In terms of aesthetics, what is the finest test innings you have seen?

[subshakerz]

For sheer beauty, I haven't seen a better innings than Lara's 277 in Sydney. He didn't hit a six but the sheer crispness of the strokes and the timing of the shots reaching the boundary on a damp outfield was a sight to behold.

Other contenders for mere for sheer exhilarating innovative strokeplay were KP's 149 and Stoke's 135. But interested to hear other opinions as this is purely a subjective matter.

 

[TheJediBrah]

Gilchrist 204
Astle 212

Any damien Martyn or VVs Laxman 100

 

[Shady Slim]

younis khan entire tour of england 2016

 

[subshakerz]

Gilchrist 204
Astle 212

Any damien Martyn or VVs Laxman 100

Laxman's innings in Australia look better to me than those in India, maybe the extra bounce allowing for a wider range of shots.

 

[thierry henry]

How can any Gilchrist innings be considered "aesthetic"

 

[OverratedSanity]

younis khan entire tour of england 2016

The 218 was genuinely glorious tbf, and made up for all the fidgety and jumpy defensive shots in the series prior to that. Treated Moeen with complete disrespect.

 

[mr_mister]

Lara's third and final hundred in the '99 series. Really flies under the radar. The only blight is he nearly got caught on the shot that took him from 99 to 100 with a dinky shot, but everything leading up to that was flawless

Killed Adam Dale's test career in the blink of an eye

 

[subshakerz]

The 218 was genuinely glorious tbf, and made up for all the fidgety and jumpy defensive shots in the series prior to that. Treated Moeen with complete disrespect.

It was a great innings but no innings Younis Khan played can be considered aesthetic.

 

[mr_mister]

Oh, and also Slater's 123 out of 180 odd. He looked so great to the eye when on. Great footwork and bat speed

 

[subshakerz]

Lara's third and final hundred in the '99 series. Really flies under the radar. The only blight is he nearly got caught on the shot that took him from 99 to 100 with a dinky shot, but everything leading up to that was flawless

Killed Adam Dale's test career in the blink of an eye

That was more brutal than aesthetic by Lara's standards. A lot of savage pulls in that knock. I think his 213 was a far prettier innings.

 

[RossTaylorsBox]

Rob Quiney - 9

 

[mr_mister]

That was more brutal than aesthetic by Lara's standards. A lot of savage pulls in that knock. I think his 213 was a far prettier innings.

I remember it being lots of drives too. Also, pulls aren't necessarily not aesthetic right? They look pretty awesome to me

 

[subshakerz]

I remember it being lots of drives too. Also, pulls aren't necessarily not aesthetic right? They look pretty awesome to me

True. I think in batting terms, the more aesthetic it is, the more effortless it tends to look. And I recall Lara pounding the bowling in that knock.

 

[Burgey]

Ian Bell made 70 odd in Adelaide in 13/14 iirc against Johnson & Harris which was classy AF while everything fell apart around him. Was a top knock to watch.

Also, Mark Waugh's hundred on dayboo, or indeed any real innings of substance played by him.

Gower's double hundred in the 85 Ashes was awesome to watch too, even though the attack was cod ordinary.

 

[cnerd123]

We've been speaking about Kohli a lot, and this innings of his is burned in my memory. Incredible given the context too - India needed to win in like 40 overs to make the final and Virat killed it off way before that by slaughtering Malinga

Shame he'll never do this again huh.

 

[Burgey]

Biggest surprise was Tendulkar not going on with it when his team really needed it

 

[ataraxia]

Does prove that Kohli does well in pressure situations though tbf

 

[Burgey]

He did well in that particular pressure station, just not on the biggest stage of all. sad.

 

[mr_mister]

Biggest surprise was Tendulkar not going on with it when his team really needed it

Was that a surprise though? He had a nasty of habit of going missing in finals

 

[anil1405]

Did anyone mention Michael Vaughan yet in this thread?

Was very pleasing to the eye when in proper flow.