Best innings in a bad pitch.

[Jacknife]

KP's 142 off 157 in 2006 against Sri Lanka, 2nd Test at Edgbaston, can't really remember how bad the pitch was, but SL got 141 followed by 231, England got 295 in the 1st innings, of which KP scored half of them. It was a awsome knock, against Murali , Vaas and Malinga, smashing them all over the ground. Murali had everyone else's number that innings, taking 6/86.

 

[honestbharani]

KP's 142 off 157 in 2006 against Sri Lanka, 2nd Test at Edgbaston, can't really remember how bad the pitch was, but SL got 141 followed by 231, England got 295 in the 1st innings, of which KP scored half of them. It was a awsome knock, against Murali , Vaas and Malinga, smashing them all over the ground. Murali had everyone else's number that innings, taking 6/86.

Excellent spot.. THAT was an amazing knock. Not sure if I would call that pitch "bad", but it is an innings worth mentioning in this thread at least.

 

[abmk]

Lara went into that Test with the following pressure:

• He was the West Indian captain
• The West Indies were 3-0 down, having never before been whitewashed in a home Test series
• They'd lost a series at home vs England for the first time since 1968
• Lara himself had only scored 100 runs in 6 innings in the series
• West Indies had twice been dismissed in the series for less than 100
• Lara walked to the crease with his team 33/1, and lost Gayle before they'd passed 100.

Regardless of the state of the pitch, or how "intense" England may or may not have been, it is nonsense to suggest that Lara wasn't under any sort of pressure in that knock.

Thanks, but where on earth did I suggest Lara wasn't under pressure in that knock ?

Secondly wouldn't it have been a wee bit more useful for WI if he had actually done well in one of the three live matches ?

 

[abmk]

This innings from Ganguly is worth mentioning

87 vs SA on a difficult track - IMO his best test knock

3rd Test: India v South Africa at Kanpur, Apr 11-13, 2008 | Cricket Scorecard | ESPN Cricinfo

 

[Migara]

This was also a ****ing tough pitch to bat on. No surprises who made runs in India's 2nd innings then, that too on debut.

Well, I've watched this match. It was a ****ing brilliant display of very fast, reverse swing bowling from Srinath caused the havoc.

 

[vcs]

Well, I've watched this match. It was a ****ing brilliant display of very fast, reverse swing bowling from Srinath caused the havoc.

Yeah, he was awesome in the 2nd innings. The variable bounce of the pitch was making things very hard for the batsmen.

 

[Borges]

The variable bounce of the pitch was making things very hard for the batsmen.

Yes, easily qualifies as a 'bad' pitch - particularly on days three and four. It just crumbled, completely.


Graham Gooch was immense on this old-fashioned Headingley green top.
1st Test: England v West Indies at Leeds, Jun 6-10, 1991 | Cricket Scorecard | ESPN Cricinfo

The greater part of his innings was played in murky, damp weather. Against an attack that knew how to exploit those conditions to the hilt, even if Marshall was not 100% fit.

 

[tooextracool]

Have to say that one innings that stands out from memory was Ponting's 156 at Old Trafford in 2005. I can safely say that I've never been a fan of Ponting, but when people re-watch that innings 10-15 years from now, they will probably not appreciate it for what it was given the outcome of the series. In my eyes, he walked into bat as a very good nearly great player and walked out of the ground and straight into the league of a few.

 

[Burgey]

See, talking about dead rubbers, and averages dropping if you take out certain teams kind of impresses upon me the importance of passing judgment based on a combination of statistics and observation.

See, if someone looks back on stats in 20 years, they may well think Hayden and Lara were of a not dissimilar standard if you look at their averages, appetites for big scores etc (though of course Lara played longer). But can anyone who saw both play seriously say Hayden was in the same league as a player as Lara? Really? I doubt Hayden himself would, which isn't to say he isn't a damn fine player himself, because he was.

Hayden could have scored just as many runs as Lara for just as long, and I'd still rate Lara higher, from watching him. Just as I'd rate Tendulkar > Ponting > Dravid. From watching.

I left Kallis out because I didn't want to fall off my chair laughing in suggesting he belongs in the same company as Lara, Tendulkar or Ponting. Just my opinion.

 

[Burgey]

Have to say that one innings that stands out from memory was Ponting's 156 at Old Trafford in 2005. I can safely say that I've never been a fan of Ponting, but when people re-watch that innings 10-15 years from now, they will probably not appreciate it for what it was given the outcome of the series. In my eyes, he walked into bat as a very good nearly great player and walked out of the ground and straight into the league of a few.

Great post. And a great knock.

 

[vcs]

I think Kallis's stats have reached the point where he demands inclusion in the above company TBH. He's quite good to watch in his own way.

 

[robelinda]

Ponting's 156 was an epic, great knock, but a great innings on a bad pitch? Not even close. Was not much wrong with that pitch all match. Dont find many bad pitches in matches ending in draws over 5 days.

 

[vcs]

Ponting's 156 was an epic, great knock, but a great innings on a bad pitch? Not even close. Was not much wrong with that pitch all match. Dont find many bad pitches in matches ending in draws over 5 days.

Maybe Clarke and Martyn's 2nd innings knocks at Lord's would qualify? That wicket was certainly seaming miles.

 

[abmk]

Have to say that one innings that stands out from memory was Ponting's 156 at Old Trafford in 2005. I can safely say that I've never been a fan of Ponting, but when people re-watch that innings 10-15 years from now, they will probably not appreciate it for what it was given the outcome of the series. In my eyes, he walked into bat as a very good nearly great player and walked out of the ground and straight into the league of a few.

absolutely phenomenal knock , his best, but the pitch wasn't tough to bat on tbh

 

[juro]

Has anyone mentioned Slater's 123 in Sydney, 1999 against England?

scorecard

Only 1 other batsman scored double digits (M Waugh got 24) and when Slater got out as 8th wicket, he had scored 68.33% of the innings total, surpassing Charlie Bannerman's record from the very first test of 67.35%. Only 4 more runs were scored in the innings, but it was enough to let Charlie keep the record.

Can't recall whether the pitch was the cause of the problem, but the rest of the team couldn't do a thing...

 

[robelinda]

Yep I mentioned it!!!

 

[Tom 1972]

Kim Hughes, day one Melbourne vs WI worth a shout here too.
QUOTE]

I was thinking this one too. Rated #5 in greatest Aus innings by Inside Edge magazine.

Rampaging Holding, Garner, Croft, Roberts on an absolute greentop (sideways movement) with variable bounce - scored 100* from 198 in the first dig.

Kim's game of his life | Cricket Features | Wisden Cricketer | ESPN Cricinfo

DK took a 7fer and <800 runs were scored for the whole match.

 

[Spark]

Maybe Clarke and Martyn's 2nd innings knocks at Lord's would qualify? That wicket was certainly seaming miles.

That was a very odd wicket, but was it a greentop?

 

[vcs]

That was a very odd wicket, but was it a greentop?

Actually, on reflection, I think that wicket eased out a fair bit after day 1. Even England's tailenders in the first innings were able to put up some resistance alongside Pietersen on day 2. Pietersen's first innings 50 might be a better candidate.

 

[hang on]

See, talking about dead rubbers, and averages dropping if you take out certain teams kind of impresses upon me the importance of passing judgment based on a combination of statistics and observation.

See, if someone looks back on stats in 20 years, they may well think Hayden and Lara were of a not dissimilar standard if you look at their averages, appetites for big scores etc (though of course Lara played longer). But can anyone who saw both play seriously say Hayden was in the same league as a player as Lara? Really? I doubt Hayden himself would, which isn't to say he isn't a damn fine player himself, because he was.

Hayden could have scored just as many runs as Lara for just as long, and I'd still rate Lara higher, from watching him. Just as I'd rate Tendulkar > Ponting > Dravid. From watching.

I left Kallis out because I didn't want to fall off my chair laughing in suggesting he belongs in the same company as Lara, Tendulkar or Ponting. Just my opinion.

well said. actually, i would have lara and tendulkar in a category of their own.

also, kallis's recent exploits have, much against my will(!) forced me to reconsider his position in the list of great batsmen. i have him on par with ponting.