Cataloguing the best innings of X runs in test history

[OverratedSanity]

77 runs:

Ken Mackay vs SA ,Joburg 1958: Yet another lower order match turning innings by the guy who as I said before must have been irritating as **** to play against. This innings also had one of the two sixes he hit in his (extremely defensive) career. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...ca-vs-australia-5th-test-62834/full-scorecard)

Steve Smith vs Pakistan, Leeds 2010: Funny to see his average was 7.6 when this innings began. The good old days before he turned into a batting automaton. This was a bit of an unrefined prototype but was the first time you could see there was some serious ability there. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...ca-vs-australia-4th-test-62833/full-scorecard)

Wasim Raja vs WI, Karachi 1980: The last of many great knocks he played against WI. Rescued Pak from 85-5 to ensure a draw and keep the series alive (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...-vs-west-indies-3rd-test-63274/full-scorecard)

Cheteshwar Pujara vs Australia, SCG 2021: Classic Pujara, ugly and inelegant but no shortage of pure grit. An epic stand with Pant, which was then trumped by an even more epic stand after he went, between Vihari and Ashwin to save the game. Set the stage for India's greatest ever overseas win in the last game, where he'd play an even uglier, even more inelegant and even grittier innings. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...ca-vs-australia-4th-test-62833/full-scorecard)

Winner:

Alan Davidson vs England, Manchester 1961: A classic Ashes test match with almost too many memorable sequences to mention. With the series tied 1-1 and England seemingly within touching distance of a win, Davidson and McKenzie take Australia from a slim lead of 150 odd to a daunting 256. Hit 20 in an over off Alllen at one point. England had to get the target in less than 4 hours which didn't look likely. Then Ted Dexter smashed a spectacular 76 (ffs another one I forgot, how many great 76s have there been?) in 84 minutes (!), with 62 of those runs in boundaries. Then Benaud starts running through the lineup, aided by a truly absurd slip catch by Bob Simpson, and Australia end up winning with 20 minutes left, and retained the Ashes. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...ngland-vs-australia-4th-test-62896/match-news)

Really good highlights package with Davidson and Dexter's innings, Benaud's spell and that Simpson catch can be seen here, it's gold. Fun starts where I've timestamped it:

 

[Coronis]

77 runs:

Ken Mackay vs SA ,Joburg 1958: Yet another lower order match turning innings by the guy who as I said before must have been irritating as **** to play against. This innings also had one of the two sixes he hit in his (extremely defensive) career. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...ca-vs-australia-5th-test-62834/full-scorecard)

Steve Smith vs Pakistan, Leeds 2010: Funny to see his average was 7.6 when this innings began. The good old days before he turned into a batting automaton. This was a bit of an unrefined prototype but was the first time you could see there was some serious ability there. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...ca-vs-australia-4th-test-62833/full-scorecard)

Wasim Raja vs WI, Karachi 1980: The last of many great knocks he played against WI. Rescued Pak from 85-5 to ensure a draw and keep the series alive (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...-vs-west-indies-3rd-test-63274/full-scorecard)

Cheteshwar Pujara vs Australia, SCG 2021: Classic Pujara, ugly and inelegant but no shortage of pure grit. An epic stand with Pant, which was then trumped by an even more epic stand after he went, between Vihari and Ashwin to save the game. Set the stage for India's greatest ever overseas win in the last game, where he'd play an even uglier, even more inelegant and even grittier innings. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...ca-vs-australia-4th-test-62833/full-scorecard)

Winner:

Alan Davidson vs England, Manchester 1961: A classic Ashes test match with almost too many memorable sequences to mention. With the series tied 1-1 and England seemingly within touching distance of a win, Davidson and McKenzie take Australia from a slim lead of 150 odd to a daunting 256. Hit 20 in an over off Alllen at one point. England had to get the target in less than 4 hours which didn't look likely. Then Ted Dexter smashed a spectacular 76 (ffs another one I forgot, how many great 76s have there been?) in 84 minutes (!), with 62 of those runs in boundaries. Then Benaud starts running through the lineup, aided by a truly absurd slip catch by Bob Simpson, and Australia end up winning with 20 minutes left, and retained the Ashes. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...ngland-vs-australia-4th-test-62896/match-news)

Really good highlights package with Davidson and Dexter's innings, Benaud's spell and that Simpson catch can be seen here, it's gold:

Might be the best video ever posted here. Benaud, Davidson, Barrington, slip catching and its in black and white!

 

[The Sean]

Before moving on, a major correction needs to be made.

I forgot to include the actual best ever innings of 76 runs:

Dale Steyn vs Australia, MCG 2008: An innings that changed the course of the game, taking SA from a deficit of 140 to a lead of 40 by the time he was out after an epic stand with Duminy. Also took 10 wickets in the match and won them their first series in Australia. Arguably the most important innings ever played by a tailender and one of the ATG all round match performances. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...s-south-africa-2nd-test-351682/full-scorecard)

Also includes that hilarious Hussey drop which can be seen below.

To be fair to Huss there, he didn't actually drop it...

 

[BazBall21]

Appreciate your work Mr Sanity , but Pujara IS elegant actually.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Appreciate your work Mr Sanity , but Pujara IS elegant actually.

Point taken Mrs. Pujara

 

[ankitj]

Steve Smith vs Pakistan, Leeds 2010: Funny to see his average was 7.6 when this innings began. The good old days before he turned into a batting automaton. This was a bit of an unrefined prototype but was the first time you could see there was some serious ability there. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...ca-vs-australia-4th-test-62833/full-scorecard)

Wrong URL

 

[OverratedSanity]

Ah **** cant edit now. This is the match.

AUS vs PAK Cricket Scorecard, , 2nd Test at Leeds, July 21 - 24, 2010

Get cricket scorecard of 2nd Test, AUS vs PAK, Australia tour of England and Ireland 2010 at Headingley, Leeds dated July 21 - 24, 2010.

www.espncricinfo.com

 

[Nintendo]

Before moving on, a major correction needs to be made.

I forgot to include the actual best ever innings of 76 runs:

Dale Steyn vs Australia, MCG 2008: An innings that changed the course of the game, taking SA from a deficit of 140 to a lead of 40 by the time he was out after an epic stand with Duminy. Also took 10 wickets in the match and won them their first series in Australia. Arguably the most important innings ever played by a tailender and one of the ATG all round match performances. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...s-south-africa-2nd-test-351682/full-scorecard)

Also includes that hilarious Hussey drop which can be seen below.

Gillespie's 201* is undoubtedly the most important innings played by a tailender. Imagine a world where every test double centurion didn't have to feel a bit of shame knowing they share a club with jason.

 

[OverratedSanity]

We back!

78 runs:

Wasim Akram vs Sri Lanka, Colombo 2000: A huge last wicket partnership with Arshad Khan took Pakistan from a 100 run deficit to near parity. Picked up a 5fer in the next innings and finished off the 4th innings runchase with Moin when Pakistan were tottering at 80 odd for 5. Another all too rare amazing all-round display from Wasim. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...nka-vs-pakistan-1st-test-63885/full-scorecard)

Ian Bell vs South Africa, Capetown 2010: Probably one of the prime examples to disprove the "Ian Bell only scores soft runs" thing that was thrown around during his career. He did score a lot of soft runs, but this was a display of Border-esque grit to save the game against a red hot attack. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...ica-vs-england-3rd-test-387572/full-scorecard)

Faf du Plessis vs Australia, Adelaide 2012 and Perth 2012: Most people remember Faf's debut series in Australia for the near 400 ball rope-a-dope administered to Australia at Adelaide in the 4th innings. Either side of that innings though, Faf made two 78s that aren't nearly as well remembered even though they were genuinely great in their own way. First, on his test debut, he walks in at 233-4 that soon becomes 250-7 and SA still trail Australia by over 300. With an injured Kallis, he brings the deficit down to a mere 162 which takes precious time out of the game and sets the stage for the blockathon on day 5. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...s-south-africa-2nd-test-573008/full-scorecard)

A few days later in the series decider at Perth, SA are 67-5 on day one and he again rescues them taking them to a respectable 225 which allows Steyn, Amla and Smith to deliver the decisive blows the next day to win the series (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...s-south-africa-3rd-test-573009/full-scorecard)

Winner:

Ricky Ponting vs England, Headingley 2009: Ponting's most entertaining innings ever and my personal favourite from his catalogue. Comes in to bat to resounding boos, and proceeds to embarass England's bowling with a typical counterattack. There are multiple highlights from the innings starting at around the 24 minute mark (a ridiculous hook shot for six off Onions and a gorgeous Tendulkar esque backfoot punch being my favourites from the innings), but the one bit from the below video that I always associate with this innings (even though it was a ball to Watson) is Boycott's bit of commentary here as Harmison comes on to bowl that I've helpfully timestamped. It's right out of a comedy skit. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...d-vs-australia-4th-test-345973/full-scorecard)

 

[Coronis]

Should do a worst innings of X runs version

 

[271 & 16/166]

31 runs:

Ishant Sharma walked in at Mohali vs Australia with the score at 124/8. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...a-vs-australia-1st-test-464526/full-scorecard) Over the next couple of hours, he faced 92 balls, while VVS faced 38. Classic trolljob where Australia repeatedly gave Laxman the free single early in the over (usually after he'd hit a boundary) to get the tailender on strike. Clearly VVS doing this was a recipe for disaster as CW's posters agreed:



Only Jono got it right. Never doubt vvs intentman and his methods.



Tbf VVS' innings genuinely might have been looked at as a mini chanderpaul-esque red inker if not for ishant's stubborn defiance.

Honourable mention: Umesh Yadav with his highest test score, made in 10 balls. All but 1 run scored with DLF maximums. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...-south-africa-3rd-test-1187009/full-scorecard)

32 runs:

Doug Ring had already had a pretty great all round series vs WI in 1952. He came up clutch with both bat and ball repeatedly. Took a 6fer and finished off a nervy chase in the first test, an important 65 in the second, a 67 as nightwatchman after the previous two nightwatchmen had gotten themselves out in the third. And finally in the 4th test, he sealed the series with 38 run 10th wicket partnership. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...-vs-west-indies-4th-test-62733/full-scorecard)

Honourable mention: Graham McKenzie's vital last wicket stand with Davidson setting up Benaud's Ashes-winning spell. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...nd-vs-australia-4th-test-62896/full-scorecard). It remained the record 10th wicket stand for Australia in England until Agar and Hughes.

Just been reading Wally Hammond's Cricket My Destiny where he mentioned that his 32 against Australia in 1936/37 on a impossible pitch was a innings he rated most highly, just wondering where this innings was considered in your ratings? Thanks

 

[OverratedSanity]

79 runs:

Hansie Cronje vs Australia, Centurion 1997: An excellent counterattacking innings that pulled SA into a dominant position in the second innings. There's one shot from this knock that has somehow stuck in my mind vividly, when Cronje jumped down the track and smacked McGrath for a flat six over point. I am pleased that this highlights video has included it. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...ca-vs-australia-3rd-test-63744/full-scorecard)

Jimmy Adams vs South Africa, Bridgetown 1992: South Africa's inaugural test match is remembered best for their crazy Ambrose/Walsh induced collapse in the 4th innings, but it was set up by Adams' stubborn knock in the 3rd where he added 120 with the tailenders. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...s-south-africa-only-test-63574/full-scorecard)

VVS Laxman vs Australia, Perth 2008: Not even close to VVS's most acclaimed classics vs Australia, but that just shows what an immense catalogue of gems he put together against them. This was one of India's greatest and most satisfying overseas wins ever, when the cheating aussies were defeated after the disgrace at Sydney. Even after excellent knocks by Dravid and Sachin in the first innings that gave India a big advantage, they were stumbling at 125-5 and only 240 odd ahead with the pitch playing better and better. Along with useful runs from Dhoni and RP Singh, VVS took India to an unbeatable position which the bowlers capitalized on the next day. A particularly funny was the dreadful decision Symonds copped off the bowling off Kumble. Karmic justice. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...ralia-vs-india-3rd-test-291353/full-scorecard)

Winner:

Gundappa Viswanath vs England, Bengaluru, 1977: Another in a long line of sub-100 classics played by Viswanath. Doesn't get much better than a match winning innings made by a guy already suffering an injury, on a crumbling pitch against a great bowling attack. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...ndia-vs-england-4th-test-63177/full-scorecard)