5 times tailenders surprised everyone with their batting in Test cricket

Watching a game of test cricket is always fascinating, as fortunes keep fluctuating from one side to another. It becomes even more fun if a tailender is at the crease, as he keeps one entertained throughout

Legends of the game like Muttiah Muralitharan, Courtney Walsh, Glenn Mcgrath have all entertained us with their twitchy batting style and sportive nature. However, these lower order batsmen even surprised themselves occasionally with lusty blows around the park, evoking widespread appreciation from the audience.

Let us now take a look at some of the evergreen shots/knocks played by tailenders in Test cricket.

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#1 Chris Martin

Chris Martin has to be one of the worst tailenders of all time, as he still holds quite a few dubious batting records. He has seven pairs (ducks in both the innings) in Test cricket, which is the most in cricket history and is only the second cricketer, after BS Chandrasekhar, to have scored lesser runs with the bat than the number of wickets taken.

Martin scored 123 runs and took 233 wickets in 71 Test matches, finishing as the third highest wicket-taker for New Zealand in Test history.

However, on a particular occasion, New Zealand were on the brink of a Test defeat at home against Australia. With the score at 295, Chris Martin played a near perfect cover drive off Mitchell Johnson.

The crowd went delirious as did the commentators on air, as they were awestruck by that wonderful shot. Even Martin and his partner at the other end, Tim Southee saw the funny side to that exquisite shot.

#2 Brett Lee

Brett Lee has always been a pioneer of fast bowling, as he has terrorized batsmen with his pace and accuracy. He picked up 310 wickets in Tests and 380 wickets in ODIs, at an impressive strike rate. He always remained a handy lower order batsman for Australia, capable of hitting the ball into the stands anytime.

When West Indies toured Australia in 2005 for a Test series, Brett Lee came into his own, depositing a ball outside the Gabba in Brisbane. It was a length ball in the slot, and Lee picked the bones out of it, sending it way outside the park. Later, the six distance was measured to be 143 metres, which has to be one of the biggest sixes hit in Test cricket ever.

#3 Courtney Walsh

Courtney Walsh is still regarded as one of the all-time pace bowling greats, as he has devastated batting lineups with his extreme pace and bounce. He was quite a character on the field, and went on to be one of the most successful captains in West Indian cricket. He took 519 wickets in Test cricket, which stands only second to Mcgrath's 563.

Walsh was always a sitting duck while batting, as he recorded a whopping 43 ducks in Test cricket. However, he did his country proud with the bat, when he helped Brian Lara carry his side home to victory against Australia in Bridgetown during the 1999 tour. Walsh came in with 6 runs required for a win and successfully played out 14 deliveries, as West Indies claimed a remarkable victory that day.

#4 Glenn Mcgrath

Glenn Mcgrath has to be the most disciplined bowler of all time, if not the best pacer. His unrelenting accuracy and stump to stump bowling paved the foundation of many Australian victories, as he holds the record of most number of test wickets by a fast bowler with 563 to his name.

Nicknamed Pigeon, Mcgrath was very poor with the bat as he averaged a meagre 7.37 throughout his career. Mcgrath made his highest test score of 61 against the Kiwis at Brisbane when hit the only six of his career off Daniel Vettori.

The reaction of Adam Gilchrist in the dressing room said it all, as everyone in the stadium went berserk on seeing the "Pigeon" hit a six.

#5 S Sreesanth

Sreesanth was always a character on and off the field, involved in some kind of antics throughout his career. He developed into quite a decent bowler, who could swing the ball prodigiously and was a match winner on his day.

During India's tour of South Africa in 2006, India were dominating proceedings in the first test, leading by 384 runs. The last wicket pair of Sreesanth and VRV Singh were at the crease, with Andre Nel steaming in. In the heat of the moment, Nel sledged Sreesanth, which seemed to have instigated the Kerala pacer.

What followed next ball has to be one of the most hilarious things one could ever see on a cricket field, as Sreesanth deposited the ball over long on and swung his bat over his head multiple times, providing a fitting reply to the bowler. The commentators on air were in splits and the Indian crowd went crazy, seeing Sreesanth's antics on the field.

He picked a fifer in the match too and was fittingly awarded the man of the match.