, ending England's 17-year wait for a series victory there, which followed a 4-1 defeat of India at home.

England also bade a fond farewell to their record test scorer Alastair Cook, who signed off with an emotional hundred in his final innings at the Oval.

Sri Lankan cricket also said goodbye to spin spearhead Rangana Herath, who retired with 433 wickets, the most by a left-arm spinner in test cricket, from 93 tests after the Galle test against England.

International cricket was also robbed of one of its biggest crowd-pullers when South African talisman AB de Villiers, famed for his 360 degree batting and incredible athleticism in the field, announced he had "run out of gas".

In May, Ireland made their debut as the 11th test playing nation when they hosted Pakistan in Dublin. William Porterfield and his men endured a chastening and rainy initiation though, losing by five wickets after being made to follow-on.

Afghanistan fared worse in their debut in India the following month, beaten by an innings and 262 runs inside two days by the top-ranked test team.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) also made an effort to help grow the game by submitting a bid for the inclusion of women's Twenty20 into the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. "...(It) demonstrates the commitment both organisations have to growing women's sport and delivering greater equality, fairness and opportunity in sport across the Commonwealth," ICC chief executive David Richardson said.

Australia were quick to support the bid, two days after Meg Lanning led the team to World Twenty20 title victory in the West Indies.

The unquestioned number one batsman was Virat Kohli, who smashed 11 international centuries, including six in one-dayers, to underline why he is considered arguably the best batsman of his era. Top-ranked in both the test and one-day games, Kohli was especially dominating in the 50-overs format with a 133-plus average. 

2018 saw the rise of some new stars. Sam Curran impressed everyone with his performance during the India tour of England. He was a match-winner with both bat and ball. Sam's brother Tom Curran also made a name for himself.

India seem to have new star in 18-year-old Prithvi Shaw who made a century on his debut against West Indies. Khaleel Ahmed and Hanuma Vihari also established themselves as a frequent presence in Indian team.