Harsh Thakor
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My selection of best all-round cricketing performances in a lost cause in test cricket in order of merit.
1.Kapil Dev
89 and 41 and 5-125 and 3-43
On the penultimate day of the test in the evening session made an impact on proceedings few cricketers have ever done with both bat and ball..Reminded you of a sensational twist and turn in the final chapter of a novel. Scored a swash bucking 89 of 55 balls and then sent pandemomium in the English camp by capturing 3 English scalps.Rarely seen a cricketer display so much exuberance with both bat and ball.At the end day one got echoes of the epic 3rd test at Leeds in 1981 where England pulled of the game's most sensational ever turnabout.Herculean effort with bat and ball creating impact of thunder and lightning after India looked dead and buried.Took audacity in batting to its highest zenith as well as the art of seam bowling.His 5-125 in the 1st innings was also a marathon effort.Rarely ever seen such agression with a team in dire straits.
2.Vinoo Mankad at Lords in 1952 in 2nd test.
72 and 184 and 5-196
For sheer artistry and skill a performance that could match those of the very greatest .Vinoo scored 184 and 72 and captured 5 wickets.No cricketer has ever bowled and batted for so many hours in a single test.Reminiscent of marathon runner.
3.Imran Khan at leeds in 1982
One of the best ever cricketing performances by a captain in a losing cause.Displayed batting responsibility and skill at its very best when scoring 75n.o and 46 and displayed mastery of seam ,pace and control when taking 5-49 and 3-66.At a juncture when everything looked lost on the 4th day Imran displayed sporting agression at it's highest depth .England were cruising home to a victory target of 219 runs at 181-4 before Imran came storming in to trap Mike Gatting ad Derek Randall .Imran resembled a military commander in this game steering the ship with phenomenal skill in every department of the game.Bad umpiring cost Pakistan famous win in this game.
4.Wasim Akram
123 and 5-100 at Sydney in 1989-90
A performance in the Soberesque class.In a big partnership with Imran almost enabled Pakistan to steal a famous win after being on the doorstep of imminent defeat.
5.Ian Botham at Leeds v West Indies in 2nd test in 1984 v West Indies
81 and 8-103
In this game in the 1st innings rekindled his dazzling fire of 1980 and 81 with both bat and ball.Above all against arguably the best team ever.Mastery of seam movement and ability to execute strokes. I doubt any all-rounder would match such a performance against West Indies.
6.Imran Khan at Edgbaston in 1982
7-52 and 65 and 22
A great bowling spell that tore the heart of the English batting in the 1st innings and a fine batting performance in a run chase in the 2nd innings.
7.Richard Hadlee at the Oval in 1983
84 and 6-63 and 2-99
Hadlee simply at his best doing wonders with bat and ball.At this juncture arguably the best all-rounder in the world Executed dazzling strokes in 1st inninsg and showed mastery of seam movement nad control.
1.Kapil Dev
89 and 41 and 5-125 and 3-43
On the penultimate day of the test in the evening session made an impact on proceedings few cricketers have ever done with both bat and ball..Reminded you of a sensational twist and turn in the final chapter of a novel. Scored a swash bucking 89 of 55 balls and then sent pandemomium in the English camp by capturing 3 English scalps.Rarely seen a cricketer display so much exuberance with both bat and ball.At the end day one got echoes of the epic 3rd test at Leeds in 1981 where England pulled of the game's most sensational ever turnabout.Herculean effort with bat and ball creating impact of thunder and lightning after India looked dead and buried.Took audacity in batting to its highest zenith as well as the art of seam bowling.His 5-125 in the 1st innings was also a marathon effort.Rarely ever seen such agression with a team in dire straits.
2.Vinoo Mankad at Lords in 1952 in 2nd test.
72 and 184 and 5-196
For sheer artistry and skill a performance that could match those of the very greatest .Vinoo scored 184 and 72 and captured 5 wickets.No cricketer has ever bowled and batted for so many hours in a single test.Reminiscent of marathon runner.
3.Imran Khan at leeds in 1982
One of the best ever cricketing performances by a captain in a losing cause.Displayed batting responsibility and skill at its very best when scoring 75n.o and 46 and displayed mastery of seam ,pace and control when taking 5-49 and 3-66.At a juncture when everything looked lost on the 4th day Imran displayed sporting agression at it's highest depth .England were cruising home to a victory target of 219 runs at 181-4 before Imran came storming in to trap Mike Gatting ad Derek Randall .Imran resembled a military commander in this game steering the ship with phenomenal skill in every department of the game.Bad umpiring cost Pakistan famous win in this game.
4.Wasim Akram
123 and 5-100 at Sydney in 1989-90
A performance in the Soberesque class.In a big partnership with Imran almost enabled Pakistan to steal a famous win after being on the doorstep of imminent defeat.
5.Ian Botham at Leeds v West Indies in 2nd test in 1984 v West Indies
81 and 8-103
In this game in the 1st innings rekindled his dazzling fire of 1980 and 81 with both bat and ball.Above all against arguably the best team ever.Mastery of seam movement and ability to execute strokes. I doubt any all-rounder would match such a performance against West Indies.
6.Imran Khan at Edgbaston in 1982
7-52 and 65 and 22
A great bowling spell that tore the heart of the English batting in the 1st innings and a fine batting performance in a run chase in the 2nd innings.
7.Richard Hadlee at the Oval in 1983
84 and 6-63 and 2-99
Hadlee simply at his best doing wonders with bat and ball.At this juncture arguably the best all-rounder in the world Executed dazzling strokes in 1st inninsg and showed mastery of seam movement nad control.
