Career-saving performances

[Bijed]

As the title says, what would you say is the best performance, batting or bowling, to save someone's career when they were in real danger of being dropped either for good or the foreseeable future?

 

[Shri]

Dhoni's 148 vs Pakistan after a string of low scores after his ODI debut.

 

[fredfertang]

Bob Willis and his 8-43 at Headingley in '81

 

[morgieb]

Two late era Steve Waugh knocks come to mind: 3rd Test: Australia v Pakistan at Sharjah, Oct 19-22, 2002 | Cricket Scorecard | ESPN Cricinfo and 5th Test: Australia v England at Sydney, Jan 2-6, 2003 | Cricket Scorecard | ESPN Cricinfo

 

[morgieb]

And while I'm not 100% sure how accurate my gut is, I suspect if he had failed here Australia might have moved on permanently: 1st Test: Australia v England at Brisbane, Nov 21-24, 2013 | Cricket Scorecard | ESPN Cricinfo

(talking Johnson here, obv)

 

[Burgey]

Steve Waugh's last ball ton probably the one which springs to mind immediately.

Also Taylor's hundred in the second dig of the first test in the 97 Ashes.

 

[jimmy101]

As far as knocks that almost saved and/or extended a career go there was David Boon's 100 against Sri Lanka at the Boxing Day test in 1995 which was described as 'the century the selectors didn't want to see'.

 

[morgieb]

Two from Mike Hussey at very different parts of his career:

2nd Test: Australia v West Indies at Hobart, Nov 17-21, 2005 | Cricket Scorecard | ESPN Cricinfo. Context - he was only there as an injury replacement for Justin Langer, and had he failed in Hobart it was very much possible, heck even likely that he'd spend the rest of his career as an ODI specialist and never really get another chance as a Test player. Instead he scored a century, and the rest as they say, is history.

and

1st Test: Australia v England at Brisbane, Nov 25-29, 2010 | Cricket Scorecard | ESPN Cricinfo. Was in pretty bad form for about 2 years before that, and was lucky to be playing in that match. It's likely that he had failed his career would've been terminated very shortly. Instead he managed a big ton, was one of the only players to step up in that series and managed a quality second wind before his retirement.

 

[mr_mister]

Ricky Ponting's 197 in '99 came after 3 consecutive ducks and a very hot and cold career leading up to it, potentially career saving

 

[Dan]

Watson's 176?

 

[Daemon]

All of Marcus North's hundreds

 

[Bahnz]

Hashim Amla v NZ in 2007. Up until that point he'd averaged 25.5 after 17 tests. Even with the quota system he must've been terribly close to being perma-dropped. But then he smacked 173* and 103 back to back and his career blossomed.

 

[S.Kennedy]

What about Cook's two knocks v India at the Rose Bowl (95 and 70*)? Was he going to be dropped? Probably not as his captaincy saved him - something Bell did not have - but it was certainly a woeful run, averaging around 33, and the press were on his case. His form (sort of) returned thereafter although I still maintain Cook has not quite re-captured his best which was 2010 - 12ish.

 

[_Ed_]

I remember talk of Strauss being dropped in the lead-up to this beauty.
3rd Test: New Zealand v England at Napier, Mar 22-26, 2008 | Cricket Scorecard | ESPN Cricinfo

 

[J_C]

Laxman's 167 at Sydney 2000.

 

[Howe_zat]

I remember talk of Strauss being dropped in the lead-up to this beauty.
3rd Test: New Zealand v England at Napier, Mar 22-26, 2008 | Cricket Scorecard | ESPN Cricinfo

The one that immediately came to mind for me. Then spent the next ~18 months as our best batsman

 

[Dendarii]

If memory serves, Gary Kirsten was on the verge of being dropped before his 275 against England.

England tour of South Africa, 3rd Test: South Africa v England at Durban, Dec 26-30, 1999

 

[CapeTown Guy]

I was just about to post the Gazza one. Getting bowled by Mark Butcher!

 

[Marius]

I was just about to post the Gazza one. Getting bowled by Mark Butcher!

I think you can be forgiven when you've scored 275.

 

[Marius]

Stephen Cook's hundred in the pink ball Test probably saved his career for now.