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Cataloguing the best innings of X runs in test history
- Thread starter OverratedSanity
- Start date
OverratedSanity
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66 runs:
Three innings from three historic series for this entry:
Richie Richardson vs Australia, Brisbane 1992: A great match saving innings from a test that is somehow less remembered than the four tests that followed this one. Understandable because the four were : the one with Warne's breakout performance at the MCG, then Lara's 277, then the famous 1 run WI win and finally Ambrose' 7-1. But this test was another one where Australia really should've won, maybe would have if Warne had played. WI somehow managed to meme their way to wins/draws during this mini era and this was no different with Richardson and Bishop batting out almost two hours to deny Aus a win. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...-vs-west-indies-1st-test-63590/full-scorecard)
VVS Laxman vs Australia, Chennai 2001: An innings memorable not just for the dreamy strokeplay on a wearing pitch, but also the amazing Waugh catch that ended it, Greig's great commentary ("He's stunned") and vvs maybe for the first real time doing the vvs face that would become a staple over the next decade. Usually reserved it either for impossible catches like this one or when he just missed straight balls. Surprised no one's made a youtube compilation tbh: (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...ia-vs-australia-3rd-test-63921/full-scorecard)
Winner: Wasim Akram vs WI, 1986: The first of what really should've been many more clutch lower order innings by Wasim. Watching him cream Marshall through the covers and smash him over long on for six in the highlights below it's baffling he only averaged 22 with the bat. If only the opposition slip fielders dropped him a bit more eh (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...-vs-west-indies-1st-test-63441/full-scorecard)
Three innings from three historic series for this entry:
Richie Richardson vs Australia, Brisbane 1992: A great match saving innings from a test that is somehow less remembered than the four tests that followed this one. Understandable because the four were : the one with Warne's breakout performance at the MCG, then Lara's 277, then the famous 1 run WI win and finally Ambrose' 7-1. But this test was another one where Australia really should've won, maybe would have if Warne had played. WI somehow managed to meme their way to wins/draws during this mini era and this was no different with Richardson and Bishop batting out almost two hours to deny Aus a win. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...-vs-west-indies-1st-test-63590/full-scorecard)
VVS Laxman vs Australia, Chennai 2001: An innings memorable not just for the dreamy strokeplay on a wearing pitch, but also the amazing Waugh catch that ended it, Greig's great commentary ("He's stunned") and vvs maybe for the first real time doing the vvs face that would become a staple over the next decade. Usually reserved it either for impossible catches like this one or when he just missed straight balls. Surprised no one's made a youtube compilation tbh: (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...ia-vs-australia-3rd-test-63921/full-scorecard)
Winner: Wasim Akram vs WI, 1986: The first of what really should've been many more clutch lower order innings by Wasim. Watching him cream Marshall through the covers and smash him over long on for six in the highlights below it's baffling he only averaged 22 with the bat. If only the opposition slip fielders dropped him a bit more eh (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...-vs-west-indies-1st-test-63441/full-scorecard)
Last edited:
Immenso
International Vice-Captain
John Bracewell's 66 in the 3rd test v West Indies worth a mention here. NZ win the test and draw the series.
Keeping an unbeaten record at home through the 80's had started to become a 'thing' by then in media etc, IIRC, so this was seen as a huge achievement.
www.espncricinfo.com
A few months ago, this match was on Spark Sport's catalogue and I stumbled upon it and watched the highlights. (Along with a few other old TVNZ archived games. But I can't find it anymore on there, but there are some circa 1996 1997 TVNZ games on there).
Speaking of Wasim only averaging 22, it is also a bit of mystery that Bracewell only averaged 20. Had a terrible start to career with the bat. This was actually Bracewell's peak career average of 23ish after this match according to statguru before he then declined to his final 20.42 batting average..
Keeping an unbeaten record at home through the 80's had started to become a 'thing' by then in media etc, IIRC, so this was seen as a huge achievement.
Full Scorecard of West Indies vs New Zealand 3rd Test 1986/87 - Score Report | ESPNcricinfo.com
Complete Scorecard of West Indies vs New Zealand 3rd Test 1986/87, West Indies tour of New Zealand only on ESPNcricinfo.com. Find the complete scorecard of West Indies vs New Zealand 3rd Test Online
www.espncricinfo.com
A few months ago, this match was on Spark Sport's catalogue and I stumbled upon it and watched the highlights. (Along with a few other old TVNZ archived games. But I can't find it anymore on there, but there are some circa 1996 1997 TVNZ games on there).
Speaking of Wasim only averaging 22, it is also a bit of mystery that Bracewell only averaged 20. Had a terrible start to career with the bat. This was actually Bracewell's peak career average of 23ish after this match according to statguru before he then declined to his final 20.42 batting average..
OverratedSanity
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67 runs:
Murali vs India, kandy 2001: A farcical masterpiece of hilarious hitting that seemed to take the game away from india after they had SL on the ropes. Dravid and Ganguly later trumped it with their own great knocks, but that doesn't take away from one of the great tailender innings.
(https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...-lanka-vs-india-2nd-test-63944/full-scorecard)
Graeme Smith vs England, 2005: The other heroic almost match saving innings while injured by Smith. This time a concussion instead of a broken hand. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...rica-vs-england-4th-test-64119/full-scorecard)
Alex carey vs Pakistan 2022: The most recent entry in this thread, this wasn't quite as good an innings as Time Paine at Adelaide. But still an incredibly important partnership with Green that contributed greatly towards Australia's historic series win. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...-vs-australia-3rd-test-1288312/full-scorecard)
Winner: Shardul Thakur vs Australia, Gabba 2021
???
Could it have been anything else? Not enough words to explain how good/important the innings was, so instead, here's a countdown of the top 5 Shardul Thakur shots from his 67 vs Australia in low quality gifs:
5) Glorious drive off Mitchell Starc
4) Treating Lyon like a finger spinner should be
3) Glorious drive off Cummins
2) Is there a more alpha way to get off the mark than hooking Pat Cummins for six?
1) *fap*
Murali vs India, kandy 2001: A farcical masterpiece of hilarious hitting that seemed to take the game away from india after they had SL on the ropes. Dravid and Ganguly later trumped it with their own great knocks, but that doesn't take away from one of the great tailender innings.
(https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...-lanka-vs-india-2nd-test-63944/full-scorecard)
Graeme Smith vs England, 2005: The other heroic almost match saving innings while injured by Smith. This time a concussion instead of a broken hand. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...rica-vs-england-4th-test-64119/full-scorecard)
Alex carey vs Pakistan 2022: The most recent entry in this thread, this wasn't quite as good an innings as Time Paine at Adelaide. But still an incredibly important partnership with Green that contributed greatly towards Australia's historic series win. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...-vs-australia-3rd-test-1288312/full-scorecard)
Winner: Shardul Thakur vs Australia, Gabba 2021
???
Could it have been anything else? Not enough words to explain how good/important the innings was, so instead, here's a countdown of the top 5 Shardul Thakur shots from his 67 vs Australia in low quality gifs:
5) Glorious drive off Mitchell Starc
4) Treating Lyon like a finger spinner should be
3) Glorious drive off Cummins
2) Is there a more alpha way to get off the mark than hooking Pat Cummins for six?
1) *fap*
Last edited:
SillyCowCorner1
Moooo
Last one was almost like Sehwag
honestbharani
Whatever it takes!!!
Murali batted 9 that test too which makes it even more hilarious
OverratedSanity
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Nice. Corrected.
From the cricinfo match report:
I vaguely remember all of this, would love to see an extended highlights video that show these antics, sounds incredible
OverratedSanity
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68 runs:
Sanjay Bangar vs England , Headingley 2002: The test that's remembered for the big 3's great tons began with Sehwag failing as usual in difficult, swinging conditions and Bangar and Dravid laying the platform in painstakingly slow fashion. Set the platform for Sachin and Ganguly to score at t20 pace the next day when the pitch was a road. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...ngland-vs-india-3rd-test-63999/full-scorecard)
Ravindra Jadeja vs England, Lord's 2014: This was probably one of the first Jadeja classics, as his partnership with bhuvi enabled India to set a big target. A great counterattack that took the game away from England and scrambled their brains so bad that they suffered the meme-iest collapse in cricket history the next day. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...india-2nd-investec-test-667713/full-scorecard)
Misbah ul-Haq vs SL, 2014: Finished off one of the most insane chases in cricket history. Until early in day 5 this was one of the dullest test matches you could imagine. Then from a position where they had the series basically won, SL played garbage negative cricket and paid the price. Need to score 300 in only 59 overs> Easy if you've got Misbah (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...n-vs-sri-lanka-3rd-test-657651/full-scorecard)
Winner- Rahul Dravid vs WI, 2006:
Deciding test of the series in a country where India's never won a test series before, the captain steps up with not one but two of the ATG innings <100 coming in with the score at 3-2 and 6-2. On an absolute minefield of a pitch where Taylor(in one of the few phases of his career where he actually put it together) with his pace and Collymore with his accuracy were a nightmare to face, he barely looked like getting out before finally getting done by a grubber. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...ndies-vs-india-4th-test-239923/full-scorecard)
69 runs:
Michael Vaughan vs SA, 2000: The circumstances which made this innings possible will always taint it a bit. Which is unfortunate because it was genuinely a superb knock (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...rica-vs-england-5th-test-63864/full-scorecard)
Adam Gilchrist vs Pakistan, 2004: Yet another one of those demoralizing counterattacks. Walks in at 78-5 against a red hot Akhtar and takes the game away. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...lia-vs-pakistan-1st-test-64113/full-scorecard)
Jonathan Trott vs SA, 2009: A 5 hour vigil that enabled England to pull off their first of two narrow 1 wicket escapes in the same series. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...ica-vs-england-1st-test-387570/full-scorecard)
Winner: The statistically most 69 innings of all time, however, was played by Joe Denly vs WI in 2019.
After being dismissed in the first innings with England on 69, Joe Denly seemed determined to do a 180 and responded by scoring 69 in the second innings at a strike rate of 69.69 and England then proceeded to bowl WI out in 69 overs to win the game. Nice. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...es-vs-england-3rd-test-1158064/full-scorecard)
Sanjay Bangar vs England , Headingley 2002: The test that's remembered for the big 3's great tons began with Sehwag failing as usual in difficult, swinging conditions and Bangar and Dravid laying the platform in painstakingly slow fashion. Set the platform for Sachin and Ganguly to score at t20 pace the next day when the pitch was a road. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...ngland-vs-india-3rd-test-63999/full-scorecard)
Ravindra Jadeja vs England, Lord's 2014: This was probably one of the first Jadeja classics, as his partnership with bhuvi enabled India to set a big target. A great counterattack that took the game away from England and scrambled their brains so bad that they suffered the meme-iest collapse in cricket history the next day. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...india-2nd-investec-test-667713/full-scorecard)
Misbah ul-Haq vs SL, 2014: Finished off one of the most insane chases in cricket history. Until early in day 5 this was one of the dullest test matches you could imagine. Then from a position where they had the series basically won, SL played garbage negative cricket and paid the price. Need to score 300 in only 59 overs> Easy if you've got Misbah (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...n-vs-sri-lanka-3rd-test-657651/full-scorecard)
Winner- Rahul Dravid vs WI, 2006:
Deciding test of the series in a country where India's never won a test series before, the captain steps up with not one but two of the ATG innings <100 coming in with the score at 3-2 and 6-2. On an absolute minefield of a pitch where Taylor(in one of the few phases of his career where he actually put it together) with his pace and Collymore with his accuracy were a nightmare to face, he barely looked like getting out before finally getting done by a grubber. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...ndies-vs-india-4th-test-239923/full-scorecard)
69 runs:
Michael Vaughan vs SA, 2000: The circumstances which made this innings possible will always taint it a bit. Which is unfortunate because it was genuinely a superb knock (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...rica-vs-england-5th-test-63864/full-scorecard)
Adam Gilchrist vs Pakistan, 2004: Yet another one of those demoralizing counterattacks. Walks in at 78-5 against a red hot Akhtar and takes the game away. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...lia-vs-pakistan-1st-test-64113/full-scorecard)
Jonathan Trott vs SA, 2009: A 5 hour vigil that enabled England to pull off their first of two narrow 1 wicket escapes in the same series. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...ica-vs-england-1st-test-387570/full-scorecard)
Winner: The statistically most 69 innings of all time, however, was played by Joe Denly vs WI in 2019.
After being dismissed in the first innings with England on 69, Joe Denly seemed determined to do a 180 and responded by scoring 69 in the second innings at a strike rate of 69.69 and England then proceeded to bowl WI out in 69 overs to win the game. Nice. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...es-vs-england-3rd-test-1158064/full-scorecard)
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honestbharani
Whatever it takes!!!
@OverratedSanity you suck for not giving 69 its own post.
Victor Ian
International Coach
But 69 is much better when it happens after starting with a 68. OS knows his stuff.
Victor Ian
International Coach
I presume that 'nice' is for me. If not, I'm commandeering it.
OverratedSanity
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70 runs:
Moin Khan vs India, Kolkata 1999: A test match that is remembered for plenty of other reasons: the two yorkers by Shoaib to Dravid and Tendulkar, the brilliant ton by Anwar, Srinath's 13fer, and of course the cheating runout by Akhtar leading to the crowd going from a wholesome sporting bunch to full on thuggish behaviour in an instant. But the Moin innings definitely gets forgotten. It's almost like a prequel to the Akmal ton in 06 in how similar the circumstances were: Pakistan 6 wickets down for basically nothing, wicket keeper batsman comes out and takes the innings to some semblance of respectability. If not for the dumb ending, this game would probably be remembered as one of the greatest ever.
(https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...ia-vs-pakistan-1st-match-63830/full-scorecard)
Ted Dexter vs WI, 1963: A 73 ball 70 coming in at 2-1 against Griffith and Hall. Same test that ended with Cowdrey coming out with a broken arm to ensure a draw. Another test filled with memorable performances.
Winner:
Brian Close vs WI,1963: From the same test as above, Close's brave effort, wearing countless blows on the body almost chasing down a small target in a legendary test. A source of annoyance for me here is that in one of the several minor misleading moments in Fire in Babylon, the movie edits together a montage of Close taking blows from Michael Holding in the 1976 series and I'm pretty sure it then shows the below photograph leading viewers to believe that's when the photo was taken. Unless I'm mistaken, it's actually from this test in 1963 after he took blows from Griffith and Hall. If what I've said is true, it's just another among several sequences in the movie that sneakily disrespects the 60s WI team to prop up the 70s/80s team even more. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...-vs-west-indies-2nd-test-62930/full-scorecard)
Moin Khan vs India, Kolkata 1999: A test match that is remembered for plenty of other reasons: the two yorkers by Shoaib to Dravid and Tendulkar, the brilliant ton by Anwar, Srinath's 13fer, and of course the cheating runout by Akhtar leading to the crowd going from a wholesome sporting bunch to full on thuggish behaviour in an instant. But the Moin innings definitely gets forgotten. It's almost like a prequel to the Akmal ton in 06 in how similar the circumstances were: Pakistan 6 wickets down for basically nothing, wicket keeper batsman comes out and takes the innings to some semblance of respectability. If not for the dumb ending, this game would probably be remembered as one of the greatest ever.
(https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...ia-vs-pakistan-1st-match-63830/full-scorecard)
Ted Dexter vs WI, 1963: A 73 ball 70 coming in at 2-1 against Griffith and Hall. Same test that ended with Cowdrey coming out with a broken arm to ensure a draw. Another test filled with memorable performances.
Winner:
Brian Close vs WI,1963: From the same test as above, Close's brave effort, wearing countless blows on the body almost chasing down a small target in a legendary test. A source of annoyance for me here is that in one of the several minor misleading moments in Fire in Babylon, the movie edits together a montage of Close taking blows from Michael Holding in the 1976 series and I'm pretty sure it then shows the below photograph leading viewers to believe that's when the photo was taken. Unless I'm mistaken, it's actually from this test in 1963 after he took blows from Griffith and Hall. If what I've said is true, it's just another among several sequences in the movie that sneakily disrespects the 60s WI team to prop up the 70s/80s team even more. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...-vs-west-indies-2nd-test-62930/full-scorecard)
OverratedSanity
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This is the montage in Fire in Babylon
OverratedSanity
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71 runs:
Wasim Raja vs WI 1977: For someone with a merely modest record, Raja was renowned for playing great fighting innings from lower down the order. Particularly against the great WI, against whom he has a ridiculously good record. This was second great inning in the same game, taking Pakistan from 158-9 all the way to 291. The asterisk here is that he was dropped 4 times, so it's only an honourable mention. Funnily enough, if he'd gotten out a tad sooner Pakistan might have won because WI held on for a draw with one wicket left (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...-indies-vs-pakistan-1st-test-63184/match-news)
Cheteshwar Pujara vs Australia, Adelaide 2018: This performance has already been forgotten a bit , partly because the next Border-Gavaskar series a couple of years later completely overshadowed this one. But I still maintain Pujara's two innings in this game are probably the best single-game performance by any Indian batsman in Australia. Amazing Australia attack, low scoring game, and both his innings were crucial to getting the win. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...alia-vs-india-1st-test-1144993/full-scorecard)
Abdul Razzaq vs India, Mohali 2005: An infuriating partnership with Kamran Akmal that saved Pakistan from certain defeat. Razzaq honestly must have the biggest difference between how you think he should've played cricket vs how he actually played. Atleast in tests. For such a clean striker of the ball who played some astonishing innings in ODIs, it's baffling he plodded along at a strike rate of 41 in tests. So I guess innings like this weren't a surprise. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...dia-vs-pakistan-1st-test-64125/full-scorecard)
Winner:
Trevor Bailey vs Australia, 1953 Ashes: An epic rescue act with Watson to keep the Ashes level. The only thing working against this knock is that the situation required him to just block, and runs didn't matter. Which was what Bailey always did anyway. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...nd-vs-australia-2nd-test-62759/full-scorecard)
Wasim Raja vs WI 1977: For someone with a merely modest record, Raja was renowned for playing great fighting innings from lower down the order. Particularly against the great WI, against whom he has a ridiculously good record. This was second great inning in the same game, taking Pakistan from 158-9 all the way to 291. The asterisk here is that he was dropped 4 times, so it's only an honourable mention. Funnily enough, if he'd gotten out a tad sooner Pakistan might have won because WI held on for a draw with one wicket left (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...-indies-vs-pakistan-1st-test-63184/match-news)
Cheteshwar Pujara vs Australia, Adelaide 2018: This performance has already been forgotten a bit , partly because the next Border-Gavaskar series a couple of years later completely overshadowed this one. But I still maintain Pujara's two innings in this game are probably the best single-game performance by any Indian batsman in Australia. Amazing Australia attack, low scoring game, and both his innings were crucial to getting the win. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...alia-vs-india-1st-test-1144993/full-scorecard)
Abdul Razzaq vs India, Mohali 2005: An infuriating partnership with Kamran Akmal that saved Pakistan from certain defeat. Razzaq honestly must have the biggest difference between how you think he should've played cricket vs how he actually played. Atleast in tests. For such a clean striker of the ball who played some astonishing innings in ODIs, it's baffling he plodded along at a strike rate of 41 in tests. So I guess innings like this weren't a surprise. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...dia-vs-pakistan-1st-test-64125/full-scorecard)
Winner:
Trevor Bailey vs Australia, 1953 Ashes: An epic rescue act with Watson to keep the Ashes level. The only thing working against this knock is that the situation required him to just block, and runs didn't matter. Which was what Bailey always did anyway. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...nd-vs-australia-2nd-test-62759/full-scorecard)
Last edited:
ataraxia
International Coach
Love this thread, glad it's back.
https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...nd-vs-australia-2nd-test-62759/full-scorecard the link for the Bailey knock ftr
https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...nd-vs-australia-2nd-test-62759/full-scorecard the link for the Bailey knock ftr
Prince EWS
Global Moderator
Wrong scorecard for Bailey's knock.
mr_mister
Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
Some legends in that game jeez. Just missing laker, May and Trueman
OverratedSanity
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72 runs
Peter Handscomb vs India, Ranchi 2017: Rare occasion where he used his hands to bat well instead of comb. Really good, gritty partnership with Marsh that kept the series alive (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...-vs-australia-3rd-test-1062575/full-scorecard)
Cheteshwar Pujara vs Australia, Bengaluru 2010: After getting the cruelest grubber in the first innings of his test career, made amends by smacking 72 in 80 balls in a 4th innings chase. First of a long list of great performances vs Australia. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...a-vs-australia-2nd-test-464527/full-scorecard)
Rahul Dravid vs Australia, Adelaide 2003: Follows up a legendary double hundred with the coolest 4th innings chase for India's first test win in Australia for 22 years. Close runner up, probably deserves to win but will give another cool innings a mention. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...tralia-vs-india-2nd-test-64060/full-scorecard)
Winner:
Keith Boyce vs England, Oval 1973:
In a series more known for his performances with the ball, Boyce played an important innings with the bat in the first innings: came in at number 9 and added more than a hundred for the last three wickets. Also went on to take 11 wickets in the game.
The first two boundaries in this video, particularly the six off Greig are two of the best example of the classic Windies one leg in the air drives down the ground I've ever seen. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...-vs-west-indies-1st-test-63111/full-scorecard)
Peter Handscomb vs India, Ranchi 2017: Rare occasion where he used his hands to bat well instead of comb. Really good, gritty partnership with Marsh that kept the series alive (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...-vs-australia-3rd-test-1062575/full-scorecard)
Cheteshwar Pujara vs Australia, Bengaluru 2010: After getting the cruelest grubber in the first innings of his test career, made amends by smacking 72 in 80 balls in a 4th innings chase. First of a long list of great performances vs Australia. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...a-vs-australia-2nd-test-464527/full-scorecard)
Rahul Dravid vs Australia, Adelaide 2003: Follows up a legendary double hundred with the coolest 4th innings chase for India's first test win in Australia for 22 years. Close runner up, probably deserves to win but will give another cool innings a mention. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...tralia-vs-india-2nd-test-64060/full-scorecard)
Winner:
Keith Boyce vs England, Oval 1973:
In a series more known for his performances with the ball, Boyce played an important innings with the bat in the first innings: came in at number 9 and added more than a hundred for the last three wickets. Also went on to take 11 wickets in the game.
The first two boundaries in this video, particularly the six off Greig are two of the best example of the classic Windies one leg in the air drives down the ground I've ever seen. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...-vs-west-indies-1st-test-63111/full-scorecard)
OverratedSanity
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73 runs:
This is one of the most crowded fields so far. There have been plenty of great 73s. So we'll do a full on top 5 countdown:
5) Tim Paine vs India, Adelaide 2020: Australia were 111-7 , still 133 behind India's first innings score and Paine steadily took the deficit to within 50. Australian fans will try to ignore how important this innings was to gaslight people into believing the great man was useless. He (deservedly) became the scapegoat for the historically embarrassing series loss that was to follow , but never forget he actually was one of the main reasons Australia even won that solitary test. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...alia-vs-india-1st-test-1223869/full-scorecard)
4) Bill Woodfull vs England, Adelaide 1933: One of the more famous innings from the Bodyline tour and probably one of the bravest innings of all. The one where he was hit in the chest by a Larwood bouncer and kept going. Channeled the great Anil Kumble by pointing out only one team was playing in the spirit of the game. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...alia-vs-england-3rd-test-62608/full-scorecard)
3) Alan Knott vs WI, Georgetown 1968: An epic rearguard effort first with Cowdrey and then with the tail to save the game and seal a 1-0 series win. This would win most other entries here, but 73 is a stacked field, so this 260 ball resistance just barely makes the podium. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...dies-vs-england-5th-test-63018/full-scorecard)
2) Andrew Flintoff vs Australia, Edgbaston 2005: The key innings in arguably the greatest test match ever played. Everyone knows about this knock... the ridiculous shots off Kasprowicz, the two massive sixes off Lee (especially the first one which bonks the top of the stand), but the best part is Boycott cackling away in delight in the background on commentary while Mark Nicholas does his usual boring routine (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...d-vs-australia-2nd-test-215010/full-scorecard)
1) VVS Laxman vs Australia, Mohali 2010: His final pull-a-rabbit-out-of-the-hat performance vs Australia. Made funnier by the fact that he took a single off the first ball of basically every over while Ishant Sharma was batting, leading to accusations that he was doing a Chanders. Made run scoring look piss easy on a wearing pitch, with a crocked back, and in the most perilous match situation imaginable. Capped it off with one of the funniest images in cricket history when he threatened to murder Pragyan Ojha with his bat on live TV after Ojha twice almost ran himself out but was bailed out by Australia's fielding, once by a Steve Smith overthrow. Smith's career never recovered and he faded into obscurity. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...a-vs-australia-1st-test-464526/full-scorecard)
This is one of the most crowded fields so far. There have been plenty of great 73s. So we'll do a full on top 5 countdown:
5) Tim Paine vs India, Adelaide 2020: Australia were 111-7 , still 133 behind India's first innings score and Paine steadily took the deficit to within 50. Australian fans will try to ignore how important this innings was to gaslight people into believing the great man was useless. He (deservedly) became the scapegoat for the historically embarrassing series loss that was to follow , but never forget he actually was one of the main reasons Australia even won that solitary test. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...alia-vs-india-1st-test-1223869/full-scorecard)
4) Bill Woodfull vs England, Adelaide 1933: One of the more famous innings from the Bodyline tour and probably one of the bravest innings of all. The one where he was hit in the chest by a Larwood bouncer and kept going. Channeled the great Anil Kumble by pointing out only one team was playing in the spirit of the game. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...alia-vs-england-3rd-test-62608/full-scorecard)
3) Alan Knott vs WI, Georgetown 1968: An epic rearguard effort first with Cowdrey and then with the tail to save the game and seal a 1-0 series win. This would win most other entries here, but 73 is a stacked field, so this 260 ball resistance just barely makes the podium. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...dies-vs-england-5th-test-63018/full-scorecard)
2) Andrew Flintoff vs Australia, Edgbaston 2005: The key innings in arguably the greatest test match ever played. Everyone knows about this knock... the ridiculous shots off Kasprowicz, the two massive sixes off Lee (especially the first one which bonks the top of the stand), but the best part is Boycott cackling away in delight in the background on commentary while Mark Nicholas does his usual boring routine (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...d-vs-australia-2nd-test-215010/full-scorecard)
1) VVS Laxman vs Australia, Mohali 2010: His final pull-a-rabbit-out-of-the-hat performance vs Australia. Made funnier by the fact that he took a single off the first ball of basically every over while Ishant Sharma was batting, leading to accusations that he was doing a Chanders. Made run scoring look piss easy on a wearing pitch, with a crocked back, and in the most perilous match situation imaginable. Capped it off with one of the funniest images in cricket history when he threatened to murder Pragyan Ojha with his bat on live TV after Ojha twice almost ran himself out but was bailed out by Australia's fielding, once by a Steve Smith overthrow. Smith's career never recovered and he faded into obscurity. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...a-vs-australia-1st-test-464526/full-scorecard)
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