BLIC 2005 Classic Matches

Codemasters have released the list of Classic Matches available in Brian Lara International Cricket 2005 and they can be viewed below:

The Birth of the Ashes

This test, the ninth between England and Australia, led to the birth of the Ashes. With Australia touring and only playing a single test, this match also highlighted one of the greatest Australian test match bowlers .The Demon. Fred Spofforth. On a difficult pitch, the scores were low and England were set a modest target of 85 runs to win the match in their final innings. England were clearly favourites until Spofforth destroyed the England batting and won the match for Australia, with England only needing 7 runs to win. The result was a real blow for England and it gave rise to the famous obituary printed in the sporting Times

Challenge: Re-write history and ensure an England victory in this momentous test match by denying the “Demon Bowler” Fred Spofforth his greatest bowling performance on a difficult wicket. 85 runs are required, with all 10 wickets at your disposal.

The 1933 Bodyline test

Due to the almost impenetrable strength of the Australian top order, the English captain, Douglas Jardine, employed a tactic known as “Fast Leg Theory”.
This controversial tactic became dubbed by the media as “Bodyline” due to the English quick bowler’s ability (Harold Larwood in particular) to follow their Captain’s instructions and bowl accurate deliveries into the line of the body. This forced the batsman to either take a hit to the body, take evasive action, or play a risky legside stroke and run the risk of being caught in the strong legside field. The bodyline series caused uproar in Australia and almost caused their secession from the Commonwealth. After much political wrangling Bodyline was outlawed and the current cricket rules prevent it from being used again.

Challenge: With only 10 overs left in the day, break any potential partnership between the two key Australian batsman at the crease. By taking this crucial wicket, you would scupper any chance of Australia saving this crucial 3rd test. The field is set for “Leg Theory” or .”Bodyline” bowling, so accurate short pitched bowling will be crucial to any chance of success.

The Tied Test

The West Indies toured Australia in 1960 at a time when Test cricket was losing its lustre. Australia had dominated every team they had played but the main cause for concern was that the cricket being played was dull and abrasive. The Australian selectors spoke with their team suggesting that those who played positive, attacking cricket would be looked upon favourably for future selections. This match, the first test in the series, has been described as “The Greatest Match Ever Played” After two days of some the best cricket ever witnessed the result came down to a final frantic over. The Australians were in the process of running the winning run, but a quick pickup and throw from Joe Solomon at Square Leg, with only a single stump to aim at, hit the stumps with a direct hit and the rest is history. Upon entering the Australian dressing room, Richie Benaud the Australian captain was greeted by the legendary Don Bradman who said; “That’s the greatest thing that’s ever happened to the game”

Challenge: With the score at 92 and the 6th wicket having just fallen, score the 141 runs without losing all 4 remaining wickets to change history and win the match.

Sobers’ six sixes

In Swansea during the summer of 1968, Garfield Sobers, the then Captain of Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club demonstrated why he was the one of the most feared batsmen of all time by being the first to hit six consecutive Sixes from six deliveries in a single over. The unfortunate bowler, Malcolm Nash, almost stopped the onslaught with his fifth ball of the over when Roger Davis, fielding near the boundary at long off, caught one of Sobers. almighty blows but then fell over the boundary rope. This set the scene for a 166 run Nottinghamshire victory but the game will be remembered for Sir Garfield Sobers. devastating 36 run over. This feat has only been equalled once, by Ravi Shastri for Bombay, in 1984 against Baroda.

Challenge: Play as Gary Sobers for one over and hit 6 consecutive sixes in an over.

Massie’s Test

Australia had not won a test since they beat India at Madras in 1969 and they were having their most barren run in their history against England. It needed a special performance to rekindle the flames of Australian cricket. After some aggressive bowling from Dennis Lillee had unsettled the English openers, Bob Massie stepped up and produced figures of 8 wickets for 84 runs in the first innings and 8 wickets for 53 runs in the second. These astonishing figures of 16-137 put Massie in exclusive company with Jim Laker.s 19-90 against Australia in 1956 and Sydney Barnes. 17-159 against South Africa in 1913. Strong batting performances from Greg and Ian Chappell complemented Massies excellent line and late swing, enabling Australia to end their barren spell against England with a convincing eight wicket victory.

Challenge: Survive Massie and Lillee to take the England score past the score posted in this innings in 1972. With 3 wickets down and the score on 18, score 99 runs without losing the final 7 wickets.

Port of Spain 1988

Imran Khan had been convinced by the President of Pakistan to come out of retirement for the tour to the West Indies. After suffering a 5-0 thrashing in the One-day internationals this had begun to look like an unwise decision. Pakistan however had won the first test by 9 wickets. Buoyed up by this success, Imran and Wasim Akram both ignored advice to rest injuries in the hope that they would wrap up a series victory. Pakistan won the toss and sent the West Indies out to bat. The West Indians had a mediocre innings with slight flourishes in the middle order. Pakistan failed to build on their advantage due to some strong bowling from Malcolm Marshall and Winston Benjamin. Imran Khan then took four wickets. In the second innings with the West Indies struggling on 81 the series looked all but over. Viv Richards came into bat and survived a caught behind appeal, much to the Pakistani captain.s anger. This incident spurred Richards on to 123, which put Pakistan on the back foot. On the first ball of the last over Saleem Yousuf was out l.b.w. and it looked as if the West Indies might take the victory. However, Abdul Qadir survived the last 5 balls to draw the match.

Challenge: With the West Indies struggling at 66 for 3, consolidate their position in the test match by scoring a century with Viv Richards without losing his wicket or running out of batting partners.

India vs Pakistan (2003 ICC Cricket World Cup)

This Pool A match in Centurion, South Africa, was India and Pakistan.s fourth meeting in World Cup Cricket. Always a mouth watering battle of Asian cricketing giants, this match would ultimately decide the success or failure of each team.s World Cup chances. Pakistan batted first and helped by a quick century from Saeed Anwar scored 273 for 7 from their 50 overs. This left India with a difficult yet achievable run chase. Led by Sachin Tendulkar who achieved his twelve thousandth career run when on a score of 83, India set about a rapid run chase. They had reached 50 runs after just four and a half overs and 100 runs after 11.1 overs. This batting, coupled with a lacklustre bowling performance from the Pakistani attack allowed India to win and reach the Super Sixes stage of the World Cup. This victory ended Pakistan.s attempts to emulate previous World Cup runs, and signalled India.s intent of reaching the World Cup final.

Challenge: India require 274 runs to win the match against their old rivals Pakistan. With 10 wickets in hand, score the required runs within the 50 overs without losing the wicket of Tendulkar or being bowled out.

The 2003 ICC Cricket World Cup final

The final of the 2003 ICC Cricket World Cup was held at the New Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg. The Australians, without Steve Waugh, Shane Warne and Jason Gillespie were sent in to bat by the Indian captain. A nervous 15 run over by Zaheer Khan got the game underway and after some ill-advised banter had spurred on Adam Gilchrist, the Australians started to score freely. Seeing his attack being demolished by the Australians, Ganguly brought his spinner Harbhajan Singh into the attack in the 10th over. This change of pace brought wickets however its success was short lived as the Australian partnership of Ponting and Martyn took the total up to a massive 359 for 2 from the 50 overs. The quick fall of Tendulkar.s wicket made India.s task seem even more insurmountable, but strong batting performances from Virender Sehwag and Rahul Dravid offered a glimmer of hope. Unfortunately for India, the controlled aggression and great skill of the Australian team ensured that this was Australia’s day. A great result for the new Australian captain Ricky Ponting, and a second successive World Cup Final victory for one of the greatest teams to have ever graced the game.

Challenge: Having set a huge total of 359 for 2, Australia are superbly placed to win the ICC Cricket World Cup for the second time in succession. Bowl India out for under 235 to emulate Australia’s comprehensive win to take the ICC Cricket World Cup for the second successive time.

The 2004 ICC Champions Trophy final

An overcast autumn day set the scene for the ICC Champions Trophy Final. The West Indies won the toss and sent England out to bat. The English batsman struggled to come to terms with the pace and bounce of the West Indian bowling but Marcus Trescothick battled on and achieved 104 before being run out. England’s score of 217 seemed out of reach to a West Indian side whose batting had been vulnerable to the seem bowling of Steven Harmison and Andrew Flintoff. The predictions seemed to be coming true as the West Indies wilted to a score of 147 runs for 8 wickets with only Shivnarine Chanderpaul offering any resistance. In the 33rd over Chanderpaul’s wicket was taken leaving Courtney Browne and Ian Bradshaw to try and push for an unlikely victory. They battled valiantly and shared an unbeaten partnership of 71 which took them to a much needed West Indian victory.

Challenge: With the West Indies in real trouble at 147 for 8, take the final two wickets or keep the West Indies from scoring the runs required to secure the ICC Champions Trophy for England.