Best innings in a Test match ever by a West Indies batsmen in Australia?

[Harsh Thakor]

Here I am listing in order of merit the best test match innings ever by a West Indies batsmen in Australia.My order may be controversial but I have favoured innings against the best attacks or on the fastest wickets.I included some unofficial tset innings which I feel morally deserved to be counted in genuine International cricket.


1.Brian Lara 277 at Sydney in 1992-93

Domination of bowling complete of either foot revealing mastery and genius in regions of the sublime .



2.Gary Sobers 132 in tied test at Brisbane in 1960-61


In most difficult conditions and crisis situation bissected the field with the skill of a sculptor .



3.Roy Fredrick's 165 at Perth in 1975-76

Never has express pace bowling that to on the quickest of pitches been taken so much by the scruff of the neck as Roy did scoring a century of 87 balls.Reminiscent of a bomber destroying an airbase.


4=.Gary Sobers 254 at Melbourne for rest of the world at Melbourne /Rohan Kanhai 115 at Perth for rest of the world in 1972

Although scored in unofficial tests morally in my book standard as competitive as formal test cricket if not more.Both were batting classics taking art and skill in batting to regions rarely encompassed before blending supreme power with divine imagination and grace .



6=.Viv Richards 76 and 74 at Adelaide in 1979-80

Did not score a century in either innings but I have rarely witnessed pace bowling been played with such remorseless ease as Viv did here on fast and bouncy surface.


8=.Rohan Kanhai 117 and 115 at Adelaide in 1960-61

Resembled Bradman more than anyone scoring at a run a minute.Took batting virtuosity to another realm.



10.Viv Richards 79 at Melbourne in WSC 1st supertest in 1977-78

On a rained pitch Viv gave crickets ultimate superlative display treating Lille like a spinner.


11.Viv Richards 208 at Melbourne in 1984-85


Supreme domination against quickies like Geoff Lawson at their fastest and spinners like Bob Holland.



12.Brian Lara 226 at Melbourne in 2005-06

Domination in the height of divinty though in a dead rubber.


13.Clive Lloyd's 121 at Adelaide in 1979-80

One of test crickets most spectacular comebacks which sealed West Indies 1st Frank Worrel trophy triumph in Australia.Cracking drives of Lillee and Pascoe.



14.Viv Richard's 140 at Brisbane in 1979-80

The most imperious strokeplay against top class bowling exuding the command of an emperor.



15.Larry Gomes 126 at Adelaide in 1981-82

Great composure on a difficult track which won the game for his team.

 

[wrongun]

The ones they still talk about in oz...

Lara, 92-93, a star is born. Series was alive. It was the heavyweight contest of the world cricket at the time. Our attack was good. Lara shredded it, as a boy.

The Tied Test, a legendary series. I mean what more do you want? Serious quicks on either side PLUS atg spinners on either side. Fielding, drama, tension, a nation captivated, heroes made of even the visitors. It was a watershed series in Australia for Test cricket (relief from Englands & our own DULL play) & a continuation of the nations cultural shift (Melbourne Olympics, WI heroes) that would eventually see the racist "White Australia" policy ended by popular opinion. Gary Sobers play & charisma helped matters along.

Roy Fredericks at the WACA. 75-76
He's not remembered as an atg but when WI batting in Oz is discussed, this one comes up. He destroyed our hyped quicks on the quickest deck. Everyone else struggled. Roy just whacked it harder.

The WACA was scary, dangerous in those days (see Alex Tudor vs Brett Lee for an example of last time players thought it got real, real quick). No helmets. No problem. Lillee (pre back injury tearaway). Thompson (pre shoulder injury!), Mallet etc. Roberts & Holding enjoyed the pitch.

That one is remembered as something special.

None of the other innings mentioned would really be recalled, make TV shows or move the needle with Aussie fans. I can't split them. Didn't see them all. Did see Lara.

 

[Harsh Thakor]

The ones they still talk about in oz...

Lara, 92-93, a star is born. Series was alive. It was the heavyweight contest of the world cricket at the time. Our attack was good. Lara shredded it, as a boy.

The Tied Test, a legendary series. I mean what more do you want? Serious quicks on either side PLUS atg spinners on either side. Fielding, drama, tension, a nation captivated, heroes made of even the visitors. It was a watershed series in Australia for Test cricket (relief from Englands & our own DULL play) & a continuation of the nations cultural shift (Melbourne Olympics, WI heroes) that would eventually see the racist "White Australia" policy ended by popular opinion. Gary Sobers play & charisma helped matters along.

Roy Fredericks at the WACA. 75-76
He's not remembered as an atg but when WI batting in Oz is discussed, this one comes up. He destroyed our hyped quicks on the quickest deck. Everyone else struggled. Roy just whacked it harder.

The WACA was scary, dangerous in those days (see Alex Tudor vs Brett Lee for an example of last time players thought it got real, real quick). No helmets. No problem. Lillee (pre back injury tearaway). Thompson (pre shoulder injury!), Mallet etc. Roberts & Holding enjoyed the pitch.

That one is remembered as something special.

None of the other innings mentioned would really be recalled, make TV shows or move the needle with Aussie fans. I can't split them. Didn't see them all. Did see Lara.

None of Viv Richards? No memories?

 

[Harsh Thakor]

Please come here@MMHS [MENTION=7774]Robert[/MENTION] @Freelance Cricketer @ Ab Fan. [MENTION=132916]Junaids[/MENTION]

 

[Harsh Thakor]

[MENTION=79064]MMHS[/MENTION] [MENTION=139595]Ab Fan[/MENTION] [MENTION=132916]Junaids[/MENTION] please correspond

 

[Junaids]

The Sobers 254, which actually was a Test at the time.

Not the Lara 277: Australia was only the fourth strongest side at the time, not just behind the West Indies but also Pakistan (who had lost 1 series in almost 8 years) and South Africa too.

 

[andy0204]

Where is Chris Gayle's century at W.A.C.A Perth?
It was one of the fastest century.

 

[Harsh Thakor]

The Sobers 254, which actually was a Test at the time.

Not the Lara 277: Australia was only the fourth strongest side at the time, not just behind the West Indies but also Pakistan (who had lost 1 series in almost 8 years) and South Africa too.

What about Kanhai century at Perth? Not up there?Or best of Viv Richards?

 

[Harsh Thakor]

The Sobers 254, which actually was a Test at the time.

Not the Lara 277: Australia was only the fourth strongest side at the time, not just behind the West Indies but also Pakistan (who had lost 1 series in almost 8 years) and South Africa too.

Lara combated a top class attack of Shane Warne,Craig Mcdermott and Merv Hughes.

 

[Harsh Thakor]

Where is Chris Gayle's century at W.A.C.A Perth?
It was one of the fastest century.

appreciate selection.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Ab De villers 100 in the 414 chase in perth was pretty decent effort.

 

[Harsh Thakor]

Ab De villers 100 in the 414 chase in perth was pretty decent effort.

Not a West Indian batsmen.

 

[BalluBalleBaaz]

None of Viv Richards? No memories?

Viv Richards was blockbuster in Aus, played some great innings at G attracting over 80k.

 

[Junaids]

Lara combated a top class attack of Shane Warne,Craig Mcdermott and Merv Hughes.

Of whom Shane Warne was a rookie who had taken less than 10 Test wickets before that series and Hughes had worn out his knees and had less than 30 more Test wickets left ahead of him and was down to bowling in the 120’s.

People overstate how good the Aussies were in 1992-93. They were a significantly weaker team than Pakistan or South Africa at the time.

Yes, Australia almost won that series at Adelaide. But by the fifth Test the West Indies has turned the tables and smashed them to smithereens: at Perth Australia were bowled out for 119 and 178 and lost by an Innings before Lunch on Day 3.

Just consider that again. By the end of the series Australia lost by an innings in 2 days and part of a session.

That’s why Lara’s 277 barely counts.

 

[MMHS]

The Sobers 254, which actually was a Test at the time.

Not the Lara 277: Australia was only the fourth strongest side at the time, not just behind the West Indies but also Pakistan (who had lost 1 series in almost 8 years) and South Africa too.

No, AUS was better team than PAK by that time (1992-93), by some margin, SAF as well. The PAK team that went undefeated for 8 (?) years was a different unit, led by a different man - even then I am not sure where you are inventing 8 years - PAK lost in SRL 1986, and then in AUS 1990!!! And, in AUS condition (without neutral umpires, I must say), it isn't even a comparison. That Frank Worell trophy was contested between the best two sides in world, or may be best side vs the tied 2nd; Aussies failed this time, but won it in WIN following summer to replace them as best side.

 

[MMHS]

[MENTION=79064]MMHS[/MENTION] [MENTION=139595]Ab Fan[/MENTION] [MENTION=132916]Junaids[/MENTION] please correspond

I think, you should exclude Sobers & Rohan's innings here for obvious reasons. As per Gavaskar, that 115 by Kanhai against a rampant Lillee (took 8-29 in first innings), was the best innings he had ever seen, but we have to consider that, those were not official Tests. Same for Viv's WSC innings (though it was truly a class act)

Coming to your list, I don't agree with many actually. No way BC's 277 is best by an WIndian in AUS, highest may be. It was played on what is probably the flattest wickets in AUS for last Century - stroke play was breath taking though. On aesthetic value, it's indeed one of the very best.

It's difficult to rank such innings, but I guess you have missed two gems by Gayle - both in loosing cause and both times he was MoM for those two innings: 65* at Adelaide & 102 (76) at WACA.

BC's 3 other innings in AUS are actually higher in rank for me: 132 at WACA, 182 at Adelaide and that 226 (at the age of 38!!) again at Adelaide.

Viv's best innings was probably not a century - those two 70+ were indeed special. I personally believe, cricket hasn't seen a better and more dominating batsman than Richards from that 1979 series (his lowest was 70), but you have missed his 145 at WACA ('88) - a 36+ Viv was mastered a good Aussie attack like Viv of old years.

Sir Gary won that famous Test at SCG to level the Series, but his best innings in AUS was probably 132 at the tie Test - can't say about the quality of innings (haven't seen), but for the occasion, I'll take the 132 ahead of 168.

With Lary Gomes, his partner Doujon also scored 139 in same innings and he was actually the aggressor there, batted at almost 100 SR after being retired hurt.

Overall, rest are more or less agreed.

 

[Harsh Thakor]

I think, you should exclude Sobers & Rohan's innings here for obvious reasons. As per Gavaskar, that 115 by Kanhai against a rampant Lillee (took 8-29 in first innings), was the best innings he had ever seen, but we have to consider that, those were not official Tests. Same for Viv's WSC innings (though it was truly a class act)

Coming to your list, I don't agree with many actually. No way BC's 277 is best by an WIndian in AUS, highest may be. It was played on what is probably the flattest wickets in AUS for last Century - stroke play was breath taking though. On aesthetic value, it's indeed one of the very best.

It's difficult to rank such innings, but I guess you have missed two gems by Gayle - both in loosing cause and both times he was MoM for those two innings: 65* at Adelaide & 102 (76) at WACA.

BC's 3 other innings in AUS are actually higher in rank for me: 132 at WACA, 182 at Adelaide and that 226 (at the age of 38!!) again at Adelaide.

Viv's best innings was probably not a century - those two 70+ were indeed special. I personally believe, cricket hasn't seen a better and more dominating batsman than Richards from that 1979 series (his lowest was 70), but you have missed his 145 at WACA ('88) - a 36+ Viv was mastered a good Aussie attack like Viv of old years.

Sir Gary won that famous Test at SCG to level the Series, but his best innings in AUS was probably 132 at the tie Test - can't say about the quality of innings (haven't seen), but for the occasion, I'll take the 132 ahead of 168.

With Larry Gomes, his partner Dujon also scored 139 in same innings and he was actually the aggressor there, batted at almost 100 SR after being retired hurt.

Overall, rest are more or less agreed.

Very good points but I disagree that unofficial WSC innings should not be considered with cricket at it's competitive best or the rest of the World games v Australia.Remember in 1972 Lillee was at his fastest.Viv was also at his best in WSC era in 1977-78.On Gayle you are absolutely correct.However was not Lara's 27 from an aesthetic p[oint of view an absolute gem which even Sobers applauded praising the complete domination on either foot?

Anyway happy you agree with most of the content.

 

[MMHS]

Very good points but I disagree that unofficial WSC innings should not be considered with cricket at it's competitive best or the rest of the World games v Australia.Remember in 1972 Lillee was at his fastest.Viv was also at his best in WSC era in 1977-78.On Gayle you are absolutely correct.However was not Lara's 27 from an aesthetic p[oint of view an absolute gem which even Sobers applauded praising the complete domination on either foot?

Anyway happy you agree with most of the content.

I did watch BCs 277 - can’t remember any double innings remotely close to that one if it’s considered aesthetics - VVS’s Eden one may be. There are few innings played by Azhar like the right hand version of that 277 (one at Adelaide), but can’t recall any double. Still, that was an absolute belter of a track on lightning out field.

I think, Arthurton played another gem at Gabba, just when cricket supremacy is shifting hands and that was good. Also, Kanhai had two hundreds in AUS, both in same game and both could be considered among very best.

 

[moghul]

One of the all time great inning against great fast bowling, wearing no helmet. Roy Frederick's took on Dennis Lillee, Jeff Thomson, and Gary Gilmour, lashing 169 off only 145 balls. The bowlers kept targeting the body with short balls and Fredericks kept playing full-blooded pulls. Lillee and Thomson had combined figures of 37-0-251-5 .

 

[Harsh Thakor]

One of the all time great inning against great fast bowling, wearing no helmet. Roy Frederick's took on Dennis Lillee, Jeff Thomson, and Gary Gilmour, lashing 169 off only 145 balls. The bowlers kept targeting the body with short balls and Fredericks kept playing full-blooded pulls. Lillee and Thomson had combined figures of 37-0-251-5 .

Absolutely agree .great post