In today’s weekend blog, I am continuing with cricket.
TEST CRICKET is the testing format for the game. We often see upsets being pulled off in the shorter formats of the game, but it seldom happens in Test cricket because the game’s longevity ensures that the highly skilled side eventually come on top. In recent times, there has been valid concern regarding future of Test cricket due to the rise in popularity of T20 cricket in particular. There have been plenty of great Test matches in Test cricket’s more than140 year old history. Here are the best 10 Test matches ever:
1 This Test match was played between West Indies and Australia. This match was played in May 2003 in West Indies.. In first innings both Australia and West Indies scored 240 runs. In Australia’s second innings Justin Langer and Mathew Hayden scored 111 and 177 respectively and helped set West Indies a target of 418. Needing an impossible 418 for victory, West Indies’ Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivnarine Chandrapaul scored centuries each and helped pull off a massive upset by making the highest successful run chase in Test history, beating India’s earlier record of successfully chasing down 406-coincidently against West Indies in 1976.
2 The Oval Test match between England and Australia way back in 1883 is arguably the most significant Test match ever as it gave birth to the furious Ashes rivalry between two countries. Australia opting to bat first made just 63 runs in their first innings. England, in their reply were, in turn, bowled out for 101, thereby giving them a lead of 38 runs. Australia was bundled out for 122 in their second innings. Given England’s considerable lead in the circumstances, they would have expected to beat Australia, especially after they needed just 85 runs for victory. But they collapsed, once again, for 77 and lost the match by 7 runs. It has been said that after their victory Australia burnt the wickets and took the ashes back home. This gave the birth of the term Ashes trophy.
3 This Test match involves Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Jan 2014. Pakistan seemed like they had no chance of winning this match when they just managed 341 in reply to Sri Lankan’s first innings total of 428. But the collective effort of Pakistan bowling attack in the second innings brought them right back into match. For victory Pakistan were required to chase 302 from 59 overs left in the Test match was still touch-and-go, but the contributions of Pakistani top order at a rate of over 5 runs per over ensured that they won the match with just 9 balls remaining. Shehzad Ahmad (147) and Misbah ul Haq scored 147 and 63 respectively, which helped Pakistan to achieve the target.
4 This Test match was between Australia and West Indies in 1993. Batting first West Indies were dismissed for 252, with Merv Hughes taking 5 for 64. Australia in reply were dismissed for 213, conceding a lead of 39 runs, with Curtly Ambrose running through middle order and finishing 6 for 74. In their second innings West Indies were bowled out for 146, giving Australia a target of 186 for victory. Despite Justing Langer’s 50 and Tim May’s contribution lower down the order Australia could just manage 184. Losing match by just 1 run, which remains the only occasion when a team has won a Test match by a solitary run. This was one of the rare Test matches where the bowlers ruled the roost, as their was not a single century scored in this Test match.
5 This Test match also involve West Indies and Australia, took place in March 1999. At this time, West Indies were a depleting force, and Australia were almost irrepressible and rightly considered the No.1 Test team in the world. But reputations mattered little to Brain Lara, as he slaughtered an imposing Australian attack to all parts of the ground. Needing 308 for victory, Lara showed everybody why he was considered as the No.1 batsman in the world, with a stunning exhibition of stroke play against two of the greatest bowlers of that decade Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne. The fact that he didn’t get able support from any of his team-mates in the 4th innings, he made this match as his match by scoring 153 not out, and helped West Indies to a one wicket victory, and West Indies went ahead in 5 Test match series 2-1.
Details of balance 5 Test matches in my next weekend’s blog.
Anil Malik
Mumbai, India
2nd May 2025