Tail Tale: Top 5 Test knocks by tail-enders in 2014

2014 was a great year for tail-enders in Test cricket. The average of tail-enders in the year just gone by was 1.5 runs higher than what has been the standard in the last 5 years.Let’s visit the most heroic performances by tail-enders in 2014.Note: Jimmy Neesham, JP Duminy and Kithuruwan Vithanage have smashed hundreds batting at No. 8 in 2014; however, these players are proper batsmen, and thus haven’t made it to the list.Mitchell Johnson’s whirlwind knock against India in Brisbane, Vernon Philander’s gritty effort against Australia at Cape Town and Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Ravindra Jadeja’s brilliant displays against England at Nottingham and Lord’s respectively don’t make it to the list either, as all these batsmen don’t exactly fall into the tail-enders category.

#5 Ryan Harris: 74 (88) v India, Melbourne

Having chosen to bat first, Australia were in trouble at 216 for 5 in Melbourne. Australian captain Steven Smith, along with Brad Haddin and Mitchell Johnson, lifted the score to 376 for 7. The score was still below par, and India were eyeing to wrap up the Australian tail quickly.

In came Ryan Harris.

Harris smashed the Indian bowlers to all parts of the ground scoring 74 off just 88 deliveries. His innings included powerful straight drives past the bowler, intelligent sweep shots and elegant late cuts. Before being dismissed, he was involved in a 106-run partnership with Smith putting Australia in the driver’s seat.

#4 James Anderson: 0 (55) v Sri Lanka, Leeds

This was certainly the most heart-breaking end to a tail-ender’s heroics in 2014.

England, having taken a lead of 108 in the first innings, were set a target of 350 to win and 117 overs to survive in the 4th innings after Sri Lanka had piled up 457 in their second innings. James Anderson walked out to bat at No.11 with 122 balls still left.

Anderson valiantly survived whatever was thrown at him. He helped Moeen Ali score a hundred in the course of their long 10th wicket stand. Finally, Jimmy had to survive the last 6 balls to give England a hard-fought draw.

Every ball in the final over was a story, but it was the fifth ball – the penultimate ball of the match – that claimed the wicket of Anderson giving Sri Lanka a series win. It was a snorter from Eranga; Anderson couldn't keep it down, resulting in an easy catch to backward short leg.

A teary-eyed Anderson at the post-match presentation was a sight most will not forget.

#3 Dilruwan Perera: 95 (247) v Pakistan, Sharjah

Having chosen to bat first on a good batting surface at Sharjah, Sri Lanka found themselves in trouble at 239 for 6. No.8 Dilruwan Perera joined skipper Angelo Mathews in the middle.

The fifth oldest Sri Lankan debutant, Dilruwan, elegantly square cut his first ball in Test cricket to the boundary. Playing cautiously but confidently against the likes of Junaid Khan and Saeed Ajmal, he put on 112 runs for the 7th wicket with Angelo Mathews before the latter was dismissed.

Dilruwan added 72 more for the 9th wicket with Shaminda Eranga before top-edging a Talha bouncer to Junaid Khan on 95. Even though he failed to score a hundred on debut, Dilruwan put Sri Lanka in a strong position in their first innings.

#2 Dale Steyn: 58 (28) v West Indies, Port Elizabeth

Having been asked to bat first, South Africa were in a strong position at 270 for 2 at the end of Day 1. However, only 6 overs could be bowled on Day 2 due to rain interventions. This meant South Africa needed quick runs to capitalize on the strong start.

In the first session on Day 3, West Indies ran through the South African middle order reducing them to 348 for 7. Just when it seemed that South Africa would be short of a good first innings total, Dale Steyn hit back.

Steyn hit 58 runs off only 28 balls to record the fourth fastest half-century in Test history. Steyn's hurricane knock helped South Africa score 69 runs off only 9 overs giving them a chance to declare with a commanding total on the board.

#1 James Anderson: 81 (130) v India, Nottingham

James Anderson had a memorable year with the bat.

The Nottingham Test between India and England was a dream come true for tail-enders. After choosing to bat first, India registered 457 in the first innings – thanks to Murali Vijay’s 146 and a 111-run 10th wicket stand between Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami.

In reply, England found themselves struggling at 298 for 9. What came next was quite unthinkable. Anderson and Joe Root piled on a world record 10th-wicket stand of 198 to give England the lead in the first innings. In the process, Anderson scored his maiden Test half-century finishing with 81.

This was one match the tail-enders from both sides won’t forget in a hurry.

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Edited by Staff Editor