The greatest ever Test innings under pressure of the modern era

[khalek]

Ashraful's 62 off 40 against India in 2007 was the best knock I have ever seen. Bangladesh were trailing by thousand runs in the second innings, but he thought of nothing but scoring runs. That innings included 12 fours and 2 sixes.

 

[nightprowler10]

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.

Akmal basically went from a second rate batsman to playing Gavasker-esque strokes just for that one day, which made it so much more special for me, and that's not even accounting for the pitch and the incredible pressure. Of course he didn't have Warne bowling to him, but the immense pressure of the situation and batting with the tail the way he did made up for that.

I feel many people underrate his innings simply because it was him and not an Inzamam or a Yousuf who played it. KP's knock was special in its own way, but doesn't compare to Akmal's 113 or Laxman's 281 IMO, the latter being the best of modern times.

Only other Pakistani knock that comes close to Akmal's was Inzi's 93* against South Africa.

 

[aussie_ben91]

Erm, I don't think Pontings 156 goes with VVS Laxman's 281 or Kamrans 109 (from 39/6)

And neither will the Hayden & Langer parntership...

I think we've really set the par low now -

We're looking for those AMAZING knocks - Kamran Akmal's 100 from 39/6, VVS Laxman's 281 from trailing by 300, I guess KP's innings can go, as dubious as I'll say that is, because while his team was struggling at 79-3 with McGrath on a hat-trick, he really never had to be in a situation from trailing by 300 or at 39/6.

And that 39/6 was against India, like KP was facing Australia, so that takes out that argument IMO.

Hayden's innings in the last in the final 2005 Ashes test beats anything you've mentioned.

The knocks you have mentioned have been in favourable batting conditions in the subcontinent whilst Hayden's innings was on a seaming minefield in England, with cruel swining conditions, with the pressure of his career being on the line and also facing a formidable seaming lineup. Added to the fact that their was constant rain delays which would've interrupted his concentration.

Was either Akaml or Laxman fighting for their careers? NO! That is true pressure for you.

 

[smssia0112]

Erm, I don't think Pontings 156 goes with VVS Laxman's 281 or Kamrans 109 (from 39/6)

And neither will the Hayden & Langer parntership...

I think we've really set the par low now -

We're looking for those AMAZING knocks - Kamran Akmal's 100 from 39/6, VVS Laxman's 281 from trailing by 300, I guess KP's innings can go, as dubious as I'll say that is, because while his team was struggling at 79-3 with McGrath on a hat-trick, he really never had to be in a situation from trailing by 300 or at 39/6.

And that 39/6 was against India, like KP was facing Australia, so that takes out that argument IMO.

Ponting's was during a series where the batsmen were in terrible form, he was the first centurion for the team (in the second innings of the 3rd test).

Maybe it's not the greatest ever, but to say that it goes nowhere near your two isn't right.

As for Hayden and Langer in the 5th test, theirs was good, but it didn't really save or win the match, it just laid the foundation for a better innings. I wouldn't call it great because it only stands out as they were both having a bad series.

 

[aussie_ben91]

How you can say VVS Laxman's innings of 281 was under pressure is beyhond me. When you are trailing by 300 runs against the best team in the world then you're basically expected to lose the game. Great innings to get the team out of trouble, but not under pressure by any stretch of the imagination.

Ponting's innings was under pressure because he was the captain of the Australian team and Australia had not lost the Ashes in 20 years.

Pietersen's innings was under pressure because it was England's greatest chance to win the Ashes for 20 years and if he had've failed then England would've probably never won the Ashes back.

Hayden's innings was under pressure because he was fighting for his career.

Langer's innings has nothing to do with pressure? I was only talking about Hayden's innings.

 

[Insomniac]

Ben, I fail to understand your point.

How can one being in a position of 39/6 or trailing by 300 runs not be under pressure?

The team is depending on him. Yes, all those knocks are pressure knocks. But guess what?

VVS Laxman's 281 and Kamran Akmal's 113 are even better knocks. Why? They took their teams out of OBSCURITY and took them to a win.

And also Ben, you have not said this, but if you say that Pietersen's innings was better than Laxman and Kamran's (as you have hinted), please tell me which number is greater. 20 or 23?

It had been 23 years since Pakistan won a test series v India.

 

[sohum]

I have to side with zMario here (for once, hah). It may be the Indian bias, but those two innings by Akmal and Laxman are ones that I will remember for the entirety of my life. Akmal's will be remembered more as a signpost for India's regularity in failing to nail the opposition after doing early damage and Laxman's just because the sheer might of his innings.

It doesn't matter who you're playing, if you're following on and with half your batsmen gone, as a batsman, you better be under pressure. Don't forget the fact that the Aussies were chasing the elusive series win in India as well--a win there would have sealed the deal for them. There was plenty of pressure. Laxman's innings is going to be remembered as one of the hallmark innings of our age, and it was definitely played under a lot of pressure.

 

[vaibhav mehta]

Well I also have found something though I am not interested to beat any of the knock above from Biased people.

It was way before in December 1999,when England tour South Africa.
South Africa was leading the series with 1-0 after 4 test matches.Last Test to go.

England has scored 366 runs in 1st innings and in reply Caddick thrashed African batting line up.Africa 156 all out.And Ya it was Follow on.
2 and a half days to go and South Africa wanted to save the match to grab the series.

Mind you guys It was Durban and It was Caddick at his best.

Now A guy named Kirsten came to open the innings and saved the Match for Africa by staying 209 overs there where he played 642 balls.
Now Don't say me that it easy to defend and Hard to score runs.
It does not If you playing on fast African Pitches against English Pace bowlers.

He has batted 878 Minutes and that is something great.

 

[evertonfan]

Allow me to just point out that the Oval is in no way a 'seaming minefield' as Ben put it. It's the flattest pitch in England other than Lords. That's why Ashley Giles got a 50 on it in the same Test.

 

[shravi]

Dravid at Adelaide in 2003 has to be up there as well.

 

[Stephen Bailey]

Allow me to just point out that the Oval is in no way a 'seaming minefield' as Ben put it. It's the flattest pitch in England other than Lords. That's why Ashley Giles got a 50 on it in the same Test.

The pitch itself was very good that game, but the conditions made it so difficult. It was wet, dark, cold, cloudy and thoroughly miserable, hence the ball doing plenty. I remember applauding that innings as it truly was the last chance saloon for him and it just about kept Australia alive. Giles 50 came on the final day when the sun was out all day and as you come to expect from The Oval, the pitch was still playing brilliantly. I can only remember one ball really misbehaving and that was when Shain Tait bowled Geraint Jones. Not to take anything away from Giles, because he'd had a miserable time with the bat in the series (not including Trent Bridge 2nd innings) and his place was always being questioned by pretty much everyone.

I can only comment on innings I've seen but Ponting's innings in the third test in 2005 was a fine performance. I don't like the bloke and I don't enjoy watching him bat, but that was some performance. The ball was reverse swinging more than I'd personally ever seen and yet he kept his head when all around lost theirs amid some brilliant bowling from Flintoff, Jones and co.

Atherton's marathon against South Africa was the most incredible show of grit and determination. I don't care if that doesn't count as "modern era".

Collingwood's knock a few weeks ago sticks out for two reasons, the first being if he failed then his test career was probably finished, and secondly, England were in real trouble at the time and his knock gave England a realistic shot at victory. Unfortunately Smith decided he wanted to win the next day.

One innings I've always liked is Dominic Cork's 33 not out in the 2nd test against the West Indies to win the match by two wickets. Courtney Walsh had taken 6 wickets and Ambrose had 1-22 off 22 overs. Two of the greatest bowlers in history bowling at you on what was a very difficult pitch (WI 267 all out & 54 all out, ENG 1st Inns 134 all out) and yet he survived to win it.

 

[evertonfan]

You know I was gonna mention Dom's innings in that game but decided against it as people would have laughed at me.

 

[Themer]

There is one innings that surpasses these easily. Hoggard 8* vs Australia 4th test of the 2005 Ashes.

 

[angryangy]

Ponting's innings at Old Trafford is definitely one of the classiest I've ever seen and from a position where by the morning of day 5, absolutely everyone was saying that the only way Australia could avoid losing was if Ponting bats out the day. Even though he was batting at 3, you cannot deny the pressure he was under and the form of the bowling attack he was up against. It's a bit lame if you are thinking only terrible batsmen can play under pressure.

 

[metallics2006]

How many neutrals do we have who aren't English, British, Indian, or Pakistani

What if we were to say that an Ind-Pak and an Ashes series were at par with each other, since in both series, both sides are arch-enemies.

Then what would / should be the deciding factor as to whether Kevin Pietersen joins Kamran Akmal and VVS Laxman?

Last time I checked, the English and the British are the same.

For me, the best test innings is this:

Brian Lara
153* for West Indies v Australia at Bridgetown in 1998-99
Wisden Rating: 255.2
If Lara's double-century in the previous Test (No.22 in the Wisden ratings) changed the course of the series, this stamped his name on it for ever. An Australian team containing Slater, Ponting, McGrath, Warne and the Waugh twins lost a match which they began by amassing 490. The bare details of West Indies' second innings are exciting enough: set 308 to win, they got there with one wicket to spare. But it was the manner in which Lara shepherded his lower order to victory that lives in the memory. West Indies were 105 for 5, then still 70 short with eight wickets down--one mistake by their captain would have cost them the match and probably the series. Instead he made half their runs and rescued West Indies cricket from its lowest ebb. The complete redemption of a prodigal son.