Last Updated on 5 years by Charbel Coorey
Written by Kristopher Hinz
Kris is also a commentator for Flashscore Cricket. You can follow their live ball-by-ball commentary for all international cricket and the IPL. Check them out on Facebook and Twitter
In a year like 2020, where the normal order of things has been turned upside down, let’s take a look at times when a Test match has been turned upside down by a batsman claiming crucial wickets when bowling, often to the comedic appreciation of their teammates.
Michael Clarke: 3/5 vs India, Sydney, 2008
Batting their way to a draw after having already lost the first Test, India looked safe with three wickets in hand but were rattled at the eleventh hour by the offspin of Michael Clarke. This Test match is now remembered for far more bitter reasons, but Clarke was the one who delivered Australia a last-gasp win. Clarke had enjoyed success with the ball in the past against the Indians and did the damage at the SCG with only two overs remaining on the final day. He had Harbhajan caught brilliantly at slip by Mike Hussey and then removed RP Singh LBW first ball. It took him only three more balls to get rid of a young Ishant Sharma, who also fell at slip to the safe hands of Hussey, with India’s poor old captain, Anil Kumble, stranded at the non-striker’s end on 45 after a two-hour vigil at the crease.
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Simon Katich: 3/34 vs Pakistan, Hobart, 2009
Responding to Australia’s mammoth first innings of 519/8 dec, Pakistan seemed determined to dig in at the crease and were going along nicely at 213/4. Opener Simon Katich’s part-time leg spinners made an absolute mess of things though, as the visitors collapsed to 8/227. Katich claimed the wickets of centurion Salman Butt, and then teased out Sarfaraz Ahmed and a young Mohammad Aamir, who were powerless to resist a slog. The Pakistanis eventually fell to a huge 231-run loss and an eventual 3-0 series reverse.
Marcus North: 6/55 vs Pakistan, Lords, 2010
Who has the best figures for an Australian spinner at Lords? Shane Warne? Clarrie Grimmet? Surprisingly, the answer is Marcus North! Pakistan had fallen for only 148 in their first innings but looked well set at 2/186 in their second dig. Then North struck, removing Salman Butt for 92 before going on to claim the prized wickets of Umar Akmal and Shahid Afridi among a six-wicket bag that helped to bundle the Pakistanis out for 289. It was an effort that was enough to deliver the Aussies a huge 150-run win.
Mike Hussey: 1/0 and 1/2 vs Sri Lanka, Pallekele, 2011
This series was an absolute stunner for the West Australian veteran as he reeled off scores of 95 and 15 in the first Test, 142 in Australia’s sole innings in the second Test, and 118 and 93 in the final Test!
More importantly though (and much to the amusement of his fellow Aussies), he also claimed remarkable figures of 1/0 and 1/2 in the second Test. Sri Lanka were mired in huge strife at 128/5, but they were approaching the safety of tea with Kumar Sangakkara at the crease on 48. With Hussey brought on just before the break, Sangakkara nudged a gentle full toss straight into the hands of Phil Hughes at cover. If that wasn’t enough, Man of the Series Hussey also dismissed opener Tharanga Paranavitana on 55 in the second innings.
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Kraigg Brathwaite: 6/29 vs Sri Lanka, Colombo, 2018
As he so often is, Kraigg Brathwaite proved to be the backbone of the West Indies first innings with a solid 47 out of a meagre total of just 163. Sri Lanka may well have thought they were in the box seat, but Brathwaite proved to be a thorn in their side again, this time with the ball. The tough opener claimed 6/29 including the wickets of Angelo Mathews, Kusal Perera, Milinda Siriwardana and Dilruwan Perera. His devastating and unexpected spell ensured the hosts fell for just 206, and it was only an inspired spell of 4/56 from Rangana Herath that sealed a come-from-behind win for Sri Lanka.
Written by Kristopher Hinz
Kris is also a commentator for Flashscore Cricket. You can follow their live ball-by-ball commentary for all international cricket and the IPL. Check them out on Facebook and Twitter
