Last Updated on 4 years by Charbel Coorey
Top 5 Batting Performances at the MCG in BGT Matches | Looking back at the best batting performances in Border-Gavaskar Trophy at MCG
In my last article, I had picked the best five bowling spells at the MCG in BGT.
Similarly, there have been some seriously good knocks played by the batsmen from both Australia and India at this historic venue in the BGT. So, during the 2020 the Boxing Day Test, I am going to pick only five of those splendid knocks on the basis of quality, which I think are definitely some of the most impactful knocks in the BGT. Here we go.
5. Michael Hussey 89 (151), 2011
My respect for Michael Hussey got amplified after this magnificent knock. Perhaps he played one of the most underrated innings of his Test career at a point when Australia were reeling at 27-4 in the 2nd innings and had an overall lead of just 78 runs with 6 wickets in hand. First, he formed a brilliant partnership of 115 runs with Ricky Ponting for the 5th wicket. After Ponting got out, he batted along with the tail-enders for more than 26 overs before being dismissed by a terrific delivery from Zaheer Khan. He played drives, his signature pulls, lofted shots against spinners on his way to a crucial innings of 89 runs which played the most important part in Australia’s victory by 122 runs in this match.
4. Virat Kohli 169 (272), 2014
This innings is considered as one of the finest innings ever played by an Indian on Aussie soil. Australia had posted a huge total of 530 after batting first in this Test. So, India needed a big daddy hundred to even come close to that total and Virat did exactly that.
Although India got a good start thanks to half century from Murali Vijay and supportive knocks from Dhawan and Pujara, it was that marathon partnership of 262 runs between Virat and Ajinkya Rahane which ensured that India wouldn’t lose the plot. Coming to the knock from Kohli, it was dynamic as well as a disciplined one. Virat played every delivery as per its merit and tackled a really good attack comprising Josh Hazlewood, Ryan Harris, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Lyon and Shane Watson brilliantly. He hit 18 fours which included several beautiful cover drives, flicks and pulls and I can say it was Virat Kohli at his very best that day.
3. Ricky Ponting 257 (458), 2003
This was the 3rd Test match of the series and the visitors were already ahead by a margin of 1-0. Batting first, India had posted a decent total of 366 thanks to a blistering knock of 195 by Virender Sehwag.
Ponting entered the middle after the fall of an early wicket in the form of Justin Langer. What followed next was supreme dominance of the Australian captain over the Indian bowling. He came when Australia were 30 for 1 and got out when the total was 555, can you believe it? It was such a marathon knock. He scored a mammoth 257 runs which assured a big lead of 192 runs for Australia in the first innings. His innings involved 25 gorgeous boundaries and the way he pierced the gaps through the off side that day, was a sight to behold. His innings was instrumental in Australia’s victory by 9 wickets and he was also rewarded as the ‘man of the match’ for this match-winning knock.
2. Virender Sehwag 195 (233), 2003
In Test cricket, the basic strategy for a top-order batsman is to play out the difficult new-ball spell and make the road easier for the middle order. But, Virender Sehwag had his own methods of making the ball old. The dashing opener got hit on his helmet on a couple of occasions by Brett Lee, survived a runout chance too. Perhaps it was destined for a Sehwag masterclass at the historic venue on the very first day of the game.
His innings involved 25 fours and 5 huge sixes, which signified how brutally he hammered the Aussie bowling that day. He played shots all around the park and went after all the bowlers especially Stuart Macgill and raced to 195 off just 233 balls in the first day itself. Although his innings went in vain as India lost the game, I would term it as the most dominant knock by an Indian batsman in Australia.
1. Sachin Tendulkar 116 (191), 1999
A batsman from the defeated team being rewarded as the ‘man of the match’ is not something we often see, do we? Such was the artistry of this knock from the master that he was awarded despite India being defeated convincingly.
As we all know, Sachin was the lone warrior for India in the 90s on most of the occasions and this was not an exception too. Sachin went to bat when India had lost both the openers at a score of just 11. The wickets kept falling at the other end, but he led from the front as the skipper and fought extremely well. He respected the good deliveries and punished the bad ones on his way to a well compiled 116. This marvellous knock included 9 classic fours and a single huge six off Shane Warne. Moreover, his innings proved to be pivotal for India to avoid the follow on and thus saved them from a possible humiliating defeat.
Also read: Border-Gavaskar Trophy all-time XI
Written by Debashish Sarangi. Follow Debashish on Twitter today.
