Your top five Test batting innings of all time

[boomboomcheema]

Mine would be as follows:

1) Ben Stokes, Leeds 2019
2) Kusal Perera, SA 2019
3) VVS Layman 281* , Eden Gardens
4) Brian Lara 153* , Bridgetown
5) Brendon Mc Cullums Triple Ton to draw the match against India.

 

[topspin]

Mine would be as follows:

1) Ben Stokes, Leeds 2019
2) Kusal Perera, SA 2019
3) VVS Layman 281* , Eden Gardens
4) Brian Lara 153* , Bridgetown
5) Brendon Mc Cullums Triple Ton to draw the match against India.

Excellent list. The only change I'd make is to swap number 2 and 3.

 

[aloo paratha]

Can't rate Stokes over Perera imo. To score half of the target, in conditions where Asian batsmen are known to struggle against an attack containing Rabada, Steyn and Philander is not comparable to doing so in home conditions, with a couple of chances. However that is just my opinion. There is no doubt that any of the innings that make this list are legendary.

 

[Mamoon]

Can't rate Stokes over Perera imo. To score half of the target, in conditions where Asian batsmen are known to struggle against an attack containing Rabada, Steyn and Philander is not comparable to doing so in home conditions, with a couple of chances. However that is just my opinion. There is no doubt that any of the innings that make this list are legendary.

Stokes had to deal with significantly greater pressure. No one thought Sri Lanka could beat South Africa.

This is the Ashes and that too in England, who had to win to keep their hopes of reclaiming the urn alive.

 

[aloo paratha]

Stokes had to deal with significantly greater pressure. No one thought Sri Lanka could beat South Africa.

This is the Ashes and that too in England, who had to win to keep their hopes of reclaiming the urn alive.

I agree with that. But Perera made more runs without being given any chances. And the bowling attack Perera faced was better. I feel many people are just having recency bias.

 

[Last Monetarist]

1. Ben Stokes 135 vs Aus
2. Brian Lara 153 vs Aus
3. Kusal Perera 153 vs SA
4. VVS Laxman 281 vs Aus
5. Azhar Mahmood 132 vs SA

 

[Last Monetarist]

I agree with that. But Perera made more runs without being given any chances. And the bowling attack Perera faced was better. I feel many people are just having recency bias.

Nope, this laughably underestimates the effect of the sheer pressure of the occasion on Stokes. It's debatable to suggest that the South African attack was better than this Australian attack given that Nathan Lyon is a much better bowler than Maharaj.

 

[aloo paratha]

Nope, this laughably underestimates the effect of the sheer pressure of the occasion on Stokes. It's debatable to suggest that the South African attack was better than this Australian attack given that Nathan Lyon is a much better bowler than Maharaj.

Stokes was probably more under pressure, but at the end of the day had Australia taken one of their many chances, this innings would be forgotten by next week. Perera's innings was spotless.

 

[satheesh]

small doubt w.r.t whether magnitude of the inns does not count?? If so Laxman has 281....so I would go with Laxman

 

[Joseph Gomes]

small doubt w.r.t whether magnitude of the inns does not count?? If so Laxman has 281....so I would go with Laxman

No magnitude of innings does not count, context matters more than runs scored. In cricket, a century is a century. After a century is scored, it's evaluated based on the amount of pressure the batsman faced.

 

[satheesh]

No magnitude of innings does not count, context matters more than runs scored. In cricket, a century is a century. After a century is scored, it's evaluated based on the amount of pressure the batsman faced.

so , you feel runs would automatically come once it touches the landmark of 100? Just imagine the situation where VVS got out after scoring exactly 100....And VVS scored more than twice runs against a convincingly superior attack too when compared to Stokes. Atleast with Stokes there was justification of being an all rounder, but VVS was a specialist batsman.And do not expectations of crores of Indians
for which cricket is nothing less than a passion count??

I agree that both knocks have their own pros & cons ... but 281 simply is such a large score for me which determines the difference.

 

[Last Monetarist]

Stokes was probably more under pressure, but at the end of the day had Australia taken one of their many chances, this innings would be forgotten by next week. Perera's innings was spotless.

Either you didn't watch the test match or are being contrarian for the sake of it. Stokes' innings captured the imagination and tugged at the heartstrings in ways that will ensure that it will get talked about as long as cricket is played.

Perera's innings is sadly already a footnote in cricket history as not enough people watched that test match for it to be relevant in the grand scheme of things. Despite the fact he didn't give a chance during that innings, he was still immensely fortunate that South Africa were a bowler down, and Steyn was bowling military medium half-volleys.

I'd argue that Stokes' innings was better technically because it encompassed all the facets that make the art of constructing an innings so compelling: stonewall defence (2 off 66 balls), running between the wickets, and outrageous strokeplay.