When Abdul Qadir helped take down the mighty West Indies for 53 all out

[Markhor]

One of the greatest triumphs in Pakistan Test history was the Faisalabad Test of 1986.

Pakistan were bowled out for 159 in the 1st innings and faced an 89 run deficit. Thanks to a dogged 2nd innings performance from the likes of Saleem Yousuf and Wasim Akram (who also starred with the ball) however, West Indies needed 240 to win the opening Test of the series.

A West Indian lineup containing Gordon Greenidge, Desmond Haynes, Viv Richards, Richie Richardson, Larry Gomes and Jeff Dujon got nowhere near the total, thanks to a brilliant 6-16 from Abdul Qadir. They were skittled in 26 overs for a mere 53, their lowest score in Test history at the time !

Qadir took 18 wickets in that series which Pakistan drew 1-1. It was the first of three titanic battles between the West Indies and Pakistan, deemed the unofficial championship of Test cricket.

In the away series in 1988, Qadir again played a central role. As the last man, he played out the last five deliveries of the 2nd Test for a draw. The 3rd Test was a classic but not without controversy. West Indies, one-nil down and needing to chase 266 to save the series, squeaked home by two wickets thanks to Jeff Dujon and Winston Benjamin. Qadir had three huge shouts turned down. In his frustration he lashed out at a spectator.

The final act of the trilogy was in 1990. Qadir this time played a peripheral role in another 1-1 draw.

From June 1, 1976 to March 30, 1995, West Indies played 142 Tests and lost only 19, four of these to Pakistan. Whilst other teams had no answer to the West Indian juggernaut, Pakistan under Imran Khan drew three times and Abdul Qadir was a key figure.

It's often said that a true test of a player is how they fare against the best opponents of their era - Abdul Qadir passed that test against the greatest side in history. RIP Qadir saab.

 

[Markhor]

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[MENTION=132062]Harsh Thakor[/MENTION] [MENTION=132916]Junaids[/MENTION] [MENTION=79064]MMHS[/MENTION] @KB [MENTION=7774]Robert[/MENTION]

 

[Junaids]

This is what our Indian friends never understand when I say that the 1986-1992 Pakistan Test Team was the greatest ever Asian team.

The 1980’s West Indians were the greatest ever cricket team - even ahead of the 1967-1975 South Africans.

Six months earlier they had demolished England so completely that the wreckage of the England team even lost to India and New Zealand at home. But that wasn’t a weak England team: it won The Ashes in Australia six months later with a team boasting Gower, Gatting, Lamb, Botham, Edmonds, Emburey and with Foster and Dilley in the wings.

It was an excellent England team that had just been run over by a West Indian juggernaut.

But Imran’s Pakistan refused to lose to the West Indies - they drew 3 consecutive series 1-1.

Qadir bowled them to victory in the Faisalabad Test, but the astonishing thing was the batting of Wasim Akram to set a target after Pakistan had been skittled for 159 on the first day.

I was on holiday in Majorca, listening to updates on the BBC World Service and avidly reading The Times each day, which had sent its cricket correspondent to Pakistan to cover the series. I only saw the footage on Grandstand the following Saturday, and then later on Cover Point, which is the source of the embedded video in this thread.

 

[anikrc1]

This is what our Indian friends never understand when I say that the 1986-1992 Pakistan Test Team was the greatest ever Asian team.

The 1980’s West Indians were the greatest ever cricket team - even ahead of the 1967-1975 South Africans.

Six months earlier they had demolished England so completely that the wreckage of the England team even lost to India and New Zealand at home. But that wasn’t a weak England team: it won The Ashes in Australia six months later with a team boasting Gower, Gatting, Lamb, Botham, Edmonds, Emburey and with Foster and Dilley in the wings.

It was an excellent England team that had just been run over by a West Indian juggernaut.

But Imran’s Pakistan refused to lose to the West Indies - they drew 3 consecutive series 1-1.

Qadir bowled them to victory in the Faisalabad Test, but the astonishing thing was the batting of Wasim Akram to set a target after Pakistan had been skittled for 159 on the first day.

I was on holiday in Majorca, listening to updates on the BBC World Service and avidly reading The Times each day, which had sent its cricket correspondent to Pakistan to cover the series. I only saw the footage on Grandstand the following Saturday, and then later on Cover Point, which is the source of the embedded video in this thread.

1995-2007 's Australia is the greatest team ever. Best win loss record proves it

 

[Junaids]

1995-2007 's Australia is the greatest team ever. Best win loss record proves it

No, not at all.

Australia’s success in that period was because world cricket was weak at that time and they had two ATG bowlers in McGrath and Warne.

But the batting line-up of Taylor, Boon, the Waugh brothers and Healy had lost away to the West Indies in 1991, in fact at Guyana in particular they were humiliated. And then with McGrath and Warne in the squad they lost at home to the West Indies in 1992-93, and by the Fifth Test at Perth the West Indian bowlers had smashed Australia to a beaten, devastated pulp.

That was the only time that they overlapped with the great West Indian team, which by then was already down around 50% from its heyday, and the same Aussie players to whom you refer were slaughtered.

So yes, they went on to beat a lot of very weak teams. But they can’t ever live down Guyana 1991 and Perth 1992-93.

 

[andy0204]

No, not at all.

Australia’s success in that period was because world cricket was weak at that time and they had two ATG bowlers in McGrath and Warne.

But the batting line-up of Taylor, Boon, the Waugh brothers and Healy had lost away to the West Indies in 1991, in fact at Guyana in particular they were humiliated. And then with McGrath and Warne in the squad they lost at home to the West Indies in 1992-93, and by the Fifth Test at Perth the West Indian bowlers had smashed Australia to a beaten, devastated pulp.

That was the only time that they overlapped with the great West Indian team, which by then was already down around 50% from its heyday, and the same Aussie players to whom you refer were slaughtered.

So yes, they went on to beat a lot of very weak teams. But they can’t ever live down Guyana 1991 and Perth 1992-93.

Wait a minute McGrath debuted against new Zealand at home in 1993 and his first Frank Worell Trophy match was in 1995 where Australia defeated West Indies in West Indies
Some times you write fairy tales instead of analysis.

 

[Junaids]

Wait a minute McGrath debuted against new Zealand at home in 1993 and his first Frank Worell Trophy match was in 1995 where Australia defeated West Indies in West Indies
Some times you write fairy tales instead of analysis.

Yes he did, but I lived in Sydney at the end of 1992, and that was when Glenn McGrath had established himself for New South Wales and was twelfth man in successive Test squads.

Honestly!

 

[anikrc1]

No, not at all.

Australia’s success in that period was because world cricket was weak at that time and they had two ATG bowlers in McGrath and Warne.

But the batting line-up of Taylor, Boon, the Waugh brothers and Healy had lost away to the West Indies in 1991, in fact at Guyana in particular they were humiliated. And then with McGrath and Warne in the squad they lost at home to the West Indies in 1992-93, and by the Fifth Test at Perth the West Indian bowlers had smashed Australia to a beaten, devastated pulp.

That was the only time that they overlapped with the great West Indian team, which by then was already down around 50% from its heyday, and the same Aussie players to whom you refer were slaughtered.

So yes, they went on to beat a lot of very weak teams. But they can’t ever live down Guyana 1991 and Perth 1992-93.

Except the batting line up I am talking about had ponting Martyn Hayden and langer in it, and McGrath warne were not novices.it's like saying safin is better than Djokovic because safin beat him in his teens

 

[Junaids]

Except the batting line up I am talking about had ponting Martyn Hayden and langer in it, and McGrath warne were not novices.it's like saying safin is better than Djokovic because safin beat him in his teens

Again, I beg to disagree.

Hayden, Martin and Langer were all in the Australia squad by 1993. But they weren’t good enough to displace Taylor and Slater and Boon and Mark Waugh from the team.

When the better, slightly older players I have just listed departed then those others - and Darren Lehmann and Andy Symonds - finally got back into the team.

But Langer and Hayden and Martyn had to wait their turn because they weren’t as good as the previous generation. And the fact that they went on to have an all-conquering era was mainly because Rana Naved was inferior to Waqar Younis, John Crawley was inferior to Mike Gatting and Chris Cairns was inferior to Richard Hadlee.

 

[Robert]

This is what our Indian friends never understand when I say that the 1986-1992 Pakistan Test Team was the greatest ever Asian team.

The 1980’s West Indians were the greatest ever cricket team - even ahead of the 1967-1975 South Africans.

Six months earlier they had demolished England so completely that the wreckage of the England team even lost to India and New Zealand at home. But that wasn’t a weak England team: it won The Ashes in Australia six months later with a team boasting Gower, Gatting, Lamb, Botham, Edmonds, Emburey and with Foster and Dilley in the wings.

It was an excellent England team that had just been run over by a West Indian juggernaut.

But Imran’s Pakistan refused to lose to the West Indies - they drew 3 consecutive series 1-1.

Qadir bowled them to victory in the Faisalabad Test, but the astonishing thing was the batting of Wasim Akram to set a target after Pakistan had been skittled for 159 on the first day.

I was on holiday in Majorca, listening to updates on the BBC World Service and avidly reading The Times each day, which had sent its cricket correspondent to Pakistan to cover the series. I only saw the footage on Grandstand the following Saturday, and then later on Cover Point, which is the source of the embedded video in this thread.

It was a pants team missing Gooch, Willey, Old, Hendrick, Dilley and Emburey, with Willis at the end and Botham over the hill. It won just five tests in the second half of the eighties, all against an ATW Aussie side.

 

[Junaids]

It was a pants team missing Gooch, Willey, Old, Hendrick, Dilley and Emburey, with Willis at the end and Botham over the hill. It won just five tests in the second half of the eighties, all against an ATW Aussie side.

I actually think that the problem in the second half of the 1980’s was that the team was still being selected by MCC types (Peter May and then Ted Dexter) who thought that Mike Gatting was dreadfully common. We ended up with an absurd number of captains and a stupid turnover of players.

But take a step backwards. We won a Test tour of India in early 1985. We won The Ashes in Australia in late 1986. Mike Gatting’s Team only lost 1-0 at home to Pakistan in 1987 - and they were a seriously good team. And in early 1990 we almost beat the West Indies in the West Indies.

The ultimate testament to Abdul Qadir is his performances in the 7 Tests he played against England between July and November 1987.

You describe our team as “pants” but consider:

Gooch
Broad
Gower
Gatting
Lamb
Botham
French
Emburey
Edmonds
Foster
Dilley

That team is vastly superior to the England team playing today: Jofra Archer is the only 2019 player who would come anywhere close to getting in that team, plus possibly the keeper.

Abdul Qadir came up against an unusually strong England team, and he did really well against them.

 

[anikrc1]

Again, I beg to disagree.

Hayden, Martin and Langer were all in the Australia squad by 1993. But they weren’t good enough to displace Taylor and Slater and Boon and Mark Waugh from the team.

When the better, slightly older players I have just listed departed then those others - and Darren Lehmann and Andy Symonds - finally got back into the team.

But Langer and Hayden and Martyn had to wait their turn because they weren’t as good as the previous generation. And the fact that they went on to have an all-conquering era was mainly because Rana Naved was inferior to Waqar Younis, John Crawley was inferior to Mike Gatting and Chris Cairns was inferior to Richard Hadlee.

Ah, good to know that you think all players come to international area fully formed

 

[ishtiaq_ctg]

Again, I beg to disagree.

Hayden, Martin and Langer were all in the Australia squad by 1993. But they weren’t good enough to displace Taylor and Slater and Boon and Mark Waugh from the team.

When the better, slightly older players I have just listed departed then those others - and Darren Lehmann and Andy Symonds - finally got back into the team.

But Langer and Hayden and Martyn had to wait their turn because they weren’t as good as the previous generation. And the fact that they went on to have an all-conquering era was mainly because Rana Naved was inferior to Waqar Younis, John Crawley was inferior to Mike Gatting and Chris Cairns was inferior to Richard Hadlee.

The same way it can be argued that all conquering era of West Indies was due to the absence of south africa, not facing anyone like murali or Warne, facing ATW Australian & English side. NZ was decent & they lost to NZ away once. I wont mention Pakistan as West Indies failed to beat them in three series & should've lost @home vs Pakistan if not for biased umpiring.(atleast that's what everyone believes except west indian supporters)

Statistic wise, Australia 95-07 is the best side ever.Won everywhere in every format.

 

[ishtiaq_ctg]

I actually think that the problem in the second half of the 1980’s was that the team was still being selected by MCC types (Peter May and then Ted Dexter) who thought that Mike Gatting was dreadfully common. We ended up with an absurd number of captains and a stupid turnover of players.

But take a step backwards. We won a Test tour of India in early 1985. We won The Ashes in Australia in late 1986. Mike Gatting’s Team only lost 1-0 at home to Pakistan in 1987 - and they were a seriously good team. And in early 1990 we almost beat the West Indies in the West Indies.

The ultimate testament to Abdul Qadir is his performances in the 7 Tests he played against England between July and November 1987.

You describe our team as “pants” but consider:

Gooch
Broad
Gower
Gatting
Lamb
Botham
French
Emburey
Edmonds
Foster
Dilley

That team is vastly superior to the England team playing today: Jofra Archer is the only 2019 player who would come anywhere close to getting in that team, plus possibly the keeper.

Abdul Qadir came up against an unusually strong England team, and he did really well against them.

Stokes, Anderson, Broad, Bairstow would be automatic choice in this team.
You glorify the past a bit too much

 

[Saj]

Pakistan were the main team that challenged the best Windies teams over the years.

Some epic battles between 2 great sides.

 

[Junaids]

Stokes, Anderson, Broad, Bairstow would be automatic choice in this team.
You glorify the past a bit too much

Anderson is finished.

Stokes ahead of Botham?

Broad maybe, yes.

I would pick a 2019 keeper......but it would be Foakes.

 

[Harsh Thakor]

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[MENTION=132062]Harsh Thakor[/MENTION] [MENTION=132916]Junaids[/MENTION] [MENTION=79064]MMHS[/MENTION] @KB [MENTION=7774]Robert[/MENTION]

Performance of a true genius revealing artistry or craft in regions of divinity.Created the impact of a great Hollywood star when in full flow and R.E.M. led a dancer.Never forget it was Qadir being denied crucial wickets at Barbados in 1988 which cost Pakistan the unofficial world championship title in West Indies when 3. Batsmen were wrongly not declared out.For sheer wizardry he surpassed even Shane Warne and was harder to read than anyone.Nobody mesmerised batsmen more than Qadir at his best.Sadly hardly proved himself in Australia or even India.In some respects the equivalent of Wasim Akram to spin bowling taking creativity to its ultimate depth.

 

[Harsh Thakor]

It was a pants team missing Gooch, Willey, Old, Hendrick, Dilley and Emburey, with Willis at the end and Botham over the hill. It won just five tests in the second half of the eighties, all against an ATW Aussie side.

Troubled Viv Richards more than anyone and dismissed him on countless occasions.The best spinner ever against a great West Indies team.English umpire Dicky Bird chose him in his all time XI above Shane Warne.The greatest ever exponent of the googly taking spin artistry to another dimension.