Harsh Thakor
First Class Star
- Joined
- Oct 1, 2012
- Runs
- 3,521
- Post of the Week
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I deeply apologize Pak Passion viewers for some major errors or blunders in my last list of the best batting performances in a test series representing the losing team.I left out some truly great performances erroneously and was compelled to make a new list .Pakpassion viewers please co-operate and give me feedback on my new rankings.Really hard where to place Dravid's 2011 and Yousuf's 2006 batting performances.Given preference to playing against great bowling attacks.Rated Gavaskar high because of quality of bowling attack faced.Also considered how single-handedly they held the fort of the team's batting.
This is my list in order of merit of the best batting performances by a batsmen in a test series where his team lost.
1.Brian Lara's 688 runs v Sri Lanka in 200-2002
Reminiscent of George Headley but much more agressive shades of Bradman.No batsmen ever carried the shoulder's of team's batting more.Scored 688 runs at 114.66.
2.Mohinder Amarnath's 598 runs in West Indies in 1982-83
Played the greatest pace bowling attack with mastery no batsmen ever did.Batting gave echoes of an army ressurecting itself from the grave to defy the enemy in a world war 2 battle.Blending courage,technique,concentration and agression like few batsmen ever did in the history of the game.Amarnath looked like a soldier ,architect and monk blended into one.Averaged over 66 in series.
3.Alan Border in West Indies in 1984
Few batsmen ever bated better for your life in series.Border was simply a crusader in the middle averaging 74.33 and scoring 521 runs.
4.Yousf Youhana in England in 2006
Heroically stood up for his team like a soldier fighting a battle defying al Odds.Averaged above 90 aggegating 631 runs. .Displayed meticuluos skill of bating rarely seen in England blending technical skill and grace with calculated agression.
5.Sunil Gavaskar in England in 1979
Proved he was the best opening batsmen in the world when scoring an epic 221 at the Oval which ranks amongst the greatest of all test innings.Aggregated 542 runs at an average of 77.42 displaying phenomenal consistency.Dubious umpiring decisions cost India a famous win in a 4th innings run chase of 438 in the final test when Sunny's 22 almost took India home.Never seen an overseas opening batsmen more consistent than Gavaskar in this series.Also scored a super 78 in tough conditions at Leeds as well as 61 and 68 at Edgbaston and 59 and 42 at Lords.
6.Rahul Dravid
Lived upto his name of the wall combating his opponents with the solidity of a boulder.Few batsmen have carried the burden of their team's batting as single handedly as Dravid did on this tour.Averaged 76.33 ,ammasing 461 runs.
7.Clive Lloyd's 469 runs in Australia in 1975-76
Averaged 46.9 v Lillee and Thomson which was remarkable by any standards.
8.Wasim Raja in West Indies in 1977
Undaunting courage and resilience that almost won a series for Pakistan averaging 54.44 and aggregating 517 runs.
9.Clyde Walcott v Australia in 1955
Plundered bowling attack in the manner of a dominant emperor carrying the bat like a bludgeon.
10.Hanif Mohammad in West Indies in 1957-58
Hanif was a virtual boulder displaying majestic technique and concentration at it's highest zenith aggregating 628 runs and averaging 69.77.
11.George Headley in England in 1939
Amassed 434 runs at 66 standing up like a lone warrior on the wettest of pitches.
12.Gunddapa Vishwanath in 1974-75 at home against West Indies
Almost ressurected India from the grave to register a series win .India were in the dumps at 2-0 down before Vishy scored 2 blazing hundreds that totally reversed the complexion of the series.He displayed magical touch at Kolkata and Madras as few batsmen have ever done winning both the games for India.Scored 568 runs at 56.8.
13.Sunil Gavaskar in Pakistan in 1978-79
Displayed supreme concentration and technical skill as no opening batsmen ever did.Scored 447 runs at average of 89.4.
14.Graham Gooch in West Indies in 1981
Classic 153 on the fastest of Kingston tracks and averaged over 57.Also scored a century at Barbados.
15.Mohinder Amarnath in Pakistan in 1982-83
Few batsmen ever negotiated Imran better.True mastery against great pace.Scored 584 runs at batting average of 73.
16.Sunil Gavaskar in West Indies in 1975-76
Played an instrumental role in India acheiving it's historic record run chase at Trinidad and almost took India to acheiving a famous series win.Averaged 55.91 scoring.Also scored 155 in the 2nd test which almost won the game.
17.Kim Hughes 596 runs v India in India in 1979
Mastered turning tracks displaying touches of a genius.
18.Sachin Tendulkar in Australia in 1991-92
In his 116 at Perth and 148 at Sydney he gave 2 of test cricket's most classical displays of batting ever.Few batsmen ever looked more like an epitome of batting perfection.
19.Alan Border in Pakistan in 1980
Surpassed even Sobers on turning tracks.Brilliant judgement of the turning ball.
Averaged 131 .22 with 2 150's in a single game,aggregating 395 runs.
20.Sachin Tendulkar in England in 1996
At Trent Bridge and Edgbaston batted as well as any batting great ever displaying every component of a perfect batsmen.Scored 428 runs at 95.60 which was remarkable.
21.Brian Lara in South Africa in 2003-04 Scored 531 runs at 66.37 superbly playing the role of a lone warrior against a top class bowling attack.
22.Dilip Vengsarkar in 1983-84 v West Indies
Defiantly combated a fiery Carribean pace attack with superb centuries at Delhi and Mumbai.Some of the most exhilirating of strokeplay exhibited.Scored 440 runs at average of 53.6.
23.Wasim Raja in India in 1979-80 Showed great spirit of defiance averaging 56.25 and aggregating 450 runs .Brilliantly saved Pakistan from sinking at Kanpur on bad wicket.
24.Alan Border in 1981 Ashes in England
Showed great combative spirit in a crisis and amazing consistency.Scored 523 runs at 59.22
25.Greg Chappell in England in 1977
Technical skill at it's highest accompanied by feline elegance.
This is my list in order of merit of the best batting performances by a batsmen in a test series where his team lost.
1.Brian Lara's 688 runs v Sri Lanka in 200-2002
Reminiscent of George Headley but much more agressive shades of Bradman.No batsmen ever carried the shoulder's of team's batting more.Scored 688 runs at 114.66.
2.Mohinder Amarnath's 598 runs in West Indies in 1982-83
Played the greatest pace bowling attack with mastery no batsmen ever did.Batting gave echoes of an army ressurecting itself from the grave to defy the enemy in a world war 2 battle.Blending courage,technique,concentration and agression like few batsmen ever did in the history of the game.Amarnath looked like a soldier ,architect and monk blended into one.Averaged over 66 in series.
3.Alan Border in West Indies in 1984
Few batsmen ever bated better for your life in series.Border was simply a crusader in the middle averaging 74.33 and scoring 521 runs.
4.Yousf Youhana in England in 2006
Heroically stood up for his team like a soldier fighting a battle defying al Odds.Averaged above 90 aggegating 631 runs. .Displayed meticuluos skill of bating rarely seen in England blending technical skill and grace with calculated agression.
5.Sunil Gavaskar in England in 1979
Proved he was the best opening batsmen in the world when scoring an epic 221 at the Oval which ranks amongst the greatest of all test innings.Aggregated 542 runs at an average of 77.42 displaying phenomenal consistency.Dubious umpiring decisions cost India a famous win in a 4th innings run chase of 438 in the final test when Sunny's 22 almost took India home.Never seen an overseas opening batsmen more consistent than Gavaskar in this series.Also scored a super 78 in tough conditions at Leeds as well as 61 and 68 at Edgbaston and 59 and 42 at Lords.
6.Rahul Dravid
Lived upto his name of the wall combating his opponents with the solidity of a boulder.Few batsmen have carried the burden of their team's batting as single handedly as Dravid did on this tour.Averaged 76.33 ,ammasing 461 runs.
7.Clive Lloyd's 469 runs in Australia in 1975-76
Averaged 46.9 v Lillee and Thomson which was remarkable by any standards.
8.Wasim Raja in West Indies in 1977
Undaunting courage and resilience that almost won a series for Pakistan averaging 54.44 and aggregating 517 runs.
9.Clyde Walcott v Australia in 1955
Plundered bowling attack in the manner of a dominant emperor carrying the bat like a bludgeon.
10.Hanif Mohammad in West Indies in 1957-58
Hanif was a virtual boulder displaying majestic technique and concentration at it's highest zenith aggregating 628 runs and averaging 69.77.
11.George Headley in England in 1939
Amassed 434 runs at 66 standing up like a lone warrior on the wettest of pitches.
12.Gunddapa Vishwanath in 1974-75 at home against West Indies
Almost ressurected India from the grave to register a series win .India were in the dumps at 2-0 down before Vishy scored 2 blazing hundreds that totally reversed the complexion of the series.He displayed magical touch at Kolkata and Madras as few batsmen have ever done winning both the games for India.Scored 568 runs at 56.8.
13.Sunil Gavaskar in Pakistan in 1978-79
Displayed supreme concentration and technical skill as no opening batsmen ever did.Scored 447 runs at average of 89.4.
14.Graham Gooch in West Indies in 1981
Classic 153 on the fastest of Kingston tracks and averaged over 57.Also scored a century at Barbados.
15.Mohinder Amarnath in Pakistan in 1982-83
Few batsmen ever negotiated Imran better.True mastery against great pace.Scored 584 runs at batting average of 73.
16.Sunil Gavaskar in West Indies in 1975-76
Played an instrumental role in India acheiving it's historic record run chase at Trinidad and almost took India to acheiving a famous series win.Averaged 55.91 scoring.Also scored 155 in the 2nd test which almost won the game.
17.Kim Hughes 596 runs v India in India in 1979
Mastered turning tracks displaying touches of a genius.
18.Sachin Tendulkar in Australia in 1991-92
In his 116 at Perth and 148 at Sydney he gave 2 of test cricket's most classical displays of batting ever.Few batsmen ever looked more like an epitome of batting perfection.
19.Alan Border in Pakistan in 1980
Surpassed even Sobers on turning tracks.Brilliant judgement of the turning ball.
Averaged 131 .22 with 2 150's in a single game,aggregating 395 runs.
20.Sachin Tendulkar in England in 1996
At Trent Bridge and Edgbaston batted as well as any batting great ever displaying every component of a perfect batsmen.Scored 428 runs at 95.60 which was remarkable.
21.Brian Lara in South Africa in 2003-04 Scored 531 runs at 66.37 superbly playing the role of a lone warrior against a top class bowling attack.
22.Dilip Vengsarkar in 1983-84 v West Indies
Defiantly combated a fiery Carribean pace attack with superb centuries at Delhi and Mumbai.Some of the most exhilirating of strokeplay exhibited.Scored 440 runs at average of 53.6.
23.Wasim Raja in India in 1979-80 Showed great spirit of defiance averaging 56.25 and aggregating 450 runs .Brilliantly saved Pakistan from sinking at Kanpur on bad wicket.
24.Alan Border in 1981 Ashes in England
Showed great combative spirit in a crisis and amazing consistency.Scored 523 runs at 59.22
25.Greg Chappell in England in 1977
Technical skill at it's highest accompanied by feline elegance.
