According to the English calendar, today is November 11, 2024. If you add the date, month, and year, it becomes 11/11/2024. While the date and month align, there is a discrepancy with the year. However, November 11 of 2011 was 11/11/11! And on that date, an unforgettable event took place on the cricket pitch, known in history as the ‘Nelson of All Nelsons.’
A Test match between South Africa and Australia was held on 11/11/11 in Cape Town. On that day, at 11:11 in the afternoon, the Proteas needed 111 runs to win! Unbelievable is an understatement! Such an event has never occurred again.
During the match, umpire Ian Gould humorously suggested that all players on the field and spectators should stand on one leg for a minute to celebrate this unique moment. South Africa ended up winning the match. Thirteen years later, on this November 11, this event is just as significant and will continue to be so on every November 11.
Now, let’s shed some light on Nelson. A team or individual score of 111 is called a Nelson score. Its double or triple is known as Double Nelson or Triple Nelson, respectively. Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson was an officer of the British Royal Navy. The term “Nelson” in cricket comes from his name.
It is said that towards the end of his life, after fighting many battles, Nelson only had one eye, one arm, and one leg left. However, the details regarding the eye and leg are believed to be incorrect. Nelson had an injured leg and had lost vision in one eye. The saying “One Eye, One Arm, One Ambition” reflects the idea that victory was the ultimate goal. Many consider Nelson a cricket superstition. The number 111 is linked with bad luck in cricket. However, in the 1990s, The Cricketer magazine claimed that these beliefs were baseless.
