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When Sri Lankan skipper Angelo Mathews completed his century at Lord’s in the 1st Test against England recently, he made a writing gesture after taking his helmet off during the celebrations, relieved that his name will be on the Lord’s honours boards.Such is the honour of making a hundred or taking a 5-wicket-haul at the ‘Home of cricket’, that cricketers around the world dream to get their name on the board one day.But not all are lucky. Some of the greats of the game have failed to get their name on the boards. Here are the 7 most shocking absentees from the Lord’s honours boards:
#7 Curtly Ambrose
Sir Curtly Ambrose, the fearful Sir Curtly Ambrose, who terrorised English batsmen with his pace, taking 88 wickets in 20 Tests in England at an average of 20.77, failed to get onto the Lord’s honours boards.
In 4 matches at Lord’s, the 6’7’’ tall giant scalped 17 wickets at 21.58, getting three 4-wicket hauls, but falling short of getting his name onto the honours boards.
#6 Muttiah Muralitharan
Muttiah Muralitharan – the man with highest Test wickets (800) and most number of 5-wicket-hauls (67) – failed to make his mark at Lord’s.
Murali played only a single Test at the ‘home of cricket’, in 2006, when in 48 overs, he conceded 158 runs and took 3 wickets in the only innings he bowled there.
He has a 5-wicket-haul at Lord’s in ODIs though, when he ran through the England top order in 1998, helping his side to a 5-wicket win in the final of Emirates Triangular Tournament, also involving South Africa.
#5 Shane Warne
The spin-wizard from Australia, who became the first bowler in the history of this game to get 700 Test wickets to his name – is probably the most shocking name to have not made it to the Lord’s honours boards.
Lord’s was a great hunting ground for Warne, who picked up an 8-wicket haul in his first match at the venue. In both the innings in 1993, he took 4 wickets each, falling short by a wicket in each innings to get his name on the honours boards.
Even in his last match at Lord’s in 2005, he took 4 wickets in the 2nd innings, falling short of the required number yet again.
He fared really well at Lord’s, averaging 19.57 with the ball, taking 19 wickets in 4 matches, but just couldn’t get a 5-wicket haul
#4 Ricky Ponting
The Australian skipper of the “golden era” achieved many successful triumps in his life but it was the honours boards which he couldn't conquer. Although he did make a century at Lord's in an ODI - he couldn’t achieve the feat in a Test match.
Ponting has been one of the finest that Australia has produced and it truly is a pity that a player of his calibre couldn't make the honours boards but then again – neither did Lara or Tendulkar.
In 4 Tests at Lord’s Ponting averaged a dismal 16.87, with a high score of 42. Punter’s best memory of the historic venue though would be the 1999 World Cup final, when he lifted the trophy as Steve Waugh’s Australia dismantled Pakistan.
#3 Jacques Kallis
One of the most motivated cricketers that the game of cricket has seen – Kallis is regarded as one of the finest all-rounders in cricket.
Kallis is another name that couldn’t make it to the Lord’s honours boards, having played 15 Test matches in England. He has a poor bating record at the ‘home of cricket’, averaging 10.80 in 3 matches with a high score of 31.
As a bowler, Kallis has a 4-wicket haul at Lord’s but couldn’t manage the one more all-important wicket to make it to the Lord's honours boards.
#2 Brian Lara
The Caribbean legend who stood firm on his ground – regardless of the tough times that West Indies cricket was going through, Lara is another record maker and breaker who didn’t score a ton at the presitigious Lord's.
Lara made his 375 and 400* vs England but that was in West Indies. However much Lara loved scoring against England, when it came to Lord’s, he couldn’t get his name on the boards.
In 15 matches in England, he averaged a healthy 48.76, and even hit 4 centuries, but none at Lord’s, where in 3 matches, he averaged a paltry 21, with a high score of 54.
#1 Sachin Tendulkar
The maestro of cricket – Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar. In a career of 200 Test matches, there were only a few regrets that Tendulkar or his fans will have - and not having Tendulkar’s name on the honours boards is one such regret.
Not many cricket fans know that Tendulkar however does have a century at this ground in the Princess Of Wales memorial match, in 1998. Tendulkar made a 125, playing for the Rest of the world XI against MCC.
Sadly, this record of his couldn’t be added to the honours boards and he's one of the most famous names missing from the boards.
At Lord’s, in 5 matches, Tendulkar averaged 21.66, with a high score of 37.
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