Which were the best innings in order of merit in test cricket facing spin bowling?

[Harsh Thakor]

This is the selection of my best test innings ever facing spin bowling on turning tracks


1.Sunil Gavaskar 96 v Pakistan at Bangalore in 1987

On the worst of broken pitches Gavaskar took defensive batting to regions of immortality.I can't conceive any batsman equalling this performance of Sunny ,who resembled a surgeon performing an operation on a patient considered incurable.Revealed concentration of a monk meditating and relentlessness of a boulder.





2.Zaheer Abbas 235 n.o at Lahore in 1978-79 v India

The equivalent of seeing Bradman play spin bowling.Took aura of invincibilty to heights of divinity as though he was merely giving an an exhibition and facing club level bowlers.Rarely has a batsman pierced the gap as often or with such magical touch.Batting artistry and technical skill at its zenith.Aura of invincibility of an all conquering army.




3.Virendra Sehwag 201 at Galle in 2008


Took domination of spin bowling on a turning track to metaphysical or unexplored regions creating impact of a dynamite exploding.Viv Richards would have found it hard to equal this effort.Scored 201 out of score of 329 single handedly carrying the brunt of the batting.





4.Alan Border 150 and 153 n.o at Lahore in 1980


On a turning track displayed the combative spirit of a soldier in negotiating the ball.Tenacity at a supreme zenith .






5.Brian Lara 219 in Sri Lanka in 2001


Championed the cause like alone crusader like few batsman ever against arguably the best spinner of all time.Batting Wizardry at it's zenith.




6.Sachin Tendulkar 155 no.v Australia at Madras

I have never seen Shane Warne demolished ever reminiscent of a bowler's throat being slit.On of cricket's classical exhibitions of attacking strokeplay against spin that turned the entire complexion of the game.





7.Ian Chappell 138 at Delhi in 1969-70

Beautifully danced down the track,exhibiting classical footwork against arguably the best spin attack of all time.Improvisation of a technician,tackling Prasanna.





8.Alvin Kalicharan 124 at Bangalore in 1974-75

On a turning track a true masterpiece revealing technical skill and artistry in regions of the sublime.




9.Younis Khan 267 at Bengaluru in 2005.


For sheer combativeness and impact a truly great innings making his team's victory prospects revolve around his batting.It was sight to behold witnessing his grinding away to take the fight to the bowlers and enable his team to claw back after every juncture when it was pressurized.





10.Rohan Kanhai 256 at Kolkata in 1958-59

The epitome of perfect batting blending exhilarating strokeplay with wizardry and great technical skill.




11.David Gower 173 n.o at Lahore in 1984.

Artistry and elegance personified tackling Abdul Qadir's wizardry with remorseless ease like a mother putting her child to sleep.




12.Clive Lloyd 163 at Bangalore in 1974-75

On a deteriorating track Lloyd took the bowling attack to the sword with the ferocity of a tiger,murdering his prey.

Edited November 7, 2020 by Harsh Thakor