THE RECORD MAKER

 

Image Credit- The Guardian.

Venue- Edgbaston Cricket Ground, Birmingham [July 1994].

The English County Cricket has always attracted talents from all over the world. Many former and present cricketing legends have represented these historic teams in the longest format of the game. Furthermore, when legends play, old records get shattered and new records get created. However, one cricketing record was made in July 1994 which still stands strong. The record was made by the Great West Indian cricketer Brian Charles Lara. He scored an unbeaten 501* against Durham in Edgbaston. By doing so he surpassed the previous record of 499 scored by Pakistani cricketer Hanif Mohammad. 

Phil Bainbridge, the captain of Durham, won the toss and elected to bat first. It was a wise decision, as they declared after amassing a massive total of 556/8 in 158.5 overs. Durham's John Morris scored a well-deserved double hundred (204 runs from 287 balls) and ended up becoming the leading scorer for his team. Warwickshire's innings got off to a bad start when they lost their first wicket at the score of 8. It was then Lara arrived on the crease. The southpaw first received a reprieve when he was clean bowled for 12, but the delivery turned out to be a no ball. Later the Durham wicketkeeper Chris Scott dropped him when he was on 18.

Brian Lara then went on to score 501* of 427 deliveries at a strike rate of 117.33. His innings comprised of 62 boundaries and 10 sixes. It was a pure classy and elegant knock from the true legend of the game.  Due to his incredible knock, Warwickshire ended up scoring 810 runs in their first innings. Apart from Lara, Keith Piper too scored a well composed 116 for the hosts.  

Though the match ended in a draw, but it will always be remembered because of Brian Lara's heroics. Even today after 29 years the record stands strong. 

To watch the innings of Lara, Click Here. 

THE GAME WHICH GAVE BIRTH TO GREATEST RIVALRY

 

Image Credit- ESPN CricInfo.

Venue- The Oval, London [August 1882].

In the summer of 1882, Australian Cricket Team toured England. In a one-off test, Australia's Billy Murdoch won the toss and elected to bat first. However, the decision backfired, as Australians were quickly dismissed for mere 63 runs. Jack Blackham was the top scorer for Aussies as he scored 17 runs. Apart from him, only Murdoch (13) and Blackham (10) were able to score runs in double digits.  On a greenish pitch that provided more support than it initially appeared, opening bowler Ted Peate, who took 4 for 31, and Dick Barlow, who produced a devastating 5 for 19, bowled with inspiration and completely dismantled the Australian batting order.

Dick Barlow and WG Grace opened for England as they started their innings, but "The Doctor" was unable to repeat his typical heroics and was clean bowled by the express pace of Fred Spofforth for 4. Only George Ulyett (26 off 59 balls) and Maurice Read (19 off 54 balls) offered any serious opposition as Spofforth's pure pace proved to be too much firepower for the England line-up to handle. A steady string of wickets then came in. In 36.3 overs, he gathered 7 for 46, including an incredible 18 maidens.  Despite Spofforth's outstanding bowling, England had a reached a total of 101 runs and thus held a 38-runs lead after the first innings. At the conclusion of England's first inning, stumps were called.

Australia started their second innings on the second day. Alick Bannerman and Hugh Massie gave Aussies a strong start as the openers stitched a partnership of 66 runs for the first wicket, which was more than the total scored by the entire team in the first innings. Australia lost 4 for 13 during the following few overs after losing Massie, which set off a mini collapse. Then, skipper Billy Murdoch contributed a crucial 29 runs, but the next four wickets fell for only eight runs. With a well-made 55, Bannerman led Australia to an overall lead of 84 when they were all out for 122 in 63 overs.

The English started slowly and steadily but, when Spofforth bowled out English Captain Albert Hornby for 9, England scorecard read 15/1. The very next delivery, he dismissed Dick Barlow and brought the visitors back into the game. W. G. Grace and George Ulyett then formed a partnership of 36 until Ulyett was dismissed by Spofforth for 11. A few moments later, Grace was caught by Bannerman after being struck by a Harry Boyle's delivery for 32.  The scorecard now read 53 for 4. England were stumbling and they still needed 31 runs to win the game.

 England reached 66 for 5 thanks to a plodding 12 off 55 balls from wicketkeeper Alfred Lyttelton, but Spofforth then abruptly uprooted his middle stump, leaving England in a precarious situation.  In the same over, Read was clean bowled for a second-ball duck and Steel was caught and bowled by Spofforth for a third-ball duck. England were 75 for 8 when Lucas was again bowled by Spofforth for 5, needing just 10 more runs to win but with only two wickets left. The strain was intense; according to legendary tales from the time, one witness passed away and another bit through his umbrella handle. In the very next over from the opposite end, Harry Boyle dismissed Barnes for 2 and then clean bowled Ted Peate for 2 with the final ball of his over to declare England out for 77. The impossible had happened. The English were defeated in their own backyard. 

 The crowd initially went completely hushed, unable to understand how England could have fallen so drastically. However soon they hurried onto the field to congratulate Spofforth and Boyle for their astounding accomplishment after realizing what a wonderful bowling performance they had just witnessed. 

The populace in England was startled by England's shocking defeat, and the players received harsh criticism. It was the first time that England had lost in its own country. Leading newspapers of those times dubbed this defeat as the death of English Cricket and many obituaries were written in regard to the same. 

The Legend of Ashes was Born. 

THIS IS CRICKET

 

Image Credit- The Times of India.

Venue- Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne [February, 2008].

It was the summer of 2008. The test series and T20s were over and all eyes were now upon the Commonwealth Bank Tri-Series. The first couple of games were washed by rain in Brisbane. The hosts won their game against the Lankans comfortably at the SCG and now they were facing India for the second time in the series at historic MCG. 

On a batting friendly wicket Ricky Ponting won the toss and elected to bat first. Gilchrist received an inside edge onto his pads from Sreesanth's fourth ball of the innings, and was mistakenly called out LBW. Following Hayden's 25 off 21 balls, Australia was reduced to 2/37 in 5.2 overs after he was caught at slip. Clarke was caught at short mid wicket after Ponting edged a defensive bat to slip. Symonds too nicked a ball, which wicketkeeper Dhoni expertly caught, and Haddin was out after being stumped by a wide delivery down the leg side. Australia's tail was now exposed as they sank to 6/92 after 25.5 overs. Lee survived 35 balls to help Hussey, but eventually he edged Pathan into first slip. For just 8 runs, Johnson, Bracken, and Clark were bowled out. Hussey remained unbeaten at 65. After 43.1 overs, Australia were bowled out for just 159 runs. Both from 9 overs, Sharma took 4/38 and Sreesanth took 3/31.

 The Aussies needed early wickets, but Tendulkar's early boundaries let India get off to a superb start. The fifth over of the Indian innings was an over to remember wherein Tendulkar scored 3 remarkable boundaries off Brett Lee. Lee was bowling fire and Tendulkar was dispatching it to the boundary at double speed.  Cricket at its very best. 

The poor umpiring continued in the game as Pathan was called out LBW despite the fact that replays showed he inside edged, putting India at 2-54 after 11.2 overs. Following the departure of Gambhir, Tendulkar, and Yuvraj Singh, India's position at 5-102 after 28.3 overs appeared precarious. Although Australia's bowling was accurate (Clark 1/26 from 10, Johnson 2/24 from 10), it proved difficult to defend such a small target. Under extreme circumstances, Rohit Sharma (39 from 61) and Dhoni (17 from 54) worked wonderfully together for a fantastic winning partnership. With five wickets and 25 more balls, India was able to get home.

To watch the 5th over of Indian Innings, Click Here. 

THE INDIAN WHO SCORED AN ASHES TON

 

Image Credit- Wisden Cricket.

Venue- Old Trafford, Manchester [July 1896].

In the summer of 1896, Australian Cricket Team toured England to play 3 test matches. The English won the first test at Lords comfortably and all eyes were now set in Manchester.  This test has a special place in the history of English Cricket. Maharaja KS Ranjitsinhji made his international debut for England, thereby becoming the first Indian to do the same. To be honest this should have happened in the first test itself, however the racist tendency of the then English Selector Lord Harris kept him away from the side. Furthermore despite being a brilliant batsman of his time, his inclusion in the team was because of financial reasons and not solely because of his merit.

Now lets come back to the match. In the second test, the Aussies won the toss and elected to bat first. Riding upon FA Iredale's century, the visitors ended up scoring 412 in their first innings. In response the Hosts were bowled out for 231 in their first innings. AFA Lilley scored 65, whereas debutant KS Ranjitsinhji scored a cautious 62. 

The Aussies enforced a follow on and this is when we witnessed the best of Maharaja. KS Ranjitsinji scored a marvelous 154* against the hostile bowling line-up of the visitors. The remaining players of his side were struggling to score runs, but not him. It was a fine display of his skills as because of his hundred the hosts ended up scoring 305 in their second innings.

 Everyone was in awe of his innings. In the words of Wisden, "The famous young Indian fairly rose to the occasion, playing an innings that could, without exaggeration, be fairly described as marvelous. He punished the Australian bowlers in a style that, up to that period of the season, no other English batsman had approached. He repeatedly brought off his wonderful strokes on the leg side, and for a while had the Australian bowlers quite at his mercy." 

Though it were Aussies who won the game, but it was the Maharaja who stole the show. However it is pertinent to note that though the majority of English public loved his innings, but not the the establishment who viewed him as a heathen. The dark reality of colonial times. 

[Postscript- The English won the third test at Oval and thus lifted the urn, thereby making Maharaja Ranjitsinhji a part of the Ashes winning squad]. 

 

THE COMEBACK

 

Image Credit- Sky Sports.

Venue- Basin Reserve, Wellington [February 2023]. 

In the summer of 2023, English Cricket Team toured New Zealand to play a 2 match test series. The visitors won the first test at Mount Maunganui comfortably and all eyes were now set for the second test in Basin Reserve. The Kiwi skipper Tim Southee won the toss and elected to field first. The decision turned out to be a good one as the Kiwis picked up 3 quick wickets. The English Scorecard read 21/3 and this is when Harry Brook joined Joe Root at the crease. 

In such a situation the batting team usually goes on backfoot. But this was a new England Side lead by their courageous coach Brendon McCullum. The English started a strong counterattack and in no time the pressure shifted upon the hosts.  The duo of Root and Brook batted for nearly 60 overs and stitched a partnership of massive 302 runs. By the time Harry Brook was dismissed, the English Scorecard read 323/4. Harry Brook scored an incredible 186 of 176 deliveries. His innings consisted of 24 boundaries and 5 sixes. Furthermore, Joe Root also scored a remarkable century. He scored 153 of 224 deliveries as England declared at a score of 435/8. 

In response the Kiwis were bowled out for mere 209 runs in their first innings. Barring Skipper Tim Southee, no other Kiwi Batsman was able to cross the 50 runs mark. Stuart Broad picked up 4 whereas Anderson and Jack Leach picked up 3 wickets each. The English had a lead of 226 runs, and this is when Captain Stokes decided to enforce the follow-on.

This time the Kiwi openers [Latham and Conway] gave a solid start to their team as both of them scored half-centuries. However, it was their former Captain Kane Williamson who rose up to the occasion with a brilliant 132. Williamson played a calm and composed knock and ensured that his side sets a respectable target for the visitors. Apart from Williamson, Tom Blundell, Daryl Mitchell too contributed with the bat as the hosts were bowled out for 483 in their second innings. Jack Leach was the leading wicket taker for the visitors in the second innings as he picked up a 5-fer. 

The English needed 258 runs to win the game and series. It was not a tough target to chase, but it wasn't going to be easy either. The English Openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett gave visitors a solid start. However, the hosts made a strong comeback and at one stage the English scorecard read 80/5. The match was well in the hands of the hosts. However, this is when Captain Stokes joined Joe Root in the crease. The duo started batting sensibly and brought visitors closer to the target. 

The English Scorecard now read 201/5. They needed just 57 runs to win the game with 5 wickets in hand and this is when there was another twist in the tale. Neil Wagner came steaming in and dismissed Ben Stokes [33] and Joe Root [95] in quick succession. Matt Henry dismissed Stuart Broad and in no time the English Scorecard went from 201/5 to 215/8. The game again went in favor of the hosts. But Ben Foakes along with Jack Leach batted sensibly and took the English past 250. However, Captain Southee dismissed Foakes for 35 and the English were now 251/9. 

The English needed 7 runs; the Kiwis needed 1 wicket. Test Cricket at its very best. Furthermore, the boundary of James Anderson brought this margin to 2 runs. The visitors were just one shot away of the glory and this is when Anderson nicked the delivery of Wagner to the keeper. The hosts had won the game by 1 run and levelled the series one each. The memories from 2005 Ashes came back when Michael Kasprowicz nicked one of Harmison to Jones and brought England back to the series. 

It was indeed a test match to remember.

To watch the highlights of this test, click on the URLs below-

Day 1.

Day 2.

Day 3.

Day 4.

Day 5.