5 knocks that saved a player's Test career

Nowhere is the microscope better focused than Test cricket. Its a format that lends itself to scrutiny, criticism and commendation often all within one match perfectly. While welcome, fortune rarely bails out teams,or even players,in a five-day war.It is the Test that determines whether a cricketer is remembered as a great, a capable servant to his country or assomeone who is known justvaguely for earning a cap once or twice.Therefore, for those who do succeed it speaks volumes about them. Sir Don Bradman, Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Larastand tallest on the batting front, tales of their supremity will last forever. But something nomember of the trio had to come was true adversity. They were acquainted with neither thedo-or-die situation northe last chance saloon scenario.Not all have been so lucky enough to avoid aposition of such peril; but even then, a glimmer of hope still remains for a playerto resurrect their Test lives. Here are five names who saved their careers in the longest format with one memorable innings.

#1 Alastair Cook 110 vs Pakistan at The Oval, 2010

Were it not for the spot-fixing scandal, the revitalisation of Alastair Cook may have been the lasting mark of England’s home series against Pakistan in 2010. The left-hander, who had grappled for form all summer – his highest score just 23 – and another failure could well have signalled the end, with both media and fans baying for blood.

A single-figure return in the first innings didn’t bode well and if one of the early edges off Mohammad Asif’s bowling in the second had gone to hand it could all have gone very differently. But they didn’t. Steadily growing in confidence, Cook began to find the boundary with regularity, cutting and driving with increasing assurance. Bizarrely, he reached his century courtesy of a forward defence – Asif in haste gathered the ball only to fire it high and handsome over the wicket-keeper for four overthrows.

Finally dismissed for 110, the opener had shown grit in spades, enough to convince selectors of his place, although England went on to lose the match. The backing soon paid off as Cook plundered 766 in the 2010-11 Ashes series, spearheading England’s successful assault as they captured the urn for the first time on Australian soil for 24 years. Perhaps he should draw inspiration from these events as he searches for the remedy to overturn his current struggles.

#2 Virender Sehwag 151 vs Australia at the Adelaide Oval, 2008

319 in Chennai and the 293 in Mumbai are two knocks which we always associate with Sehwag. These two brilliant displays shine brightly in Virender’s glittering Test career but had it not been for an effort against Australia in early 2008, Sehwag would likely have received the sack from five-day duties – an act which seems foolish in hindsight.

But back then concerns were real. Recalled to the squad following a lengthy absence, Sehwag was afforded four chances to press his case. It was in the second innings of the fourth Test in Adelaide where he came alive. Buoyed by making 63 earlier in the match, he proceeded to crunch 151 to single-handedly save India’s blushes – the team managed only a further 118 between them – and ruin Adam Gilchrist’s international send-off.

His next Test innings was that run-a-ball 319 in Chennai, and it cemented Sehwag as the blitzkrieg, yet dependable opener India needed. His bullish brand of batsmanship set the tone for what was to be a dominant patch for India in the longest format. Few have endorsed such attack at the top of the order, even fewer have reaped such lucrative rewards. Sehwag pioneered the art of uncomplicated aggression. But without that knock in south Australia, it is unlikely much of that would have happened.

#3 Shane Watson 176 vs England at The Oval, 2013

Battered and bruised by a rather desperate tour, Australia were looking merely to save face by the time the fifth Ashes Test took place at The Oval in 2013. However, with the series long lost, it granted an opportunity for players to stake a claim for the return Ashes a few months later. For Shane Watson, it was one he simply had to take.

And take it he did. A wait of almost three years – and 24 matches – without a three-figure score was ended with a belligerent 176. Scheduled to come in at first-drop, Watson entered the fray early after David Warner was caught for six. The towering Aussie drove well and pulled efficiently while making hey against the spin of Graeme Swann and debutant Simon Kerrigan as they toiled with the ageing ball.

Watson’s exploits – along with an unbeaten 138 from Steven Smith – carried Australia to a lofty 492, but they almost came unstuck later in the match while hunting for the win. Only bad light and farcical umpiring denying England in their pursuit of 228 as they were left 22 short. Not that it would have bothered Watson, who had secured his participation in what was to be a 5-0 demolition of the English when back on home territory.

#4 Mark Taylor 129 - vs England at Edgbaston, 1997

Captain Mark Taylor was a man under fire ahead of the 1997 Ashes. Bereft of even a Test fifty for 21 innings, personal strifes threatened to derail Australia’s search of a fifth series triumph over England in succession. ‘Tubby’ had the burden of responsibility as both a batsman and a leader, he had to make sure he imposed himself early.

Taylor, the captain, was never really in the contest. Australia were skittled for 118 and Nasser Hussain’s double-hundred delighted an Edgbaston crowd as England surged to 478. It was always going to be a case of when the latter wrapped up the match, not if. Still, Taylor, the batsman, had much to prove – he arguably shouldn’t have been on the tour at all, and perhaps wouldn’t have had he not been captain. With the company of Matthew Elliott and later Greg Blewett, he cracked 129 as Australia averted an innings loss, if nothing else.

An against-the-odds performance from Taylor ensured he courted praise from as highly as Australian prime minister, John Howard. It didn’t spark an immediate revival for ‘Tubby’, whose next four innings yielded only five but his side did fight back to retain the Ashes by a 3-2 scoreline. The final phases of his career saw Taylor equal Don Bradman’s Test-best of 334 against Pakistan in Peshawar in 1998. He then signed off with another beating of England in the Australian summer that followed.

#5 Hashim Amla 149 - vs New Zealand in Cape Town, 2004

Over the past decade Hashim Amla has established himself as one of the most decorated cricketers in the world, accruing marvellous statistics in Tests and ODIs for South Africa. Yet, one of his most important innings came in only his fourth Test, and had he not excelled then, the bearded wonder may never have been.

After a three-match trial the a year or so before brought just 62 runs, Amla was fortunate to be given the nod to impress when New Zealand toured the Rainbow nation in 2006. With scepticism rife, more disappointment could have spelt the end for him. Stephen Fleming’s mighty 262 had put the Proteas on the back foot and it was Amla who rose to the occasion and set about reducing the deficit. Coming in at three, he enjoyed a hundred partnership with Jacques Kallis on his way to a maiden Test century. Later accompanied by Ashwell Prince – who also made a ton – Amla eventually fell for 149, but his runs helped build a robust reply, as South Africa cruised to over 500 while the match dwindled towards a draw.

The rest, as a great cliché writer once wrote, is history. An average in excess of 50, along with 23 Test hundreds, has installed Amla as one of his country’s most prolific run-getters. But who knows what course his career would have taken, had it not been for that 149 under Table Mountain?