Who should win the Man of the Match award here?

[The Sean]

One of the little projects of mine that I’ve been revisiting is a look at applying the Man of the Match award historically to Test matches from the times before it became commonplace to award it. There are, of course, many Tests for which there are multiple options for the award, but there are two in particular which are vexing me and that I thought I’d open up to the forum here for your thoughts.

The first is this famous Test, the Oval 1976. Viv Richards made a superlative 291 off 386 balls and it seems utterly wrong to overlook such a knock, but the more I think about it the more I am leaning toward Holding’s epic 14-wicket haul on a pitch which definitely wasn’t doing him any favours. I suppose I could always give a joint award, but I’ve not done that for any other Test!

https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...-vs-west-indies-5th-test-63167/full-scorecard

The second is a strange one – Old Trafford 1964. On the face of it, it feels like madness to not give the match award to a bloke who made a triple century (and maybe it is). But in a 600+ vs 600+ draw, I have a really strong temptation to give it to big Garth McKenzie toiling for 60 overs to take 7-fer on a motorway.

https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...nd-vs-australia-4th-test-62950/full-scorecard

It’s also absolute meme-level Kenny Barrington that his career highest innings isn’t even the top score of its own Test.

Thoughts welcomed.

 

[Lillian Thomson]

Holding for the first one. 74/75/76 the Oval pitch was a featherbed. Holding’s bowling was truly spectacular.
Simpson for the second one. He batted first with the intention of securing the Ashes and did just that to perfection.

 

[Red_Ink_Squid]

Agree with LT. I'd pick Holding & Simpson.

 

[mr_mister]

Yeah Holding

I'd say 14fers in tests are as rare as triple tons, maybe even rarer (maybe use that metric if you want to get scientific)

And viv didn't quite get 300

You add the subjective elements such as the fact it was a featherbed and that seals it

 

[mr_mister]

Yep, so there's been only 24 instances of a 14fer or better, compared to 37 instances of 291 or better

 

[subshakerz]

Holding definitely.

 

[The Sean]

So I think I'm convinced - Holding and Simpson it is.