by sussexpob » Fri Oct 04, 2019 11:27 am
I think my list would be very different, simply because of which series I would have considered to be standout achievements for their time.
As an example, Id rate Graham Thorpe's 32 not out at the SCC on a pitch where 16 wickets fell in 50 overs at the end, and where they were batting in a minefield, against the best spinner of all time at the other end and a series in Asia on the line, multiples more impressive than watching Ben Stokes cremate South Africa's attack around on the tamest featherbed you'd ever see, where the first innings was still being batted on Day 5 in a test with no bad weather and a result impossible in those conditions. Thats before we mention his 113* not out in the first innings that was one of the very few batting masterclasses you'd ever see of an Englishman playing spin in Asia.
Other than that, Cook's effort in Australia in 2010 standout, mostly in the drawn test at the Gabba. While no result came, there was a familiarity of England turning up at the Gabbatoir and being 250 runs down after the first innings, but nothing familiar about the fightback that came after. Cook laid down the marker, and Australia never really recovered from it.
KP in Mumbai on that horrid turner was epic. For pure entertainment value and creativity his efforts in SL in 2012 and in 2006 in England are noticeable also. I still remember Michael Holding's rather bemused "well, well" as he unleashed the reverse sweep on Murali.
Colly had a few epic counter attacks. Prior's effort in NZ on the rearguard saved a series there. Any of Vaughan's masterclasses in Australia in 2002 are worthy of mention. Tresco at Multan in 2005 in a losing effort, but also at Wanderers in 2005 in a winning one (Strauss by memory came up with a few brilliant innings in tough conditions too). Hussain in Durban in 1999. Thrope in Christchurch in 2002 (sadly overlooked after Astle went ballistic in the 4th innings).
Atherton's epic knock in Karachi, facing 3 decent test spinners on a dustbowl with England having conceded far too many runs in the 1st effort, setting up victory in Pakistan in 2001 is for me better than his 185*
In ODI knocks, id have Ali Brown's 50 in the Texaco trophy in 1997 up there, because a 30 ball knock like that at the time was almost unheard of.
Last edited by
sussexpob on Fri Oct 04, 2019 11:30 am, edited 1 time in total.
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And a hat and bra to you too, my good sirs!