Tribute on 40th anniversary of Sunil Gavaskar's epic 221 the Oval-Where did it rank amongst the greatest innings ever?

[Harsh Thakor]

40 years ago on this day the cricket world witnessed one of its greatest epics.Sunil Gavaskar simply gave one of the most majestic displays of batting ever seen on a cricket field defining  batting perfection at it's highest zenith,scoring 221 out of 443 balls out of a total of 429 runs..Few innings ever in the history of test cricket have led such a resurgence in a  team .Gavaskar blended the technical skill of a surgeon with the concentration of a Buddhist monk and the temperament of a soldier.In the whole innings he did not make a single blemish..It is hard to even visualize a more clinical batting performance . Displayed mental resilience or concentration at it's optimum level..That day Gavaskar was simply a boat sailing in the most turbulent of seas travelling unperturbed .It was a  revelation witnessing Gavaskar grinding himself to lay a carpet. like a sculpting a statue to perfection .For sheer grammar it was close to the best innings of all time and the best ever in a 4th innings.There is hardly an adjective that can describe the composure or  intensity of Gavaskar that day,with his batting resembling meditation,like a cocoon of concentration.Above all it enabled India to stage one of the greatest 4 th innings comebacks,if not the greatest ever in the history of the game.Now Gavaskar gave the final slap in the face to those critiques who rejected his stature as an all-time great batsmen or best opening batsmen in the world.

 

 

India started the 2nd innings with their backs to the wall  chasing a record target of 438 runs to win to square the series.India had been outplayed for most of the series facing a humiliating defeat at Edgbaston.Gavaskar had been a model of consistency but still a really big innings was due from him.

 

Gavaskar started cautiously with partner Chetan Chauhan to enable India to reach 76-0 at the close of the 4th day.On the 5th day needing another 365 to win both the openers got down to business from the word go.Gavaskar punished every bad ball in his characteristic manner. while partner Chetan  Chauhan played  a perfect supporting role. as an accomplice.The opening stand was broken with 213 on the board.Vengsarkar now joined Gavaskar and the 2 took India within sight of a famous win taking India to 328-1 when the mandatory overs began.India needed around five and half runsper over to win and looked on target  to coasting hom,e before the departure of Vengsarkar with the score at 366 after making a well compiled 52.India were still favourites before skipper Venkatraghvan made the gross blunder of sending in Kapil Dev before Vishwanath who held out on the ropes lashing out on the 1st ball.Next Yashpal Sharma came in who again fell cheaply before Vishwanath was ultimately sent in .With 8 overs to go and 49 needed Gavaskar eventually perished holding out to Gower off the bowling of Botham,scoring 221 runs..It almost looked as though India 's victory prospects had immed or  even diminished before Vishwanath launched a thrilling counter resurgence.With the artistry of a painter he dispatched 3 balls to the boundary and India again looked as though they were sailing home.To me at this point the game had its gravest fate.Vishy hit a bump ball which was caught by Brearley and was wrongly declared out.It was reminiscent of a weaver's hands being cut off giving the final touches to a dress .A few overs later Yashpal Sharma and Yujivender Singh were given doubtful LBW decisions and Venkataraghvan wrongly adjudged run out.In the final over India needed 13 runs still  with 2 wickets remaining and played out for a draw,The umpires had come to the rescue of England to rob India of untold glory and morally thus it was 13 Englishman that played that day.

 

Still India had morally won the day and salvaged glory.After being so battered and overpowered India ressurected itself to come within touching distance of the pinnacle of glory  as few teams ever did ..Although living in England at that time I can visualize the jubilation and elevation of spirit  in  the hearts of the people in India,with their pocket radios fixed on their ears.Every run or boundary of Gavaskar elevated  the pulse or took the morale of the Indian people to its crescendo.It was  reminiscent of  a nation on the brink of a glorious victory against  a great colonial power  ,defining the spirit or pulse of the nation   as few sportsman could ever do.Sadly India lost the series in the end but still won it's self respect.India came within 9 runs of achieving the record winning total in a 4th innings which if acheived would have stood as a record till this day.Above all Gavaskar scored over 50 % of the team's runs  which was  remarkable.I still dream of a situation of Vishy giving the perfect finishing touches to take India across the line,giving the final icing to the cake whose foundation was laid by Sunny.There  was hardly any criticism  for the dubious umpiring decisions by the English media .Still India had won many a fan amongst the Englishman and in the final session even may Englishmen  went on to the side of India,feeling they deserved to win.In the words of an Englishman "Facing the same circumstances England would never have accomplished such a performance."  I was  saddened that day by the unsporting tactics of the Englishman led by Mike Brearley,trying to slow down the game when India were cruising home.

 

After the game Len Hutton paid a big tribute to Gavaskar's knock as so did Jim Laker.They stated that it was proof that Gavaskar was the best opening  batsmen in the world.Hutton also regarded Gavaskar as the best batsmen in the world .Mike Brearley described it as the most flawless exhibition of batting he ever witnessed where every good ball was treated on its merit and every bad ball dispatched for four.True there have been more attacking  or artistic displays of stroke play.but considering the adverse circumstances faced few could ever match,let alone beat Gavaskar's herculean effort.Very hard to envisage even the likes of Viv Richards.Sachin Tendulkar or Virat Kohli equalling Sunny on that day.

 

Personally I rank this innings among the dozen best test innings of all time and 4 best ever in a run chase. Only Lara's unbeaten 153 v Australia and Kusar Perara's unbeaten 154 v South Africa in my book rank ahead and arguably Ben Stoke's latest 135 v Australia.Considering percentage of team's score it edged even Ben Stoke's effort recently.No doubt Gordon Greenidge gave a more breathtaking display when scoring 214 n.o at Lords taking domination to regions  of the divine,but he hardly faced such a grave situation. Probably the bets innings ever by an opening batsmen in a run chase.

 

I rank India's performance as the best ever 4th innings effort  in a draw among s the 3 best ever in a 4th innings run chase.

 

 

Edited September 4, 2019 by Harsh Thakor

[velu]

 

 

[Harsh Thakor]

3 hours ago, Harsh Thakor said:

40 years ago on this day the cricket world witnessed one of its greatest epics.Sunil Gavaskar simply gave one of the most majestic displays of batting ever seen on a cricket field defining  batting perfection at it's highest zenith,scoring 221 out of 443 balls out of a total of 429 runs..Few innings ever in the history of test cricket have led such a resurgence in a  team .Gavaskar blended the technical skill of a surgeon with the concentration of a Buddhist monk and the temperament of a soldier.In the whole innings he did not make a single blemish..It is hard to even visualize a more clinical batting performance . Displayed mental resilience or concentration at it's optimum level..That day Gavaskar was simply a boat sailing in the most turbulent of seas travelling unperturbed .It was a  revelation witnessing Gavaskar grinding himself to lay a carpet. like a sculpting a statue to perfection .For sheer grammar it was close to the best innings of all time and the best ever in a 4th innings.There is hardly an adjective that can describe the composure or  intensity of Gavaskar that day,with his batting resembling meditation,like a cocoon of concentration.Above all it enabled India to stage one of the greatest 4 th innings comebacks,if not the greatest ever in the history of the game.Now Gavaskar gave the final slap in the face to those critiques who rejected his stature as an all-time great batsmen or best opening batsmen in the world.

 

 

India started the 2nd innings with their backs to the wall  chasing a record target of 438 runs to win to square the series.India had been outplayed for most of the series facing a humiliating defeat at Edgbaston.Gavaskar had been a model of consistency but still a really big innings was due from him.

 

Gavaskar started cautiously with partner Chetan Chauhan to enable India to reach 76-0 at the close of the 4th day.On the 5th day needing another 365 to win both the openers got down to business from the word go.Gavaskar punished every bad ball in his characteristic manner. while partner Chetan  Chauhan played  a perfect supporting role. as an accomplice.The opening stand was broken with 213 on the board.Vengsarkar now joined Gavaskar and the 2 took India within sight of a famous win taking India to 328-1 when the mandatory overs began.India needed around five and half runsper over to win and looked on target  to coasting hom,e before the departure of Vengsarkar with the score at 366 after making a well compiled 52.India were still favourites before skipper Venkatraghvan made the gross blunder of sending in Kapil Dev before Vishwanath who held out on the ropes lashing out on the 1st ball.Next Yashpal Sharma came in who again fell cheaply before Vishwanath was ultimately sent in .With 8 overs to go and 49 needed Gavaskar eventually perished holding out to Gower off the bowling of Botham,scoring 221 runs..It almost looked as though India 's victory prospects had immed or  even diminished before Vishwanath launched a thrilling counter resurgence.With the artistry of a painter he dispatched 3 balls to the boundary and India again looked as though they were sailing home.To me at this point the game had its gravest fate.Vishy hit a bump ball which was caught by Brearley and was wrongly declared out.It was reminiscent of a weaver's hands being cut off giving the final touches to a dress .A few overs later Yashpal Sharma and Yujivender Singh were given doubtful LBW decisions and Venkataraghvan wrongly adjudged run out.In the final over India needed 13 runs still  with 2 wickets remaining and played out for a draw,The umpires had come to the rescue of England to rob India of untold glory and morally thus it was 13 Englishman that played that day.

 

Still India had morally won the day and salvaged glory.After being so battered and overpowered India ressurected itself to come within touching distance of the pinnacle of glory  as few teams ever did ..Although living in England at that time I can visualize the jubilation and elevation of spirit  in  the hearts of the people in India,with their pocket radios fixed on their ears.Every run or boundary of Gavaskar elevated  the pulse or took the morale of the Indian people to its crescendo.It was  reminiscent of  a nation on the brink of a glorious victory against  a great colonial power  ,defining the spirit or pulse of the nation   as few sportsman could ever do.Sadly India lost the series in the end but still won it's self respect.India came within 9 runs of achieving the record winning total in a 4th innings which if acheived would have stood as a record till this day.Above all Gavaskar scored over 50 % of the team's runs  which was  remarkable.I still dream of a situation of Vishy giving the perfect finishing touches to take India across the line,giving the final icing to the cake whose foundation was laid by Sunny.There  was hardly any criticism  for the dubious umpiring decisions by the English media .Still India had won many a fan amongst the Englishman and in the final session even may Englishmen  went on to the side of India,feeling they deserved to win.In the words of an Englishman "Facing the same circumstances England would never have accomplished such a performance."  I was  saddened that day by the unsporting tactics of the Englishman led by Mike Brearley,trying to slow down the game when India were cruising home.

 

After the game Len Hutton paid a big tribute to Gavaskar's knock as so did Jim Laker.They stated that it was proof that Gavaskar was the best opening  batsmen in the world.Hutton also regarded Gavaskar as the best batsmen in the world .Mike Brearley described it as the most flawless exhibition of batting he ever witnessed where every good ball was treated on its merit and every bad ball dispatched for four.True there have been more attacking  or artistic displays of stroke play.but considering the adverse circumstances faced few could ever match,let alone beat Gavaskar's herculean effort.Very hard to envisage even the likes of Viv Richards.Sachin Tendulkar or Virat Kohli equalling Sunny on that day.

 

Personally I rank this innings among the dozen best test innings of all time and 4 best ever in a run chase. Only Lara's unbeaten 153 v Australia and Kusar Perara's unbeaten 154 v South Africa in my book rank ahead and arguably Ben Stoke's latest 135 v Australia.Considering percentage of team's score it edged even Ben Stoke's effort recently.No doubt Gordon Greenidge gave a more breathtaking display when scoring 214 n.o at Lords taking domination to regions  of the divine,but he hardly faced such a grave situation. Probably the bets innings ever by an opening batsmen in a run chase.

 

I rank India's performance as the best ever 4th innings effort  in a draw among s the 3 best ever in a 4th innings run chase.

 

 

Please comeback here on this historic day in annals of indian cricket ICF viewers. appreciate.

[putrevus]

Gavaskar is India best ever fourth innings batsman and it is not even close.He has 90 in tied test in 1986 and also scored a hundred in Port of Spain when India chased 406 in fourth innings.His other unsung gem was his last test innings against Pakistan when he was 96 out on a minefield. This guy was a genius who would have been one of great match winners if he had played on better teams.

Edited September 4, 2019 by putrevus

[Harsh Thakor]

8 minutes ago, putrevus said:

Gavaskar is India best ever fourth innings batsman and it is not even close.He has 90 in tied test in 1986 and also scored a hundred in Port of Spain when India chased 406 in fourth innings.His other unsung gem was his last test innings against Pakistan when he was 96 out on a minefield. This guy was a genius who would have been one of great match winners if he had played on better teams.

Where do you rtae this inings amongst those of great opening batsmen and those in a run chase?Around the top?

[putrevus]

2 minutes ago, Harsh Thakor said:

Where do you rtae this inings amongst those of great opening batsmen and those in a run chase?Around the top?

It should be right at the top with Greenidge's double hundred against England.Chasing 438 in foruth innings is monumental even today.It should go down as best ever knock by an Indian in fourth innings. Kohli could learn a thing or two from him on how to chase scores in fourth innings.

[MechEng]

Younis Khan's 218 is way better

[Real McCoy]

4 hours ago, Harsh Thakor said:

Please comeback here on this historic day in annals of indian cricket ICF viewers. appreciate.

Wait you quoted yourselves Why u no mention majid kahn

[Vilander]

all of Majid khans test innings were obviously better than this one..

 

 

 

[Vilander]

need a choice  107th best ever... since Majid Khan has 106 innings 

[Deleted_User_1]

This was one of India's great run chases, although it did not succeed. Another great chase was in the 3rd test in WI in the 1975-76 tour where India scored 403 to win with Gavaskar and Vishwanath both scoring hundreds.

Edited September 5, 2019 by Audiophile

[Vilander]

5 minutes ago, Audiophile said:

This was one of India's great run chase, although it did not succeed.

lol 

 

its a chase when it succeeds. 

[Vijy]

On 9/4/2019 at 6:35 PM, Audiophile said:

This was one of India's great run chases, although it did not succeed. Another great chase was in the 3rd test in WI in the 1975-76 tour where India scored 403 to win with Gavaskar and Vishwanath both scoring hundreds.

randall also played a very fine knock chasing a huge target. those were the rare days when 400 could be threatened in 4th innings.

[Deleted_User_1]

On 9/4/2019 at 4:42 PM, Vilander said:

lol 

 

its a chase when it succeeds. 

Nope, looks like someone needs some English lessons!

 

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/chase

[Deleted_User_1]

2 hours ago, Vijy said:

randall also played a very fine knock chasing a huge target. those were the rare days when 400 could be threatened in 4th innings.

Yeah due to lack of a lot of shorter version, batsmen did not have to switch back and forth between test mode and ODI/Tee-tonty modes.

[Harsh Thakor]

23 hours ago, Vijy said:

randall also played a very fine knock chasing a huge target. those were the rare days when 400 could be threatened in 4th innings.

True Randall's 174 at Melbourne in 1977 was one of crickets classics.Strokeplay of the very highest class against a great attack and combative spirit at it's highest zenith.