The greatest ever Test innings under pressure of the modern era

[Insomniac]

The reason I list the "modern era" is because games played in the modern era's highlights are easier to find for the innings that are going to be listed in this thread.

Anyway, you want my take on the greatest innings under pressure?

Kamran Akmal. 109 v arch-rivals, India.

The score when Kamran Akmal walks in? 39/6, after Irfan Pathan destroyed Pakistan's top order, taking a hat-trick in what I believe was the first over.

The pitch? Very green. Nearly impossible to bat on.

But not for Kamran Akmal, he was on a mission. A mission to take Pakistan over their lowest test score (54) and then over the 100 mark.

One of the greatest knocks ever, under pressure. The series drawn 0-0, going into the final test. Green pitch. His team in big trouble, at 39/6.

He may have taken Pakistan to only 230 odd, but when Pakistan were looking to be bowled out under 70 odd, it was really a masterclass.

Because of Kamran Akmal, Pakistan recorded their highest test win vs India, and took the series 1-0. Of course, India responded with I believe 221 (?), and Pakistan made a huge 599 on a greenish pitch leaving India with no hope. However, I think on that day where Pakistan made 599, inspiration was given to them by Kamran Akmal, and the way he took his team out of that situation described and gave them the match.

Any other games / innings like this come to mind? One other game that actually does come to mind, is the Pakistan in India game in 2005, in Mohali, as well as one on this recent tour of India (by Pakistan) in 2007 by again, Akmal.

Any other innings like the one described above? These type of innings are very rare in my opinion. Another one like it, is VVS Laxman's 281 in Kolkata. Another innings from nowhere. Another innings that came when his team were down creek with no paddle to go up

 

[.Mob]

VVS for sure, not only did he and Dravid magically save the team from the jaws of defeat when he scored those runs, but it was a real sight for the gods, sublime, just sublime.

Graeme Smith taking his side to victory recently with a superb 150 was also brilliant.

 

[Chimp132]

kevin pietersen V australia 2005 at the oval easily the best test inings under pressue

 

[Insomniac]

VVS for sure, not only did he and Dravid magically save the team from the jaws of defeat when he scored those runs, but it was a real sight for the gods, sublime, just sublime.

Graeme Smith taking his side to victory recently with a superb 150 was also brilliant.

I'm not too sure Graeme Smith should be in the high category of what we have with VVS Laxman and Kamran Akmal

Smith was always at the crease, and to be honest, his team was never 39-6 or trailing by a trillion runs (ok, maybe it was only 300 odd, but it looked like a trillion). Possibly a category or 2 below

 

[King Pietersen]

Not an innings from Inzamam chasing a big total then ?


Pietersen's 158 for me as well. Not only did we need the innings, but there were questions starting to be asked about him, but that 158 just set him up, and made sure he ended the series as leading run scorer. No better innings for me.

 

[Insomniac]

kevin pietersen V australia 2005 at the oval easily the best test inings under pressue

You sure?

Pietersen came in at 67-3, with England leading by 73.

Fair enough, it was a pressure innings, but how is it the best test innings under pressure? And you say easily?

Kamran Akmal went better, taking his side from 39/6. Did Kevin do that? VVS Laxman came in, with his side trailing by over 300. Did Kevin do that?

Heck, it wasn't even Pietersen in that test match. The rain gods screwed over Australia in that test, although Pietersen did do alot of the work.

While Pietersen is a good/great batsman, he hasn't proved himself on that front as of yet. I get a feeling that he will do it soon, and his name can be added to this thread. But it hasn't happened

 

[manee]

You sure?

Pietersen came in at 67-3, with England leading by 73.

Fair enough, it was a pressure innings, but how is it the best test innings under pressure? And you say easily?

Kamran Akmal went better, taking his side from 39/6. Did Kevin do that? VVS Laxman came in, with his side trailing by over 300. Did Kevin do that?

Heck, it wasn't even Pietersen in that test match. The rain gods screwed over Australia in that test, although Pietersen did do alot of the work.

While Pietersen is a good/great batsman, he hasn't proved himself on that front as of yet. I get a feeling that he will do it soon, and his name can be added to this thread. But it hasn't happened

Pietersen's innings pretty much decided the Ashes as him falling early would have gifted the match to Australia. His innings won England the Ashes, one of the greatest and most celebrated wins in the history of Test cricket. He had absolutely tremendous pressure on him at the time and performed, in his debut series no less. Not all pressure is directly related to the match situation - the pressure Pietersen was under was immense and facing Mcgrath and Warne no less, the former who revels in England and the latter having a dream series made the innings all the more amazing.

 

[Sureshot]

Collingwood's hundred at the Oval? The pressure being his test match career?

 

[Insomniac]

Pietersen's innings pretty much decided the Ashes as him falling early would have gifted the match to Australia. His innings won England the Ashes, one of the greatest and most celebrated wins in the history of Test cricket. He had absolutely tremendous pressure on him at the time and performed, in his debut series no less. Not all pressure is directly related to the match situation - the pressure Pietersen was under was immense and facing Mcgrath and Warne no less, the former who revels in England and the latter having a dream series made the innings all the more amazing.

And just because it was the Ashes measn that it jumps over Laxman and Kamrans' innings? Kamran made his 100 in a India-Pakistan test series - one of the most grueling in world cricket, the other being the Ashes of course.

Make or break, because the series was 0-0 going into the 3rd test.

Collingwood's hundred at the Oval? The pressure being his test match career?

Yes, pressure innings. HUGE pressure. But greater than 39-6 or trailing by 300 runs? I doubt it, as much pressure as Collingwood would be under.

You do know, Kamran Akmal only remains around the Pakistan team thanks to that innings, as well as the one in Mohali in 2005, and the one in India in 2007. Those "pressure-innings" made his career as well (and keeps it afloat for quite some time)

I think I need to clarify myself. Yes Collingwood was under immense pressure, however, I meant the team being under pressure, not certain individuals such as in Collingwood's case. The team of course wanted those runs, since it was a key moment, but it wasn't a HUGE pressure in that moment of the game(for England, taking out Collingwood)

 

[Sureshot]

Fair enough. That KP 158 at The Oval, has been said, was a huge innings. If he hadn't have done it we would have been waiting over 20 years to beat the Aussies in a test series! The atmosphere surrounding that game was immense, too.

 

[Cricketman]

Laxman's 281.

/End Thread

 

[Insomniac]

Fair enough. That KP 158 at The Oval, has been said, was a huge innings. If he hadn't have done it we would have been waiting over 20 years to beat the Aussies in a test series! The atmosphere surrounding that game was immense, too.

Of course it was a huge innings.

But Kamran Akmal took his team to a win in a series against India (well set up the win anyway) for 23 years, so yes there was some (alot) of pressure involved there as well.

1983 - 2006.

And Sureshot, I recommend youtubing some of the clips from that game. The atmosphere there was also very amazing. History was made in that test, I tell you. 23 years since winning a test series v India.

Can you say that Pakistan would have got past say, 80 or 100 without Kamran? That's what it meant.

And Cricketman. Kamran Akmal and VVS Laxman are both at the same level with their respective knocks. Both saved their teams at a desperate time.

 

[Sureshot]

It's a losing battle. You think an Ind-Pak series is more important, I think an Ashes series is more important, it's just personal bias. Two very important innings. I suppose it will be up to the neutrals to decide which one was better.

 

[manee]

It's a losing battle. You think an Ind-Pak series is more important, I think an Ashes series is more important, it's just personal bias. Two very important innings. I suppose it will be up to the neutrals to decide which one was better.

Do I count as a neutral; living in England and supporting India. Personally, I think the Ashes is a million times more important - the India Vs Pakistan Test series in 2007 had very little atmosphere but each Ashes has a buzz around it. The Ashes also benefits from a vast history too.

 

[evertonfan]

Atherton's amazing vigil against the Saffers in 1995. Batted for about 4 months to save the Test. Amazing show of grit and determination.