5 gritty Test knocks that ended in tears 

One of the most important aspects of Test cricket is that if a team feels that there is no way back for them in a particular contest, then all is not lost and in fact, they can actually save the game by batting for as long as possible. With the possibility of a win out of the window, the batsmen have to bat for time and that is one of the most difficult tasks in cricket.

It takes a lot of patience, concentration, discipline and the ability to ward off bowlers on a pitch that has deteriorated. More often than not, such vigils are unsuccessful and ones which help stave off defeat enter cricketing folklore. However, there are certain innings that often take the team to the brink of safety but eventually fail to save the game and this article looks at 5 of them.

#5 Young Alastair Cook's rearguard action fails to save the Ashes, Perth, 2006

Alastair Cook's first experience in Australia back in 2006 proved to be one he would never forget. England, who were defending the Ashes, had been beaten in the first two Tests and when the 3rd one at Perth came along the writing seemed to be on the wall. Australia made 244 in their first innings but England failed to capitalise and were dismissed for 215.

Then the hosts declared for a mammoth 527 for 5, to set England a target of 557 runs in just over two days. It was then that Cook played one of his finest innings and it looked for a bit that his batting could actually take England to the brink of an improbable draw.

He stayed at the crease for around six and a half hours and faced up to 290 deliveries, to make 116 but the batsmen around him could not quite occupy the crease. Once the left-hander dismissed, in the 94th over, England's innings folded within the next 30 overs.

#4 Allan Border can't stave off the inevitable against England, Manchester, 1981

Allan Border comes out to bat

The 1981 Ashes is popularly known as 'Botham's Ashes' for the Englishman's stellar performances. When the teams reached Manchester for the 6th Test, the Australians seemed shellshocked.

Batting first, England were dismissed for 231 but Australia then put together a shocking display to be all out for 130. Botham and Bob Willis were their tormentors. Botham scored another century in the 2nd innings as England made 404 and set Australia a target of 506 runs in around two days' time.

The win was out of the question but the game could still be drawn and the visitors put together a much-improved show, with their captain Allan Border putting on a particularly superb defensive display.

After the loss of 2 wickets early on, Graham Yallop scored a whirlwind century but it meant little considering the fact that crease occupation was paramount and that was done by Border. He weathered the storm and played stoically for 7 hours, amassing 123 runs in 356 deliveries. However, the rest of the batsmen failed to rally around him and Australia were eventually all out for 402. Border remained unconquered at 123 not out.

#3 AB de Villiers' epic 'blockathon' almost saves the day, Delhi, 2015

AB de Villiers

He might be known as one of the game's foremost attacking batsmen but when he wants to knuckle down and bat for time, AB de Villiers can be just as effective. In the 2015 series against India, the hosts had completely annihilated the South Africans with what came to be known as 'extreme spin'.

The visitors found themselves staring at defeat on another square turner at Delhi in the 4th Test after they were dismissed for only 121 in response to India's 334. India piled on the misery and declared at 267 for 5 and gave themselves almost two days to dismiss the visitors. That is when South Africa decided to put on a blocking extravaganza.

Amla showed the way, but he was dismissed on the 5th day and then it was AB de Villiers, who continued the passive stonewalling of the spin bowlers on a viciously turning track. No strokes were offered and everything was played with soft hands.

At one point, it looked like South Africa had no hope of getting the draw but when the teams went off for tea on the last day, De Villiers was still at the crease. However, he was dismissed soon after tea and South Africa collapsed in the next four overs. It was an incredibly brave effort but unfortunately, it did not end well.

#2 Moeen Ali's one-man rescue act falls short, Headingley, 2014

Sri Lankan players are euphoric after the dramatic victory

The reason why it is such a heartbreaking innings is that Moeen Ali had almost saved England from certain defeat a few months into his Test career but all his good work was undone with 1 delivery left in the game.

The first Test of the series had been drawn and in the 2nd Test at Headingley, England managed to get a substantial 1st innings lead of 108 runs but Angelo Mathews' stellar 160 pushed Sri Lanka to 457 and the hosts had to score 350 in the final innings to win.

Any chance of a victory was extinguished on the 4th evening when England ended the day at 57 for 5 and it was then left to Moeen Ali to steer the team to safety. He played a brilliant innings and provided dogged resistance as wickets kept falling around him.

Matt Prior went with the scoreboard reading 160 for 7 but the tail stuck around with him and with willing partners in Chris Jordan and Stuart Broad, the visions of an unlikely draw were raised. However, with more than 20 overs left, the last man James Anderson came to the crease and the number 11 played with great patience. He faced 54 deliveries in his innings and England looked to have saved the game.

However, the 55th delivery faced by Anderson - the penultimate delivery of the game - proved to be fatal. The English bowler could not fend off a short of a length delivery and spooned a catch to the fielder on the leg side. Moeen Ali had no option but to watch grimly from the other end as his efforts went up in smoke and England lost the series. Anderson was reduced to actual tears.

#1 Hashim Amla's epic vigil at Eden Gardens ends in defeat, Kolkata, 2010

Hashim Amla during his epic effort

After India had been steamrolled in the 1st Test of the two-match series back in 2010, the hosts had to perform in the final Test in Kolkata and they did so by dismissing South Africa for 296 in the 1st innings. Then India piled on the runs as Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman and MS Dhoni all got centuries. India declared at 643 for 6 and with a lead of 347, it was their game.

South Africa had to bat for just over two days to save the Test. It did not go well for them as their first three wickets fell by the 33rd over of their innings but then Hashim Amla dropped anchor and decided to play one of those epic knocks that can often make bowlers appear clueless.

His defence was solid, he hardly ever played a loose shot, he left anything remotely outside off and played the spinners with soft hands. In total, he batted for 8 hours and 19 minutes and faced 394 deliveries.

Wickets fell around him but he was unmoved and he got able support from number 9 Wayne Parnell and then number 11 Morne Morkel. However, in fading light and with the match seemingly heading for a draw, Morkel was dismissed and Amla's monumental effort went in vain.