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Name the 5 best innings of your favorite batsman in test cricket
- Thread starter venkyrenga
- Start date
sunilz
International Regular
Naseer Hussain ?
wpdavid
Hall of Fame Member
Yup. This next bit is really self-indulgent, but here's how his retirement in 2003 was marked on Cricket Web.
Nasser’s Top 10 when he’s won it for us
“At 10 for 2 I’ve done it for you”, he claimed last week when justifying his continued selection at the ripe old age of 36. And he had a point. For a man with an average of 37, there have been an uncommonly high number of occasions when he’s produced vital runs in significant encounters. Not for Nasser the false glory of easy runs in dead rubbers or against the minnows.
Anyway, here’s ten occasions when he produced the goods when it really did matter. As you read through them, think about what England’s results since 1996 would have been without these innings.
1. June 1996 vs India at Edgbaston
This is where it all began. Recalled after a three year absence, he got away with gloving a ball through to the keeper to go on and make 128 out of 313 on a spiteful track. The only other England player to pass 35 was Atherton with an unbeaten 53 in the second innings, when the game was pretty much won anyway. England won by 8 wickets and went on to win the series 1-0.
2. June 1997 vs Australia at Edgbaston
Probably his finest hour. Australia had been blown away for 118 but fought back to take three quick wickets. At 50 for 3, a first innings lead wasn’t a formality, but Hussain & Thorpe added 288 to set up England’s 9 wicket win. For a while, an attack featuring McGrath, Kasprowicz, Gillespie & Warne looked ordinary as our hero made his highest test score of 207. Of course, it didn’t last, although Hussain did manage another hundred at Leeds later in the series. This is still England’s only win against Australia since 1986 when the Ashes have still been at stake.
3. August 1998 vs South Africa at Leeds
It doesn’t get much tougher than this. After conceding a small first innings deficit on a traditionally challenging Headingly strip, England were desperately hanging on against Donald and Pollock at their meanest. Hussain’s 94 was by far the biggest contribution as England’s last 7 wickets folded for 41. But it was enough, just, to secure the test by 23 runs and the series 2-1. This was England’s first 5-test series win in 11 years.
4. March 2001 vs Sri Lanka at Kandy
This was the test that Wisden famously described as a “bar-room brawl”. Sri Lanka had won the previous one by an innings, but now England came out fighting. Gough & Caddick cut the home batsmen down to size, but it needed Hussain’s 109 to provide a big enough lead to set up the 3 wicket win that levelled the series and paved the way for the eventual 2-1 success.
5. March 2002 vs New Zealand in Christchurch
England had found themselves 0 for 2 after five deliveries on a horrible drop-in pitch. Some pundits wondered whether they would pass 50 but, almost entirely due to Hussain’s expertise, they made it to 228. Later, of course, the pitch flattened sufficiently for Thorpe Flintoff & Astle to steal the headlines, but no-one who was there on Day 1 was in any doubt who had produced the innings of the game. Without their captain’s 106, England would probably have lost by a street. Instead they won by 98 runs and the series was eventually shared 1-1.
6. July 2002 vs India at Lord’s
The final margin of 170 runs suggests this was an easy win, but, at 78 for 3, England were looking a bit dodgy. However, Hussain, again coming to the crease without a run on the board, made 155 and, supported by Crawley, provided the foundation for the lower order to bash away merrily. England’s win gave them the lead in the series, although India came back well to draw 1-1.
7. August 2003 vs South Africa at Trent Bridge
No longer in charge, but this was a captain’s innings in all but name. England had been slaughtered at Lord’s and now found themselves 29 for 2 on a lively track. Hussain & Butcher added 189 to set up a way-over-par first innings score which proved decisive as the pitch deteriorated. England won by 70 runs and, despite their horror show in the next test, eventually drew the series 2-2. Without Hussain’s 116 here, the series would almost certainly have been lost.
8. March 2004 vs West Indies in Jamaica
West Indies’ first innings total of 311 was looking a very long way off when Trecothock & Vaughan departed with only 33 on the board. Edwards & Best were a fearsome prospect on a lively pitch and Hussain, in partnership with Butcher, seemed to survive as much through guts as much as through technique. But survive he did, and they added 119 to provide a basis for a small first innings advantage. Harmison’s pyrotechnics set up a 10 wicket win, but would the W’Indies have folded so meekly with the large lead that seemed likely before Hussain & Butcher’s rescue act? 58 runs is a long way from being his biggest test innings, but few have been more vital given the state of the match and the state of the series.
9. March 2004 vs West Indies in Trinidad
Jamaica revisited. This time WI had only made 208, but England’s reply was staggering horribly at 8 for 2. Once again, Hussain & Butcher weathered the storm and added 120 before Butcher fell. The total had reached 186 before Hussain departed for another 58, by which time Thorpe was able to marshal the tail and set up a 7 wicket win.
10. May 2004 vs New Zealand at Lord’s
Where were you when he smashed those three successive boundaries to seal the win? It had seemed thoroughly unlikely when England subsided to 35 for 2 chasing a fifth day target of 282, but in the event it was a breeze. Even running out the local hero had been forgiven as Lord’s rose to salute something very special indeed. If you’ve got to go, you might as well go in style and 103* in your final test innings takes some beating. Good luck Nasser – you’ll be missed.
Red_Ink_Squid
Global Moderator
I wasn't thinking of ODI innings but I do remember this one well. Stood as the record score for a #8 until broken a few days ago I think.
Slifer
International Captain
He also made 100* in the same match ftr....
mr_mister
Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
Michael Atherton
135 vs West Indies in '94
In a match better known for Lara's 375, Atherton's gritty knock went a long way to ensuring England salvaged a draw from this one. Ambrose was on fire during this series so that adds extra credit
185* vs South Africa in '95
Saw off the Saffers for nearly 11 hours and 500 balls. Courageous, disciplined Atherton at his best. Was his highest test score by some distance and saved another test for England.
77 vs Australia in '97
Nearly the only bit of success he had against Australia once they acquired both Warne and McGrath. This was another match saving knock, McGrath had skittled England out for 77 in the first innings with 8-38 and to avoid a defeat and maintain their 1-0 nil lead in the series Atherton had to dig his heels in deep. The series was still all over with a test in hand but Atherton did his best to keep the dream alive for longer than normal in an ashes around this time.
98* vs South Africa in '98
Finally a match winning knock! After surviving some brutal bowling from Donald he managed to guide England home to a 4th innings victory. A rarity for the decade. Made batting look like trench warfare in this knock especially.
108 vs West Indies in '00
Against an aging but still deadly Walsh and Ambrose Atherton scored nearly half his team's total in the third innings to ensure victory for England.
There was a lot of crap in between sure but when Atherton was on he was on.
135 vs West Indies in '94
In a match better known for Lara's 375, Atherton's gritty knock went a long way to ensuring England salvaged a draw from this one. Ambrose was on fire during this series so that adds extra credit
185* vs South Africa in '95
Saw off the Saffers for nearly 11 hours and 500 balls. Courageous, disciplined Atherton at his best. Was his highest test score by some distance and saved another test for England.
77 vs Australia in '97
Nearly the only bit of success he had against Australia once they acquired both Warne and McGrath. This was another match saving knock, McGrath had skittled England out for 77 in the first innings with 8-38 and to avoid a defeat and maintain their 1-0 nil lead in the series Atherton had to dig his heels in deep. The series was still all over with a test in hand but Atherton did his best to keep the dream alive for longer than normal in an ashes around this time.
98* vs South Africa in '98
Finally a match winning knock! After surviving some brutal bowling from Donald he managed to guide England home to a 4th innings victory. A rarity for the decade. Made batting look like trench warfare in this knock especially.
108 vs West Indies in '00
Against an aging but still deadly Walsh and Ambrose Atherton scored nearly half his team's total in the third innings to ensure victory for England.
There was a lot of crap in between sure but when Atherton was on he was on.
I'm eagerly anticipating this from Flem.
My favourite was his 5 against SA in Dunedin, 2012. Those runs came in a single ball, second ball of the day. I was still coming in the gate and there was an incredible roar, the likes of which you couldn't compute what it had been for (knowing NZ were 9 down and Martin was on strike). Surely it wasn't a six?!?! Soon found out what it was. Magic stuff.
I imagine the 12 v Bangladesh will get a run, his 34-ball vigil at Lord's in 2004 could go close, and all the other epic knocks seem to morph into each other in my memory.
Fuller Pilch
Hall of Fame Member
200
80
54
23
19
80
54
23
19
Nintendo
Cricketer Of The Year
Conway?
Fuller Pilch
Hall of Fame Member
Yeah, he's only had 6 innings. The other one was a 3.
Zinzan
Request Your Custom Title Now!
M D Crowe
5 off the top of my head
142 vs England at Lords 1994 (On one leg)
188 vs Australia at Brisbane 1985
119 vs West Indies at Wellington 1987
188 vs West Indies at Georgetown 1985
299 vs Sri Lanka at Wellington 1991
2 Special mentions
137 vs Australia at Christchurch 1986 -Retired hurt 51* from a Bruce Reid bounder. Returned after getting stiches 90 minutes later
108* vs Pakistan Lahore 1990 vs the two Ws in their pulp.
5 off the top of my head
142 vs England at Lords 1994 (On one leg)
188 vs Australia at Brisbane 1985
119 vs West Indies at Wellington 1987
188 vs West Indies at Georgetown 1985
299 vs Sri Lanka at Wellington 1991
2 Special mentions
137 vs Australia at Christchurch 1986 -Retired hurt 51* from a Bruce Reid bounder. Returned after getting stiches 90 minutes later
108* vs Pakistan Lahore 1990 vs the two Ws in their pulp.
Flem274*
123/5
bit late to go extensive on marto, but i thoroughly enjoyed him blasting johnson through the covers for a glorious four and sending harbhajan back over his head for a four. the 12 is a nice, chonky contribution, but for sheer awe inspiring domination you can't go beyond the two shots mentioned imo. i think they're even on youtube.
Highly conflicted about whether to like this post. I live by a pretty simple rule... if i notice any chris martin batting footage, i like it. But this is feels like liking a Pol Pot speach on human rights... just wrong.
M0rphin3
International Debutant
The Harby one is so satisfying
#revenge
Teja.
Global Moderator
Laxman's 73 in this game is my favourite innings of all time. It was a worn down 5th day pitch where surviving looked incredibly difficult. India were chasing 215, Laxman had injured his back very visibly and only came out to bat at no.7 because of this. In fact, he was so injured he batted at No.10 in the first innings. India were 124/8 one hour into day 5 with 90+ runs needed, an injured Laxman batting with Ishant and only Ojha to come.
Australia were paying 1.03 and India 27/1(!) at 124/8 which puts in perspective how dire the situation was. The game was basically done.
Laxman then wins the game in 2 hours with 73* (79) with India 9 wickets down. Words don't do justice to how epic that innings was. I don't think any other batsmen i've ever watched could play that innings. It was a lot more absurd than a standard ATG 4th innings 150 or a 200+ score from behind imo because of how fragile the situation was.
The 281 was a greater innings and probably the best innings of all time but not as insane as that 73.
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sunilz
International Regular
Also the one against SL in 2010. We were 50/4 chasing around 260 iirc.
Gob
International Coach
His knocks in Kandy and Chennai were top quality
ankitj
Hall of Fame Member
The SR in that 73 run knock was quite furious too despite the fact that he denied many singles to keep the strike.
PS. Your hyperlink is broken
RossTaylorsBox
Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
Wasn't there something where Ojha nearly got run out with like 10 runs to get or was I imagining that?
srbhkshk
International Captain
There was, and he got abused in front of a billion people for that.