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Battle of the Test Innings

dontcloseyoureyes

dontcloseyoureyes

BARNES OUT
Jono said:
Gotta go Ponting. Sobers was, from what I've read, more a masterclass in batting whereas Ponting's knock is pretty much known more for the situation of the series and how well he handled the pressure he was under, him being captain of an Australian team under siege looking at a 2-1 deficit in a series they were strong favourites in. The only thing between a 2-1 deficit was Ponting's wicket, and it was amazing.

Would his knock still be as memorable if Ponting or McGrath got out and England won? Not sure, but they didn't, so technically his match was a match-saving one despite his dismissal late in the innings.
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Ponting did (eventually) get out, I think you mean Lee or McGrath.
 
SJS

SJS

Hall of Fame Member
It Laxman all the way for me.

Waugh's knock was good as 63 not out. out of 128 must be but

1. it was the very first innings of the match which was still open when the Aussie innings ended let alone when Waugh came in.

2. The second innings, after Australia had managed to restrict Windies to a lead of just 8 runs, and Waugh managed just 21 on what was, no doubt a worse wicket than at Calcutta.

3. Laxman had already top scored with 59 out of 171 after coming in at 88 for 4 in the first innings (Not exactly the same as Waugh's knock but similar in some ways. The second innings marathon was a HUGE excercise in application AND skillful batsmanship against the best side in the world in what was, by all criteria a lost cause.
4. During the MASIVE partnership with Dravid, one mistake would have been enough since Dravid at six was the last recognised batsman and Laxman made almost none in what is rated as one of the five greatest test innings ever even by Wisden.
 
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FaaipDeOiad

FaaipDeOiad

Hall of Fame Member
SJS said:
It Laxman all the way for me.

Waugh's knock was good as 63 not out. out of 128 must be but

1. it was the very first innings of the match which was still open when the Aussie innings ended let alone when Waugh came in.

2. The second innings, after Australia had managed to restrict Windies to a lead of just 8 runs, and Waugh managed just 21 on what was, no doubt a worse wicket than at Calcutta.

3. Laxman had already top scored with 59 out of 171 after coming in at 88 for 4 in the first innings (Not exactly the same as Waugh's knock but similar in some ways. The second innings marathon was a HUGE excercise in application AND skillful batsmanship against the best side in the world in what was, by all criteria a lost cause.
4. During the MASIVE partnership with Dravid, one mistake would have been enough since Dravid at six was the last recognised batsman and Laxman made almost none in what is rated as one of the five greatest test innings ever even by Wisden.
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Obviously it's no contest between the innings, but Waugh's 63* is renowned for more than just the runs. This is the innings in which he had his famous confrontation with Ambrose, where Richie Richardson was photographed dragging an irate Ambrose away while Waugh calmly chewed his gum. It was also what Shane Warne described as "the worst pitch I have ever seen... damp, uneven, and with plenty of grass", and was a telling knock in a series that clinched the de facto world championship for Australia. Following that match (which West Indies won, obviously), Waugh went on to make 200* in the next game, and had the wood over the West Indian attack totally.

Laxman's innings was superior for all the reasons you mention, as well as the volume of runs of course, but Waugh's innings has a huge place in recent Australian cricket history.
 
SJS

SJS

Hall of Fame Member
FaaipDeOiad said:
Obviously it's no contest between the innings, but Waugh's 63* is renowned for more than just the runs. This is the innings in which he had his famous confrontation with Ambrose, where Richie Richardson was photographed dragging an irate Ambrose away while Waugh calmly chewed his gum. It was also what Shane Warne described as "the worst pitch I have ever seen... damp, uneven, and with plenty of grass", and was a telling knock in a series that clinched the de facto world championship for Australia. Following that match (which West Indies won, obviously), Waugh went on to make 200* in the next game, and had the wood over the West Indian attack totally.

Laxman's innings was superior for all the reasons you mention, as well as the volume of runs of course, but Waugh's innings has a huge place in recent Australian cricket history.
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Agree to everything. :)
 
FaaipDeOiad

FaaipDeOiad

Hall of Fame Member
Bradman, easily.

Waugh's innings was a great one, but Bradman scored a triple century on the first day. Something that will never been seen again.
 
SJS

SJS

Hall of Fame Member
Thats a tough one.

Mark Waugh's innings was very special. Only one other fifty in the four innings in the match - McMillan's 55 in SA's first.

But there have been some others like that in history.

But Bradman's triple hundred in a single day in a test match stands alone in terms of 'heavy-duty' run making at amazing rate in the entire history of the game. I doubt if we will find a batsman batting at 100+ at lunch, 200+ at tea and 300 + at close of play in a test match again.

Bradman for me.
 
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