Cricket Classics

The pinnacle of cricket is reaching yet another milestone, 2000th test match and it coincides with the 100th test between India and England and there is no better ground than Mecca of cricket to host this historic test match, the Lord’s. To add more spice to this, a century at Lord’s for the Little Master means it ll be his 100th international century and 1st at Lord’s. There is no doubt this is going to be one of the most important test match in Cricket’s history. Adding to it is the world’s no 1 ranking is at stake for the Indians. If they lose by a margin of 2 tests (2-0 or 3-1), it means England will be the new world no 1 in test cricket. It would be a great disservice if me being a big fan of test cricket, do not re-visit some of the classic encounters over the past years.

1. India vs Australia (Kolkata, 2001): This is certainly one of the best test matches ever played. India was down 0-1 with Australia winning the 1st test at Mumbai. Things didn’t look good at the start of this test match with Australia piling up more than 400 runs in the 1st innings, thanks to a brilliant century from the captain Steven Waugh with ably supported by Jason Gillespie. In reply, India was bowled out for less than 200 in the 1st innings. Australia enforced follow on and India started of better than the 1st innings. However India was staring at defeat until the Wall joined Laxman. The duo played more than a day without losing the wicket with Laxman scoring 281 and Dravid (180) and taking India past 600 and set Australia a target of 384. Australia started of very well and draw seems to be inevitable. However in the final session of the 5th day things turned around with Harbhajan and Sachin Tendulkar sharing 9 wickets among them and taking India home to what would be called as the greatest victory in their history.

2. Australia vs West Indies (Bridgetown, 1998): If at all any budding player wants to know how to play under pressure, I think he should watch this match. This match is known for the heroics of one of the greatest test batsmen, Brian Charles Lara. Australia score 490 in the 1st innings thanks to a brilliant century for Steven Waugh and Ricky Ponting. In reply, WI conceded a lead of 161 runs. However in the second innings Australia were bowled out for 140 with Walsh taking 5 wickets. Needing 308 to win, WI was struggling at 105/5 before Lara and Adams put on a century partnership. However when the score was 238, WI lost Adams and soon they were 248/8. In came Curtly Ambrose and he along with Lara put on a 50 run partnership and took the team total to 302. In between there were nervous moments with catch dropped at the slips. With 1 wicket remaining, Courtney Walsh not known for his batting hung in there until Lara finished of the proceedings taking WI home. Lara score 153* and scored more than 60 runs with the tail.

3. India vs England (Chennai, 2008): Including this test match in one of classics may not be an apt in terms of finishes but for the spirit of English cricket who toured India despite the terror attacks in Mumbai barely weeks before the start of the match. Needing 387 to win, India got off to a flying start by Virender Sehwag who scored a quick fire 87 setting up a great platform for victory in the 5th morning. The final day belonged to none other than Sachin Tendulkar who along with Yuvraj Singh saw India through. Sachin scored a brilliant 102* on a difficult Chennai pitch.

4. India vs Australia (Chennai, 1986): This is the second test match that ended in tie after WI vs Aus. The match is also known for the heroics of Dean Jones who scored a brilliant 200 in the heat of Chennai fighting dehydration. Needing 348 to win, India started off well with Sunil Gavaskar scoring a brilliant 90 on a difficult turning track. He forged a century partnership with Mohinder Amarnath. Soon India was 253/5 with Ravi Shastri and Chandrakant Pandit at the crease. Shastri forged a 40 run partnership with Pandit and another 40 run partnership with Chetan Sharman to take India close to the total. When the scores were level at 347 and with 1 wicket in hand, the match was poised for a great finish. Maninder Singh was at the striker’s end and was out lbw to Greg Mathews giving him 10 wickets in the match.

5. England vs Australia (Leeds, 1981): The Ashes is touted to be the ultimate contest in test cricket and this match lived up to its name mainly because of one man, Ian Botham. Austraila scored 401 in the 1st innings with Botham taking 6 wickets. However England was bowled out for 174 in their first innings with Botham being the top scorer for them. Asked to follow on, England was tottering at 135/7, when Dilley joined Botham. This was the partnership that changed the course of the game. The duo put on a century partnership with Botham scoring a brilliant century in less than run a ball. Once Dilley was out Botham forged another century partnership with Bob Willis and took England to 356 setting a modest target of 130 for the Australians. However the day belonged to Willis who took 8 Australian wickets for just 43 runs bowling out the Australians for a meager 111.

The above test matches were just a sample of hundreds of classic matches which proves that test matches are the ultimate form of cricket. These matches listed here are not in any order. There are matches which may be better than the above 5, but the idea of this is just to highlight the importance of test match cricket which sees dwindling audiences and revenue. It is these matches which tests the true ability of a player and one who comes out with flying colours at the end of their career are truly the legends of cricket.