Cricket at Old Blighty: Top five match winning innings played in Manchester across formats

Just a couple of days separate the cricketing world from the start of arguably the most awaited series of 2018 as India and England lock horns in a three-match T20I and ODI series which precedes a five-match Test series in one of the most eagerly anticipated English summers in recent memory.

The teams kick off with the shortest format with the first of the three T20Is scheduled at Old Trafford, the scene where Sachin Tendulkar scored his maiden Test hundred 28 summers ago in the same match that Anil Kumble made his Test debut. Nine years later, India made it three out of three against Pakistan in World Cup cricket in an otherwise forgettable tournament for the Men In Blue.

The venue has been host to some superb batting performances over the years across all formats, some of which have helped win games and others, save them.

Here are five of the best batting performances at the Lancashire County Cricket Club:

T20I - Joe Root 68 against New Zealand, 2015

Only a couple of months had passed since England's embarrassing exit in the first round of the 2015 World Cup and the side were looking to rebuild under Eoin Morgan, who had taken over just under a year ago as the country's limited-overs captain.

Under such a scenario, New Zealand visited English shores and the hosts gave a glimpse of the future in the T20I at Manchester when they smashed 191 runs in 20 overs thanks to a 46-ball 68 from Joe Root layered with eight fours and a six.

The total proved to be too much for New Zealand to chase as thanks to a pair of three wicket-hauls by David Willey and Mark Wood, they were bundled out for 135 to hand the hosts a convincing 56 run win.

Root's score is the highest for any batsman in the shortest format at the venue, the next being that of Ajinkya Rahane, who made 61 on his India debut in 2011, a game that also saw the debut and retirement of Rahul Dravid.

ODI - Jos Buttler, 110* against Australia 2018

Buttler's innings helped England complete a whitewash against Australia

The most recent match on this list. The debate on who the best limited-overs batsman in the world is a hot one at present and last Sunday, Jos Buttler joined that list of players who are in contention for that coveted recognition when he took England from a hapless position to victory in the final ODI against Australia.

Chasing 206 for a famous whitewash over the Aussies, England found themselves reeling in the chase at 86 for 6 and then 114 for 8, which is when Buttler decided to take matters into his own hand. With Adil Rashid giving him company, the right-hander went about reconstructing the innings brick-by-brick and eventually toward not just one of the best hundreds of his career but also a 5-0 whitewash over the Aussies in their own backyard.

Tests - Alastair Cook 127 against Pakistan, 2006

Cook made a very good early impression in 2006

Pakistan's decision to bat first backfired massively as the England bowlers knocked them out for 119. In reply, England posted an impressive first innings total of 461 for 9 declared on the back of hundreds from Alastair Cook and Ian Bell.

Cook carried on from where he had left off in India a few months back, posting yet another hundred after his debut ton in Nagpur and little did the world know then what a great batsman they were witnessing out in the middle.

Tests - Joe Root 254 against Pakistan, 2016

Root led the way for a fantastic England win

Root features again on this list, this time in the longest format. Pakistan arrived in Manchester, cock-a-hoop after their emotional win at Lord's. On the backfoot and desperate to turn the tables, England needed their best players to stand up and perform.

The right-hander decided to do just that as he made 254 - his highest Test score - to lay the foundation for a comprehensive England win which leveled the series at 1-1.

ODIs - Sir Viv Richards, 189 not out vs England, 1984

Richards was at his absolute best on that day at Manchester

During his unbelievable career, Sir Viv Richards played several terrific innings for the West Indies, but none come close to his performance against England at Manchester in May 1984.

The right-hander scored 189 of the best runs you could ever see, rescuing the side from 102 for 7 to eventually get them to 272 for 9 in 55 overs.

Michael Holding joined Richards with the score at 166 for 9 and the duo shared a stand of 106 runs for the last wicket, of which only 12 came off the former's bat.

With sufficient runs behind their back, the West Indies quick bowlers did what they did best those days - rattling the opposition, bowling them out for 168 to complete a 104-run win.