154 by Graham Gooch vs West Indies at Headingley - Was it the best innings ever facing express pace?

[Harsh Thakor]

I have rarely seen a batsman as engrossed out in the middle as Former English opening batsman Graham Gooch in full flow, who could pierce the impenetrable gaps. He may have lacked the touch of a David Gower or solidity of Boycott but for sheer conviction no English batsmen of his time was his equal. At his best he could sit alongside Hobbs or Hutton, being equally majestic. Apart from Barry Richards I never saw an opening batsman reveal such sustained flow or equally rhythmic in his drives .



Today we commemorate the 40 th anniversary since what was arguably the best ever batting exhibition against sustained or express fast bowling. Facing the best ever pace attack of West Indies ever Graham Gooch unleashed counter attack at the highest intensity, scoring 153 out of a total of 285 at Kingston in the fifth test, of the 1981 series. No batting feat was as challenging in that era as confronting the intimidatory pace of the West Indies bowling attack, which had the impact of a bomber plane. Its ferocity or destructive power has not been equalled in the history of test cricket. Very rarely has the lightning pace of the deadly quartet been taken by the scruff of the neck as Gooch did that day. The fiery pace of Michael Holding, Andy Roberts, Joel Garner and Colin Croft had not been dealt with as much conviction even by great batsman like Greg Chappell and Sunil Gavaskar.It was a sport's ultimate spectacle to witness the glorious drives, pull and hook shots of Gooch resembling the counter agression of an army against a bomber raid. Impetuosity was taken to regions rarely traversed. Every other English batsmen was al at sea with Gooch single-handedly carrying the mantle. Even the good balls were punished and even after unleashing a barrage of short-pitched deliveries the West Indies bowlers looked hapless. The bouncing ball was punished with the conviction of an executioner. In a total pancake it was close to the perfect cricket innings. Above all it was executed on the fastest wicket of Kingston.Gooch was literally like the propellor of a fighter plane that day taking combat to regions of the sublime. The likes of Gavaskar or Boycott may have displayed better technical skill or even the Chappell brothers or Mohinder Amarnath but for sheer domination against express pace none equalled thi s effort of Gooch.To me it was batting skill against great pace personified.-,reminiscent of David overpowering the Goliath. Rarely has hooking and driving been taken to such majestic heights. To me Gooch's 153 that day took batting domination to regions of the sublime ,being a manifestation of the glory of test cricket.


In 1991 at Leeds Gooch rekindled memories of 1981 at Leeds against a weaker West Indies bowling attack .He scored a match-winning 154 out of a total of 254, but amidst a graver situation. Above all he won the game ,ressurecting his country from dire straits to achieve a glorious victory. He was not as ferocious as at Kingston in 1981 but revealed more technical adjustment, improvisation and application. I just watched a video of his innings which took batting skill to region s rarely traversed. He resembled the counter attack of a military batallion in the depths of deep despair..He single-handedly retrieved a sinking ship with the most breath taking strokeplay.The ferocious West Indies pacemen kept pegging back at him but Gooch dispelled them in the manner of powder being crushed in a mill, making them literally clueless. I just don't have an adjective for the cavalier manner Gooch blazed away that day. The shots where with utmost disdain he manoeuvred the ball down the legside always flash in my memory. Very rarely in cricket has a team's fortunes revolved or been woven as a single batsman as here.

Scorecard:

https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...dies-vs-england-5th-test-63285/full-scorecard

 

[OMB]

Gooch was unstoppable when on song. This innings and then Gooch's 333 against India in 1990 was also a great knock.

But as best innings against pace, I would rate Gavaskar's innings of 236 against WI in madras as the best. From 92/5 he took them to 451/8 to save the match. This was the against the mighty WI who were in really vengeful mood after 1983 WC defeat.
Was also the day he had broken Sir Don Bradman's record. Truly a master class from little master.

Scorecard :
https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/west-indies-tour-of-india-1983-84-61939/india-vs-west-indies-6th-test-63355/full-scorecard

Read about it below :

On 28 December 1983, Sunil Gavaskar notched-up his 30th Test century.

It was a special knock as it helped him surpass Donald Bradman’s then record of most centuries in the longest format. But the milestone was made even more special with an epic 236 not out against the West Indies in Madras (now Chennai).

The year 1983 will forever hold a special place in the hearts of Indian cricket fans. After all, the World Cup was won for the first time on the back of a win in the final at Lord’s against the finest team of that generation.

However, soon after that triumph, the beaten finalists West Indies toured India for a five-match One-Day International series and a six-match Test series. And the visitors showed their superiority by winning all five ODIs before bagging the Test series 3-0.

Despite the hammering, though, Indian fans had something to cheer about thanks to Gavaskar’s incredible batting in the Test series. The Little Master was the top-scorer with 505 runs across the six matches but more importantly, he scored two centuries that helped him go past the great Don’s long-standing record.

In the second Test of the series in Delhi, the right-hander took apart the West Indies attack, which included the legendary duo of Malcolm Marshall and Michael Holding, to bring up his 29th Test ton off just 94 deliveries. He finished with 121 off 128 in that innings, with 15 fours and two sixes.

But Gavaskar’s best was saved for the final Test of the series. With India down 0-3 already, he dug in deep to deliver a knock for the ages.

West Indies won the toss and elected to bat first in the sixth Test in Madras. Wicketkeeper Jeffrey Dujon scored 62 but India rode on three-fors by Kapil Dev and Maninder Singh to bowl-out West Indies for 313.

India, though, couldn’t capitalise initially and found themselves in deep trouble at 92/5. It was then that Gavaskar, who came in to bat at No 4, got together with Ravi Shastri to bail the team out of trouble. The duo added 170 runs for the sixth wicket, before Gavaskar added 143 runs for the last wicket with Syed Kirmani, which helped India declare at 451/8 and eventually draw the match.

Gavaskar remained not-out on 236 runs off 425 deliveries, with 23 fours to his name. He spent a staggering 644 minutes at the crease and blunted the Windies attack with his patience and strokeplay. And of course, the innings marked his 30th ton in Test cricket which gave him the record for most centuries in the longest format.

Describing the knock in his book Runs ‘n Ruins, Gavaskar recounted how the opponents were not keen to celebrate his milestone.

“I reached my century just after the drinks break with a single off Davis. I was told later that none of the West Indies team, except for Richardson who shook my hand, clapped the mark. Frankly, I was not even aware of that and in any case when more than 40,000 people are clapping, one does not miss the applause of ten people. Clive at the end of the over said, ‘Well played’. I know him to be one of the nicest cricketers around who seldom gets grumpy and so his congratulations were no surprise,” he wrote.

Gavaskar finished his career with 34 Test hundreds to his name and since then, Sachin Tendulkar, Jacques Kallis, Ricky Ponting, Kumar Sangakkara, Rahul Dravid, Younis Khan, Brian Lara and Mahela Jayawardene have either gone past or matches his tally.

https://scroll.in/field/982475/pause-rewind-play-gavaskars-236-against-west-indies-which-broke-bradmans-record-of-test-tons

 

[Srtfan]

I think kapil 95 ball 100 is better .it came against Marshall, garner, holding & Roberts in there own backyard.

 

[Harsh Thakor]

Gooch was unstoppable when on song. This innings and then Gooch's 333 against India in 1990 was also a great knock.

But as best innings against pace, I would rate Gavaskar's innings of 236 against WI in madras as the best.
Was also the day he had broken Sir Don Bradman's record.

Remember Gooch played on the fastest wicket at Kingston and also opened unlike Sunny at Madras in 1984 .Also higher strike rate.Even Leeds hundred was better of 1991 .

 

[Harsh Thakor]

Gooch was unstoppable when on song. This innings and then Gooch's 333 against India in 1990 was also a great knock.

But as best innings against pace, I would rate Gavaskar's innings of 236 against WI in madras as the best.
Was also the day he had broken Sir Don Bradman's record.

How do you rank Gooch's 154 at Leeds in 1991 against West Indies?Overall best opener against express pace?

 

[Harsh Thakor]

I think kapil 95 ball 100 is better .it came against Marshall, garner, holding & Roberts in there own backyard.

What about Gooch's centuries in 1991 and 1991?Both against West Indies.

 

[OMB]

Remember Gooch played on the fastest wicket at Kingston and also opened unlike Sunny at Madras in 1984 .Also higher strike rate.Even Leeds hundred was better of 1991 .

Yes, not discounting Gooch's inning. Not one for strike rate in test cricket. Even if the Madras ropes are further than Kingston's.
WI pacers were no less hostile at Madras. I was looking at the context of the entire series. India were totally dejected and beaten after being "whitewashed" in ODI's and 3-0 in tests. Sunny's innings was against all odds and though India didn't win anything it was an epic innings and a great fightback.

 

[OMB]

How do you rank Gooch's 154 at Leeds in 1991 against West Indies?Overall best opener against express pace?

tbh, I can't rate it on its merit as I didn't see that match. I had read about it. Used to scour every newspaper for any cricket news, it was so hard to come by. But I had seen Gooch's 333 and again in '87 WC when he literally blew India away with his sweep shots. I always rated him higher than David Gower.

I rate Gavaskar innings higher because I was seeing it all live. He kept those demonic (sorry for the term) pacers away ball after ball. Dujon was probably the only player who didn't appear menacing to me. I was 12 or 13 at the time.

 

[bujhee kom]

I think kapil 95 ball 100 is better .it came against Marshall, garner, holding & Roberts in there own backyard.

Why do Indians do this? An Indian innings/performance is always better. Gooch's 154 is one of the ATG knocks and the best knock ever against true pace.

 

[Harsh Thakor]

[MENTION=7774]Robert[/MENTION] [MENTION=79064]MMHS[/MENTION] [MENTION=132916]Junaids[/MENTION] Plead your contribution here Also [MENTION=65183]freelance_cricketer[/MENTION] Also [MENTION=133512]AB_Fan[/MENTION]

 

[Justcrazy]

Against Express pace, Gooch was arguably better than Gavaskar. Gavaskar was more defensive in his approach, whereas Gooch played more shots.

 

[Harsh Thakor]

Against Express pace, Gooch was arguably better than Gavaskar. Gavaskar was more defensive in his approach, whereas Gooch played more shots.

. Well put Appreciate

 

[Junaids]

No, not at all.

This was not an innings against express pace.

This was a seaming Headingley track with lots of swing, and the most English conditions imaginable.

It was a brilliant innings, but an innings in conditions more familiar to Gooch than anyone else in the match.

The three express bowlers in the game took no wickets - Patterson, Malcolm and Walsh when he was still quick.

Malcolm Marshall was deliberately bowling at paces between 125 and 130K,, as was Ambrose, because they saw that Pringle and De Freitas were taking all the England wickets by bowling slow-medium Mohammad Abbas style pace in the low 120’s.

This was an era in which the Reader Ball and green soggy wickets were creating conditions almost like Bob Massie’s Test two decades earlier.

The home conditions allowed England to win this Headingley Test easily, and were then reproduced the following year when Pakistan toured, leading to the ancient Neil Mallender being called up to bowl his 115K swingers, which gave England a narrow victory in a series in which they were otherwise outclassed by Pakistan.

Gooch’s innings was brilliant. But it was in home conditions which completely neutralised West Indies’ two fastest bowlers and effectively reduced them from a 4 man attack to a 2 man attack.

 

[PakLFC]

GG was a brilliant batsman. He showed his class many times even against the two W's at their peak. Graham Gooch was class with the bat no doubt about it whatsoever.

 

[jeetu]

Roy Fredericks’s 169 off 145 balls - Perth against Dennis Lillee, Jeff Thomson, Gary Gilmour and Max Walker.

 

[Robert]

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Yes.

Excellent attack on a horrible wicket (sideways movement, variable bounce, and overcast so swing for Marshall too).

 

[Harsh Thakor]

Yes.

Excellent attack on a horrible wicket (sideways movement, variable bounce, and overcast so swing for Marshall too).

How do you compare Gooch with Gavaskar facing express pace?better?

 

[Harsh Thakor]

Roy Fredericks’s 169 off 145 balls - Perth against Dennis Lillee, Jeff Thomson, Gary Gilmour and Max Walker.

great choice.respect.What is your view on Gooch against express pace overall?In Gavaskar class?

 

[jeetu]

great choice.respect.What is your view on Gooch against express pace overall?In Gavaskar class?

Gooch is one of the rare players who got better with age. Gooch at 30+ was as good as any test opener. But still Gooch was not as consistent as Gavaskar. Gavaskar was bit better against pace and spin. Also to be noticed Gooch averaged 33 vs Australia as compared to Gavaskar's 51.

Gavaskar's 147 not out against an attack of Roberts , Holding , Garner and Marshall Georgetown 1983 won't be behind much in terms of quality against sustained pace.

 

[Bewal Express]

It was a great innings on a typical Headingly wicket. The pace wasn't the main factor,it was a slow wicket,it was the movement that caused the major headaches. So no is the is the simple answer

 

[Robert]

How do you compare Gooch with Gavaskar facing express pace?better?

About the same.

Gavaskar was better against medium pace.

Gooch has a poor average against Australia because Lillee and later Alderman got in his head. Though he fixed that in his final series to an extent, with 670 runs in five tests against McGrath and Warne. The last quarter of his career, he was imperious against all-comers.