5 times a No. 11 saved a Test for his team

4 Alan Connolly keeps Sobers and Griffith at bay, Adelaide, 1969

Not many batsmen could stand up to the combined might of Garry Sobers, Charlie Griffith and off spin ace Lance Gibbs back in the day when they ruled the roost. However, when it comes to saving a Test match and surviving against that trio as a number 11, then it is a wholly different challenge.

West Indies recovered superbly in the 4th Test of the 5 match series at Adelaide by posting 616 in their 2nd innings and setting Australia a target of 360. After having tried gamely, the Australians suffered a collapse and medium pacer Alan Connolly, the number 11 was left to stave off defeat in the company of batsman Paul Sheahan.

He survived for 17 minutes and played out of 10 deliveries, one of which he even hit for four. Australia closed out the innings at 339/9 and drew the game.