Best innings of the decade- The ones to miss out...

Whenever, there is a list being compiled, its a tug of war between me and Hesh as to who gets to describe a particular innings or shot or spell. That didnt happen this time as Hesh beat me comfortably by releasing this list, and for once I dont have any regrets about it(except one which missed out)!

Well, here is my list of innings which I feel, narrowly missed out:

Adam Gilchrist 122 vs India Mumbai 2001

99/5, Harbhajan causing a riot, Gilly answers him also with a riot! In a matter of 2 hours he changed the complexion of the game completely....

Rahul Dravid at Jamaica 2006/07

Though it was just a couple of 50s, the fact that it was a very dodgy pitch and nobody from either side crossed 50 in both innings, and this lead to a series victory in Caribbean after 30 years odd, and add to that the quality of shot making he showed on a two paced wicket, this was one of the best efforts from an Indian batsman for a very long time...


Virender Sehwag 319 at Chennai

You come to bat at the end of the 2nd day and score 52 not out on the deadest of pitches when the opposition has scored 550 plus. By the end of the third day, you are talking about your team scoring 700 and getting them out on the 5th!  No wonder people have started cults on his name!!


Sachin Tendulkar 155 Bloemfontein 2001

The result was a loss, but the quality of the innings cannot be doubted, nor the situation. 50/4 with two debutants to follow, (forget one of them was Sehwag, we didnt know about him yet!!) he counter attacks the bowling so much that, by the time India was around 100/4 those watching had already decided that SA is going to pay heavily....

Rahul Dravid 180 Eden Gardens 2001

Now whats wrong with this innings that it doesnt feature in Hesh's? It was Dravid's solidity at one end that allowed Laxman to play so freely, on the 4th day. He made 39 of 196 balls in the previous test, to come out and play an innings like this is truely extrodinary...

Andrew Flintoff  Edgbaston 2005

Yes, Arun.... we too support English cricketers, but then they have to produce something as special as this. With only, the last wicket for company, Flintoff finally played a special innings, which we were only hearing about for some years from the commentators. Take into account that the margin of victory was only 2 runs, this one is very special indeed...

Kamran Akmal  Karachi 2005

Irfan Pathan had made history with a first over hat trick, and at 39/6 Pakistan were staring down the barrel. From a situation like this, there is only one team in the world that can win a test match  and thats Pak too, Akmal came in and played a truely magnificent innings, to put them back on course.


Graeme Smith Perth 2008

Any chase in the 4th innings is difficult and that too against Aus, when you are SA you always have demons to slay. But probably, Smith is the one Protea who has actually looked AUS in the eye, and he stood up again to play a captain's knock from which the other guys took inspiration to pull of an incredible chase.


Chandepaul vs Aus 2004

Now, he was the last guy whom you would associate with fastest centuries, but on this day, he was breathtaking. Just when the Aussies think they have seen the back of Lara, and can breathe easily, in comes this man to hammer them into oblivion!

Lara 400 vs England

Forget about the dead pitch, forget this didnt contribute in a win, forget that England had a mediocre attack, put any batsman in the same situation with the same bowlers and ask him to score atleast 150, with half the class, style, grace and timing, and  they still wont come near this man....Many were unhappy that Hayden had over taken Lara's record, but then those people had underestimated the Prince....