Kusal Perera 153* vs South Africa - The greatest Test innings of all time?

[QuickCrick]

A slap on the face of our standards and our team. A poorer team (no offence) won a match against SA in SA, and yet we couldn't do so. Our cricket is in ruins, like hockey and other sports. Can't even watch PSL because of abysmal performances, with fake written all over it, resulting in mistakes & blunders on a scale unprecedented. Are we improving? really? We get hyped over nobodies, and then they let us down, instead of going the extra mile.

On the other hand, teams like Sirilanka & NZ, they fight on foreign soils. NZ even win matches against us in our home. SL, Ind & bangladesh give good performance over seas. While, we have yet to figure out whether we want to change our whole domestic set up or continue with different variations of same thing over and over again, without actually giving chance to those who deserve it. That's what happened when merit is ignored. I hope we learn from it

Calm down!

Sri Lanka started the rebuild slightly earlier than us and rightly should be ahead of us. Give the test team the same time and we will start delivering.

 

[Savak]

Pereira delivered a freak once in a lifetime performance. Sri lankas bowlers performing with more penetration than Pakistan's over rated bowlers is what is more alarming to me.

 

[Romali_rotti]

Absolutely up there.

From Pakistan perspective, I have seen Inzi do it against Australia and Bangladesh and there are others, but wow Kusal....

Take a bow!!!

Are you talking about that 60 odd vs Aus that Inzi made in Pakistan after having not scored much in the entire series ? You seriously cannot compare that knock to this......

 

[Romali_rotti]

Are you talking about that 60 odd vs Aus that Inzi made in Pakistan after having not scored much in the entire series ? You seriously cannot compare that knock to this......

Forgot to add Inzi was lucky when Ian Healy missed a clear easy stumping... This knock was faultless...

 

[Romali_rotti]

Lara's & Laxman's innings while brilliant was at home with home umpires, Lara was dropped, a sitter in the slips. This knock was faultless so the best chasing innings even though it was against a post injury Steyn..

 

[jnaveen1980]

Lara's & Laxman's innings while brilliant was at home with home umpires, Lara was dropped, a sitter in the slips. This knock was faultless so the best chasing innings even though it was against a post injury Steyn..

Adding 78 against even AFghanistan, Ireland will be tough in a test match. So credit to them. Remember how Cummins and Hazlewood gave a scare at the Adelaide before Ashwin took him out. Same way Faf/ABDV completely turned the match around in SA and SA was very close to win that Test before the match was called off.

 

[Corridor of Uncertainty]

Are you talking about that 60 odd vs Aus that Inzi made in Pakistan after having not scored much in the entire series ? You seriously cannot compare that knock to this......

Chill man. I did rate Kusal's knock as the best ever on the voting.

As for Inzi, it was the first match of the series! Get your facts right.

However, Inzi did come in late, Mushy scored 20* for the last wicket and the knock was at home. So Kusal's knock was better. That's why I added from a Pakistan's perspective.
http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/...a-1st-test-australia-tour-of-pakistan-1994-95

 

[Hawkeye]

Brilliant.

One of the best, top 2-3, if not the best.

From POV it's the best.

 

[DHONI183]

One of the greatest Test innings of all times, well and truly without a doubt. It´s very hard to pick one as the best from a very long list, but yes it has to be one of them. When I opened the scorecard later in the day yesterday actually to see by how many runs Sri Lanka have lost, I was totally shocked!

Just got done with the highlights. Well, Kusal Perera idolises Jayasuriya and yesterday he did bat like his idol. Excellent hitting against one of the most potent pace attacks of nowadays. Awesome sixes! Now, if only, if only we could´ve more Test matches like this, as opposed to once in a year. Matches like this remind me of what Test cricket used to be years ago. Here´s hoping for more of this madness in five day affairs.

Well Kusal! Brave hitting! I´ve a feeling that the lack of expectations, from him or from his team, freed him up greatly to bat as he pleased with everything lost anyway. Someone like Kohli or any other highly rated batsman of this age might´ve struggled to keep hitting like this till the very end. Such a batsman most likely would´ve been caught in two minds once the runs required got below 30, and such thoughts would´ve massively increased the pressure I´m sure. So full credit to Kusal for using his "freedom" so well. Not everyone can pull of such dream stuff!

 

[CricFan2012]

I think this whole pitch was worse is overstated. The greatest spinner didn't even take a single wicket in the last inning in 24 overs, if it was that bad he would have got at least one batsman out in 24 overs. In addition, Healy dropped a sitter of Lara when WI still required 30 odd runs. This freakish inning was chanceless and against the quality of Steyn and Rabada who are in the same class as McGrath and Gillespie. This is SA home, to chase 300+ in visiting country is just unbelievable.

Incredible.

I did not know that Lara was dropped, and that a sitter.

How can people honestly claim it as the best ever innings even before Kusal scored his knock? Yes it could have been up there since he brought it down to a 30 run deficit but West Indies should not have won if he was caught and that would have changed the whole complexion of the match.

I know this is a controversial opinion but I will stick by not rating lucky, streaky, and ugly innings along with chuckers.

I watched the highlights of Kusal's knock and did not see any drops or any edges, anything to indicate he was riding on luck, so it has to be the best, please correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Incredible.

I did not know that Lara was dropped, and that a sitter.

How can people honestly claim it as the best ever innings even before Kusal scored his knock? Yes it could have been up there since he brought it down to a 30 run deficit but West Indies should not have won if he was caught and that would have changed the whole complexion of the match.

I know this is a controversial opinion but I will stick by not rating lucky, streaky, and ugly innings along with chuckers.

I watched the highlights of Kusal's knock and did not see any drops or any edges, anything to indicate he was riding on luck, so it has to be the best, please correct me if I'm wrong.

If Tendulkar had been dropped on the fence at Chennai thigns would have been different for Tendulkar as well yes laxman's 281 was also flawless. Not a single dropped chance. Same with Dravid's 180 in the same match. Lara's 153 became a folklore innings because of the intensity of the series, rivalry bit like Botham's 149 which was no different from Azar Mahmood's 128. That England match was won because of Bob willis 8 wicket haul.

 

[Harsh Thakor]

This innings proves that ultimately test cricket is the ultimate form of the game where pinnacle of glory is attired at a height as in no form of cricket.It represented technical skill ,determination and temperament at it's highest zenith in sport .Kusala Perara ressurected Sril Lanka from the grave or the depths of despair to reach the pinnacle of glory.To take the team across the finishing line rather than just lose out at the brink of victory was the hallmark of this knock.The audacity of his strokeplay in the darkest of waters was simply breathtaking.He simply carried the entire burden of the team on his shoulders like a captain single handedly steering a ship in a storm.

Kushala Perera played arguably the best test innings of all time considering it was played away and for a nation whose cricket literally hit the rock bottom.When the standard of tset cricket has been in decline it has virtually written anew chapter in the history of the game ,ressurecting it's past glory.

 

[QalandarFan]

What an innings it was words are not enough to describe it’s greatness.

 

[Harsh Thakor]

After Perera took his team across the line the ecstasy he and his team experienced were virtually unparalled in the game as it traversed regions never done before.Re -defined cricketing glory taking sporting achievement to it's very pinnacle.

 

[the_game]

If Tendulkar had been dropped on the fence at Chennai thigns would have been different for Tendulkar as well yes laxman's 281 was also flawless. Not a single dropped chance. Same with Dravid's 180 in the same match. Lara's 153 became a folklore innings because of the intensity of the series, rivalry bit like Botham's 149 which was no different from Azar Mahmood's 128. That England match was won because of Bob willis 8 wicket haul.

I don't know what you are trying to imply about Tendulkar at Chennai in 1999, but an easy stumping chance was missed when he was in the 90's I believe. Ultimately he bottled it anyway like on most occasions, but it was by no means a chanceless inning.

 

[Mobashir]

If Tendulkar had been dropped on the fence at Chennai thigns would have been different for Tendulkar as well yes laxman's 281 was also flawless. Not a single dropped chance. Same with Dravid's 180 in the same match. Lara's 153 became a folklore innings because of the intensity of the series, rivalry bit like Botham's 149 which was no different from Azar Mahmood's 128. That England match was won because of Bob willis 8 wicket haul.

Afridi was better than Tendulkar in that match and also on the winning side. You should be thankful that Tendulkar robe that MOM from him!
Although Tendulkar did play brilliantly no way this innings should be named in this thread!

 

[Ted123]

Greatest by a Sri Lankan ever.

 

[Mirpur express]

Considering the circumstances it has to be on of THE best innings ever played in test cricket..

 

[SLcric123]

Surely the best I have ever watched in my lifetime till now.

Well played!

 

[Joseph Gomes]

Easily the best. Away knock against Prime Rabada along with Steyn and Philander is insane stuff

 

[jnaveen1980]

Caught the highlights. SA clearly panicked after a period. 5 over throws in between. Bouncers were just sitting up. They played right into Perera's hands. He just took chance at every opportunity and it paid off. Losing 9th wicket with close to 80 to get, it liberated Perera completely. Good thing is he didn't stop attacking when they got very close to the target.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Afridi was better than Tendulkar in that match and also on the winning side. You should be thankful that Tendulkar robe that MOM from him!
Although Tendulkar did play brilliantly no way this innings should be named in this thread!

Afridi wasn't chasing for one thing. He didn't exactly "plan" that innings. Tendulkar's was well orchestrated. HE was with last recognized batsman when the got very close to the target. You didn't see the match i take it. That was possibly one of the best 4th innings century i have ever seen. That was chanceless as well.

 

[MP2011]

Afridi wasn't chasing for one thing. He didn't exactly "plan" that innings. Tendulkar's was well orchestrated. HE was with last recognized batsman when the got very close to the target. You didn't see the match i take it. That was possibly one of the best 4th innings century i have ever seen. That was chanceless as well.

Adding on to that, Tendulkar walked into bat with India's score reading at 2/6 and soon they were 5/82 when India's last 'recognized' bat Mongia walked in to accompany him. That should give you the perspective how bloody tough it was against an attack as good Pakistan attack was in that test.

Also, the way India's tail folded in that innings after Tendulkar succumbed to his back spasms should give you an idea that Mongia-Tendulkar partnership was effectively India's last pair.

 

[MP2011]

Speaking of this Kusal innings, incredible is the only word that comes to mind. Great to see SA finally getting beaten in a LIVE test in their home environs. They have been very vulnerable for quite some time and its a pity that it took a freak innings to prove that.

More power to SL cricket.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Speaking of this Kusal innings, incredible is the only word that comes to mind. Great to see SA finally getting beaten in a LIVE test in their home environs. They have been very vulnerable for quite some time and its a pity that it took a freak innings to prove that.

More power to SL cricket.

Their standard go to method under pressure is attack no matter what. I remember Dickwella trying to play diliscoop against Australian fast bowlers even though it was a very low percentage shot against the likes of Cummins. They give it a shot anyway. THey did that against India in champions trophy. Just kept attacking getting away with all the risky shots. There are times it will pay off. Most of the times it will look silly. One of the interesting thing in SA is counterattacking is very easy because of the fastish outfield, attacking field sets, smaller grounds. It was a nothing to lose situation. He didn't wilt under pressure. Just kept attacking right till the end. I would be heart broken if he had done that against India. There is no worse feeling than a last wicket pair adding 78 to win a Test.

 

[MP2011]

Their standard go to method under pressure is attack no matter what. I remember Dickwella trying to play diliscoop against Australian fast bowlers even though it was a very low percentage shot against the likes of Cummins. They give it a shot anyway. THey did that against India in champions trophy. Just kept attacking getting away with all the risky shots. There are times it will pay off. Most of the times it will look silly. One of the interesting thing in SA is counterattacking is very easy because of the fastish outfield, attacking field sets, smaller grounds. It was a nothing to lose situation. He didn't wilt under pressure. Just kept attacking right till the end. I would be heart broken if he had done that against India. There is no worse feeling than a last wicket pair adding 78 to win a Test.

Yeah, agree with this.

But good to see that SA have been defeated in a LIVE test at home by an Asian side, whatever the methods. They were saved by AB against us, but this time there was no one like him to save them.

 

[Abdullah]

It has to be right. Who else has singlehandedly chased a 300 plus score on their own, in a foreign land, against a world class bowling attack?

 

[barah_admi]

Pereira delivered a freak once in a lifetime performance. Sri lankas bowlers performing with more penetration than Pakistan's over rated bowlers is what is more alarming to me.

In which way? The Pakistani bowlers bowled the saffers out for cheaper than the Lankan bowlers did in the first test.

 

[Pakhs]

Yes one of the very best! Huge result for Srilanka.

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

What an innings!

Hopefully this innings will be a new dawn for the SL test team.

Loved it

 

[Braveheart]

That was amazing !

VVS Laxman and Lara did it at home. Perera did it against SA IN SA , and facing their full strength pace attack!

For me, it's right up there. Take a bow Perera !

Agree, best test innings ever, considering the context. Here's my top 5.
1. Perera V SA (2019)
2. Lara v Australia (1998)
3. Laxman v Australia (2001)
4. Botham v Australia (1981)
5. Inzimam v Bangladesh (2003)

 

[criclove34]

That was amazing !

VVS Laxman and Lara did it at home. Perera did it against SA IN SA , and facing their full strength pace attack!

For me, it's right up there. Take a bow Perera !

We as human are excited by recent events... imagine now your team is down in 3rd innings with over 470 runs deficit, pitches uncovered against fierce fast bowler and you 3 days left to save a test match.
Saving the match was in the domain of impossibility. Not only was the deficit a monumental 473, it was also a six-day Test match. Three and a half days stretched ahead, a looming infinity in cricketing terms. Gilchrist, with his fierce run up, extreme pace and dodgy action, 6 bounces in an over allowed, no helmet.

It was Hanif who played the longest test innings ever 900 plus ball 16 hours innings.. 334 runs ... context Pakistan was visiting the Mighty WI with team.

Just reflecting get you goose bumps... my elder friend witnessed that innings in person and have he has even 100s of test matches in person and 1000 other on tv..l accordingly to him no innings came close... fact being he is Indian

 

[Rahul1]

yes but one difference.
Lara's Knock was at home,
this knock was away.

Lara faced McGrath, Warne and Gillespie. Home or Away made no difference to these guys.

 

[warcry]

Lara faced McGrath, Warne and Gillespie. Home or Away made no difference to these guys.

and who is talking to you indian?
not me.

 

[SarfiBabarHaris]

Should be declared as best test innings of all time without any dispute.

His reason was the sole reason why SL won the series in SA.

 

[RainMan_]

LOL no.

Stop exaggerating.

 

[Romali_rotti]

Lara faced McGrath, Warne and Gillespie. Home or Away made no difference to these guys.

Yeah away vs the guys you mentioned above he avgd 33odd in Aus....

 

[MMHS]

I have to say, after 2nd Test I do feel that Perera's innings has lost a little ground to me. This SAF attack is living with it's past glory - Styen & Phi are shadow of their past, while Dunnie cashed on PAK batting to enjoy that sort of series. I know SAF's attack averages U25, lower at their home, but that's not the case now.

Still, one of the ATG innings indeed, but now I'll put Lara's one comfortably ahead.

 

[Rafa]

Where would fans rate the current innings by Ben Stokes?

73 runs for the last partnership and doing it all alone by himself.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Definitely in the context both are good. But SL handling Rabdaa in SA is harder one must say. But what Stokes did is something you find in movie scripts. Down and out and win from nowhere.

 

[volcyz]

Greatest ever has to be Stokes

 

[aloo paratha]

No point comparing the two innings, it's not needed, they both got the job done.

 

[barah_admi]

Both great innings, add in some others along the way...but these two really do stand out in this decade.

 

[jnaveen1980]

No point comparing the two innings, it's not needed, they both got the job done.

One common thing is, when you chase in 4th innings, trying to defend your way out will always fail. Both Perera and STokes attacked the bowlers. They didn't stop right till the end once they started attacking.