Greatest innings by batsmen in the last 20 years...

Well here is my list

Australia- Adam Gilchrist 149* vs Pakistan at Hobart 1999

England- Nothing stands out for me

WI- Brian Lara 153* vs AUS Barbados 1999

NZ- see England

India- VVS Laxman 281* vs AUS Kolkata 2001

Pakistan- Azhar Mahmood 132 vs SA Durban 1998

SL- Mahela Jayawardena 374 vs SA

ZIM- see England

BAN- ditto
SA- ??
Overall- Laxman 281* wins.

England- Athers vs South Africa, KP or Trott in the final Ashes tests of 2005 and 09, but Monty's Cardiff is easily tops
Zimbabwe- Flower a few times vs India
Bangladesh- was it Aminul Islam who scored that inaugural test century? Otherwise, Ashraful against Lanka
Snoozies- Fleming's 270 odd, Astle on that postage stamp ground vs England

Stuart Broad's 169 coming in at 7-102 has a claim to be a great innings, irrespective of the circumstances surrounding the (now traditional) Pakistan cheating (every time they come to England). Of course people tend to forget how good the quality of the bowling was in that innings because of the allegations that were later proven to be true.

Shariar Nafees's first day 138, where he slapped Warne all around the park, is surely as good an innings as most batsmen could ever aspire to have played against a side containing an all-time great bowler. The fact that it was his only ever Test hundred (he could yet add to it admittedly, but it's not a certainty) makes it all the more extraordinary.

Who was the Snoozer who - in a losing cause - went AGBB against England and scored 200 in as many balls?

Was it Nathan Astle?

That was almost memorable.

150 balls if I'm right.Last hundred came in some fifty balls with a crocked Cairns at eleven.

That was some quality batting. For a Snoozer.

Gooch's 153 off the Windies in 1991 stands out for me.

Chivalry Augustus wrote:Stuart Broad's 169 coming in at 7-102

Now that might pique PP's interest. It involved Pakistan.

Basil wrote:Gooch's 153 off the Windies in 1991 stands out for me.

We'll go through the concept of time, when you have a minute.

Pretty much every decent KP innings has been spectacular to watch. I still remember the first time I saw him on TV. It was against the Aussies in the ODI series just before the 2005 test series.

Anyway, England were miles behind the run rate and I thought we were f*cked. All I saw was this weird hair bloke who just kept blocking and playing no strokes. Said to my Dad who I was watching it with "Is this really worth watching? This guy is crap, we've lost too many wickets and we are so far behind that it isn't even a contest anymore.

He Said "I saw him on the winter tours. If he stays in we'll win the game".

I was pretty incredulus that this stupid looking bloke who couldn't play any strokes and blocked every ball was going to somehow save the day.

It was about that time that Kev had decided that he'd played himself in and he went BALLISTIC. He scored 90 odd and we easily won the game with overs to spare if I recall. Can't remember ever being so excited about an England batsman and on the whole, he hasn't disappointed over the years. Could be a long time until we see his like again.

.

Basil wrote:.

Exactly.

PlanetPakistan wrote:Well here is my list

England- Nothing stands out for me

I'm sorry PP but how on earth did you manage to forget the majestic 221 made by the legendary Robert Key against a dangerous West Indies bowling attack consisting of bowlers the calibre of Tino Best, Pedro Collins and Omari Banks (in their prime, might i add)? For shame.

You also have to factor in how he did it singlehandedly (the only batsman in the match to score over 150) and the next highest score in the match was a lowly 137. Again, against arguably the greatest West Indies bowling attack in living memory*.

* provided you are not older than 7

Pidg's 61 v Snoozies in Brisbane.

Well since you didn't specify the format, I'm going to plump for this scorcher of an innings by a future England legend.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/england-v-south-africa-2012/engine/match/534235.html

Well, it was the best innings in the last 20 years just after that match finished, at least. So they said.

Guess it's about the situation, I mean Cook's 290-odd has to be up there even in a massive total, as the highest England individual score in that era. But I also remember a Thorpe century in the West Indies where nobody else made 20, that's the sort of thing that defines a match-winning innings.

Gooch's innings against WI was over 20 years ago but lets count it...

Nafees's innings vs AUS is an excellent addition so lets count that for BD.

Collingwood's 206 in Adelaide 2006

Worth an MBE, that. Oh wait, no - 7 runs and a catch got him that after Ashes 05, so the 206 must be worth at least a Knighthood.

embee wrote:Collingwood's 206 in Adelaide 2006

Collingwood....

Lets just stick with Gooch's innings

I think you misunderstand MB's wit, PP. A wee bit of NSR there.

After the 4th innings of that match, Colly's double looks like Brian's quad.

Brass Monkey wrote:After the 4th innings of that match, Colly's double looks like Brian's quad.

Tell me more.

I can't seem to remember the details.

Day 5 of Adelaide 06-07 is the Pom version of our Headingley 81.

embee wrote:Collingwood's 206 in Adelaide 2006

I have no recollection of this match.