[VIDEO] Michael Atherton vs Allan Donald

[lilFlip]

Athers and White Lightning face off

Minute 4:05

1998
Mike Atherton v Allan Donald. At Trent Bridge, a heavyweight contest to match any seen in the Test arena for 25 years, and one that Atherton won... just. Donald bowled a brutal, unrelenting spell from around the wicket, and should have had Atherton given caught behind off the glove when he had made 27. Soon after, Mark Boucher dropped Nasser Hussain, and Donald was apoplectic. He took all of his rage out on Atherton in a colossal struggle, but he couldn't break Atherton's will, and a day later England had squared the series, with Athers still there on 98 not out. In Wisden Cricket Monthly, Scyld Berry wrote that, "Iron Mike had turned into Steel."

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/current/match/63807.html

 

[Bhaijaan]

Donald was no Ishant Sharma after all.

 

[Robert]

That was on a Sunday morning. It was one of the first test matches without Sunday rest day and I didn't know, so I missed this marvellous duel and scintillating run-chase......

 

[Buffet]

Saw that one. It was a fascinating contest.

 

[EliteCynic]

Mark boucher would have had 1000 international dismissals today had he caught athers off a snorter from Donald. To say, AD was fuming would be an understatement. Bowled his heart out. Athers batted beautifully but Donald should have had him twice, if not for boucher and umpire.

Athers deserved a 100. Think he ended up with 98. This win helped Eng level the series which they were blown away in the first test and were down and in the second, only to be saved by a dogged Croft innings in the end.
Something tells me that the current series vs Ind is also shaping up in the same way. Hmmmmm

 

[Robert]

Athers deserved a 100. Think he ended up with 98. This win helped Eng level the series which they were blown away in the first test and were down and in the second, only to be saved by a dogged Croft innings in the end.

Don't forget Stewart's 164, and Fraser at the other end. I remember that last over, with Donald steaming in with five short balls, then there was one left to survive, and I was shouting at the screen: "Yorker, Gus, yorker!" and it was the yorker, and somehow the big seamer managed to jam his bat down on it and keep it out.

 

[lilFlip]

That was on a Sunday morning. It was one of the first test matches without Sunday rest day and I didn't know, so I missed this marvellous duel and scintillating run-chase......

Ah that sux.

What a players Donald and Atherton #respect

 

[Fastandfurious]

This was Intense!

 

[MenInG]

Another anniversary of this epic battle!

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[TheSultan]

This wasn’t much of a contest. It was just Donald bowling very well and very hostile. Atherton stood his ground but not at any point was he in control at all. He got hit, he edged, he missed.

 

[cricketjoshila]

It was during this match that Allan Donald sent a delivery at 152.9kph.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

The duel to end all duels...

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Athers was nicknamed 'cockroach' by the Australians for his 'over my dead body' mentality. And it was precisely because of rearguards like these. Test cricket needs more gritty, scrappy batters who get by on sheer will and tenacity. This is why I love Dean Elgar so much.

 

[Savak]

Athers was nicknamed 'cockroach' by the Australians for his 'over my dead body' mentality. And it was precisely because of rearguards like these. Test cricket needs more gritty, scrappy batters who get by on sheer will and tenacity. This is why I love Dean Elgar so much.

Atherton had a poor record against Australia. Routinely failed against McGrath and Warne.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Atherton had a poor record against Australia. Routinely failed against McGrath and Warne.

Your point?

He was given that nickname by Waugh because he was hard to dismiss, not because he scored a mountain of centuries against them.

 

[Savak]

Your point?

He was given that nickname by Waugh because he was hard to dismiss, not because he scored a mountain of centuries against them.

He was the easiest Eng batsman to dismiss for the Aussies. They must have been dissing him to get under his skin

 

[Robert]

Atherton had a poor record against Australia. Routinely failed against McGrath and Warne.

Not routinely. Average 30 overall. He had a couple of good series against Australia but in the last third of his career he suffered back problems, which limited his ability to duck and sway, which McGrath spotted and had the skill to exploit.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

He was the easiest Eng batsman to dismiss for the Aussies. They must have been dissing him to get under his skin

Yeah I don't think so. The nickname cockroach is enough of a diss as it is.