Top 5 Cricket Team Celebrations
Pakistan's push-up celebration has taken the cricket world by storm. We look back at various other incidents of when cricket teams celebrated their wins in unique fashion.
Highlights
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Pakistan celebrated their win over England on Sunday with a few push-ups
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The Pakistan team was led by Younis Khan in its celebrations
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Here is a look at the top five team celebrations in cricket
Pakistan no 'push' overs
Pakistan celebrated their victory over England at Lord's in unusual style as the entire squad, led by Younis Khan, performed a series of push-ups.
Fair play to @TheRealPCB who played some excellent cricket and good celebrations too. #EngvPak https://t.co/czkHg2bFsu
- England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 17, 2016
It was Misbah-ul-Haq who started the trend after he celebrated his hundred on the first day of the test in similar fashion.
998, 999, 1,000... #EngvPak https://t.co/7iSmz3kajM
- England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 14, 2016
The Pakistan skipper would later explain his celebration saying, "That was my promise to the army guys. We did a camp in Abbottabad, in Lahore, and when we stepped into the ground we did ten push-ups. And I promised them, if ever I score a hundred, I will definitely do that to remind you that we were there"
The entire Pakistan team had gone to an army boot camp prior to their tour of England to improve their infamously poor fitness.
England's Sprinkler Dance
Soon after Australia won the fourth Ashes Test of 2010 at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground, they unleashed a type of celebration that the cricket world hadn't seen heretofore - The Sprinkler. England all-rounder Paul Collingwood was credited with rediscovering this 80s dance form, and England captain Andrew Strauss described it as their version of the "Haka". England's travelling fans, The Barmy Army, too joined in the fun from the stands.
It took no time for 'The Sprinkler' to become an internet sensation. At the time, a leading Australian daily carried a headline describing the scenes at the MCG that afternoon, "England dances on Australia's Ashes grave".
Windies in 'Gangnam Style'
In July 2012 South Korean pop artist PSY released a single titled 'Gangnam Style'. Three months later, West Indies won the World T20 title in Sri Lanka, and how did they celebrate? Of course, by doing the Gangnam dance (pretending to hold the reigns of a horse in one hand and spinning the lasso in the other) a virtual horse-trot if you may please!
Despite West Indies beating the hosts in the final, the locals present at the Premadasa couldn't escape their infectious energy and joined in the fun.
Five months after its release, 'Gangnam Style' became the first YouTube video to reach one billion views; Perhaps the calypso kings of 2012 can take some credit for that.
© AFP
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India's version of 'Gangnam Style'
It's difficult, if not impossible, to match a West Indian's dance moves. But if someone can, Virat Kohli may just be that man.
Less than an year after West Indies claimed the World T20 title, India won the mini World Cup or the Champions Trophy in England.
Once again, it was the hosts on the receiving end, as India won a thrilling final by five runs at Edgbaston. Virat Kohli led India's celebrations after the trophy presentation by doing his version of the 'Gangnam Style', often interpolated with a series of push-ups. No sooner did the team started celebrating, Ravinder Jadeja, Suresh Raina and Umesh Yadav too were bitten by the Gangnam bug.
© AFP
West Indies 'Champions' Indeed
Champions.. Champions.. Champions ... Champions: this became the unofficial anthem of the 2016 World T20. The song sung by Dwayne Bravo, served as a motivating factor for the West Indies team in their fight against their Cricket Board over player contracts and payments.
Names like Barack Obama, Nelson Mandela, Michael Jordan & Serena Williams that were part of the lyrics, were enough to inspire the team from the Caribbean; whilst for the fans, it was the rhythm and the dance that made it a hit.
'Champion Dance' was released by Bravo days ahead of the tournament, but it only became an internet hit after the West Indies performed it on the cricket field, both, after the semis win against India, and the victory in the final vs England, with legends like Brian Lara and Usain Bolt joining in too.
Brian Lara doing champion dance after @westindies win over @englandcricket in #Wt20 pic.twitter.com/SUgk5vDd8P
- Nadeeshan Meedin™ (@nMeeDiN) April 3, 2016
Usain Bolt celebrating the West Indies' #WT20Final win with the 'Champion' dance!https://t.co/EVmwFc4xFI
- TAB (@tabcomau) April 3, 2016