Your favourite test matches / series.

[ravishingravi]

I have been losing interest in cricket. Perhaps I am getting old and can't connect to franchise based nautanki. I am from the generation that got up at 4:30am in the morning to watch bright sun lit test match in Australia. Then at 8:30 am prepare tea for foggy start of day in Kotla. Then have lunch with start of test match in SA around 12:30 am. 

 

I have stopped following cricket closely except great test matches in favourite venues. In my honest view, the greatest era of test matches started in 1995 after Aus win over WI in WI. While it was primarily dominated by Aus, there have been challengers and also great test series in last 30 years. Combination of great bowling and attacking batsmen. 

 

Aus domination, India challenging home and then abroad, Pak in late 90s, SA with brilliant trio of fast bowler not losing a series abroad for 8 years and winning in nz, aus and eng in 1 year, Ashes 2005 and then England from 2009-2012, NZ under Fleming. 

 

Would love to know your favourite test matches / series that you recollect. I will share some of my own which I keep coming back to. 

Edited October 12, 2024 by ravishingravi

[ravishingravi]

Arguably the greatest achievement in India's cricketing history. In my view, makes Rahane the greatest captain I have seen, to be almost playing with B team and defeating the top Australian team in Australia after being bowled out for 36. Don't think this achievement can be hyped enough. 

 

 

[ravishingravi]

This was a great series. Australia on the back of Johnson's ashes went to South Africa and won 2-1. It was two top bowling attacks at their peak having a go at each other. And it was last session on final day that decided the winner. Last day was nearly one of the great saves by SA but genius that is Ryan Harris got the win for Aus. 

 

 

 

[deathmonger]

From Kohli team:

 

Ind-Aus 2017

Ind-Aus 2020-21

 

From Ganguly team (first team I followed):

 

Ind-Aus 2003-04

Ind-Pak 2004 (In hindsight, this was a pretty crappy series but we had not won in Pakistan and Pakistan still had that aura)

 

[ravishingravi]

2001 India Australia. David vs Goliath if ever there was one. Resurgence and today's state of Indian cricket can be traced to this great series under leadership of Saurav Ganguly. 

 

 

[Lord]

7 hours ago, ravishingravi said:

2001 India Australia. David vs Goliath if ever there was one. Resurgence and today's state of Indian cricket can be traced to this great series under leadership of Saurav Ganguly. 

 

 

 

But we used to win at home even then right? Even in 98 we beat Aussies 2-1

[Lord]

BGT 2020-21 easily

 

for non India, I'd say Ashes 2005

[Nikhil_cric]

BGT 2001, 2003, 2018, 2021

 

PAK tour 2004.

[Forever Indian]

10 hours ago, deathmonger said:

From Kohli team:

 

Ind-Aus 2017

Ind-Aus 2020-21

 

From Ganguly team (first team I followed):

 

Ind-Aus 2003-04

Ind-Pak 2004 (In hindsight, this was a pretty crappy series but we had not won in Pakistan and Pakistan still had that aura)

 

 

The funniest thing is Rahane was captain for nearly entire series of 2020-21 and the decider test of 2017...

[BacktoCricaddict]

A combination of personal emotion and team achievement parameters give the following results in my mind:

 

BGT 2020 - 21 - this team had no business beating that Ozzie team.

 

BGT 2001 - just the sheer audacity of the takedown, and the official transfer of the role of "mental midget" to the Ozzies forever.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1983 ODI WC

 

 

 

2011 ODI WC

 

2007 T20 WC

 

2024 T20 WC

 

 

 

Edited October 12, 2024 by BacktoCricaddict

[BacktoCricaddict]

4 hours ago, Lord said:

 

But we used to win at home even then right? Even in 98 we beat Aussies 2-1

True, but the strength of that Ozzie team cannot be overstated. They came in with 16 continuous test wins - a record. They demolished us in the first test and looked extremely strong for the beginning of the Eden Gardens test. Then they made the egregious error of humiliating us by giving a follow-on.  Rest is effin history.

[BacktoCricaddict]

11 hours ago, ravishingravi said:

2001 India Australia. David vs Goliath if ever there was one. Resurgence and today's state of Indian cricket can be traced to this great series under leadership of Saurav Ganguly. 

 

 

Thank you for this video.

 

I had forgotten a few things:

 

(1) The winning runs came of McGrath. How fitting. Not only was he their best bowler but also exemplified their rotten, a-hole attitude. Good to put a hole in that.

 

(2) Sameer Dighe - what a fighter. Kept his cool. And even after running 2 runs to win, he was putting his hand up making sure HBS didn't leave his crease until it was totally confirmed that it was over. And then he exulted.

 

Again, another example (like BGT 2020 21) of an unheralded player stepping up when the team really needed someone.

 

Goose-freakkin-bumps.

[MK55]

2005 Ashes - Flintoff n the entire Eng pace attack was next level

Aus vs SA in SA in 2009 I think - Johnson n Morkel were breathing fire. Clarke broke his arm.

India Vs Aus 2018. I missed the next tour but over here Bumrah reached a new level in terms of pace and impact.

[cowboysfan]

most definitely the C team win in BGT-that was once in a life time win and truly miraculous event better than any world cup win.

[Lord]

3 hours ago, BacktoCricaddict said:

True, but the strength of that Ozzie team cannot be overstated. They came in with 16 continuous test wins - a record. They demolished us in the first test and looked extremely strong for the beginning of the Eden Gardens test. Then they made the egregious error of humiliating us by giving a follow-on.  Rest is effin history.

 

I know that but its still a home win which was our fortress in 90s too.Eden victory itself was magnificent ofcourse but not some turning point.

 

That happened when we started winning in SENA, starting with Headingley 2002 Test.

[nevada]

On 10/12/2024 at 3:39 PM, Lord said:

 

But we used to win at home even then right? Even in 98 we beat Aussies 2-1

We had lost a series to SA at home a year ago,which badly dented our invincible at home aura. Plus the Aussies were on a long winning streak which they were very intent on continuing. We lost Kumble, our biggest match winner in home conditions. While Australia had Shane Warne, we were betting on rookie Harbhajan and a couple of recycled older spinners. 

[First class]

On 10/11/2024 at 10:21 PM, ravishingravi said:

Arguably the greatest achievement in India's cricketing history. In my view, makes Rahane the greatest captain I have seen, to be almost playing with B team and defeating the top Australian team in Australia after being bowled out for 36. Don't think this achievement can be hyped enough. 

 

 

This is unmatchable, out of this world , wow. 

[ravishingravi]

Australia Pakistan 1999 series. It was clash of titans. Arguably two best teams in the world. Australia recent world champion. This series had a lot of stuff. The 3-0 scoreline can be deceptive. Hobart could have easily gone to Pakistan. 

 

https://youtu.be/e0SzreAH6Vg?si=-vo4W4VLJ2-LNHh0

[ravishingravi]

Ashes 2005 / story. 

 

 

[ravishingravi]

I didn't get to check the WI pacers of their dominant era. But I don't think anyone could have been as lethal and incisive as Johnson in 2014 Ashes. 

 

Interesting tidbit. There was India Australia odi series before this Ashes. Each side was scoring 350 for fun. But even there you could see Johnson was in different league. He was pulled out of that series and rested for Ashes. 

 

https://youtu.be/EdGAgjKNSwg?si=AZY_3RkfEYMpZasI

Edited October 14, 2024 by ravishingravi