While there are many forms of cricket, Test match cricket is often regarded as the most revered and traditional. Spanning five days, it presents a range of conditions that challenge teams to perform at their best. With two innings to bat and bowl, comebacks are always possible, and only the most skilled and determined teams can succeed over the course of the match.
New Zealand recently secured a thrilling one-run win over England in Wellington, marking just the second time in over 2,500 Tests that a match was won by such a slim margin. In this article, we will delve into some of the greatest Test matches in the history of the game.
England vs Australia at Headingley, 2005
The second test of the 2005 Ashes series at Headingley will be remembered as one of the greatest Ashes games ever played. England triumphed by just two runs in a nail-biting finish that had fans on the edge of their seats until the very last ball. The match was filled with drama and tension, as both sides fought tooth and nail for victory.
England batted first and put up a respectable total of 407, with Marcus Trescothick and Kevin Pietersen both scoring half-centuries. Australia responded with 308, led by a brilliant century from Justin Langer. England’s second innings saw them struggle against Australia’s bowling attack, but Andrew Flintoff’s heroic knock of 73 helped them to a score of 181.
Set a target of 282 to win, Australia started off strong with openers Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer putting on a solid partnership. However, England’s bowlers fought back, with Simon Jones and Andrew Flintoff taking crucial wickets to put Australia on the back foot. With just two wickets remaining, Shane Warne and Brett Lee put up a stubborn resistance, but fell just short of the target as England clinched a thrilling victory. The match was a triumph for England, who had not won an Ashes series since 1987.
India vs Australia at Brisbane, 2020/21
India were forced to make a number of changes to their team due to injuries sustained during the series, and they were also without their regular captain, Virat Kohli, who had returned home for the birth of his child. Australia, on the other hand, were coming off a convincing win in Adelaide and were aiming to secure a series victory.
On the first day of the match, Australia won the toss and elected to bat, but they were bowled out for 369, with Marnus Labuschagne top-scoring with 108. India responded strongly, with Washington Sundar and Shardul Thakur both scoring half-centuries to help India reach 336, trailing by just 33 runs.
In the second innings, Australia set India a challenging target of 328 to win. India started their chase positively, with opener Shubman Gill scoring a half-century, but they lost regular wickets and were in trouble at 228/4. However, an unbeaten 89 from Rishabh Pant and a crucial knock of 56 from Washington Sundar helped India achieve their target and win the match by three wickets, completing a remarkable series victory.
The victory was significant for India, as it was their second test series win in Australia, and it came after they had been hit hard by injuries to key players throughout the series. The win also broke Australia’s record of being undefeated in a Test match at The Gabba since 1988.
India vs Australia at Kolkata, 2001
India versus Australia Test match in 2001 in Kolkata is often regarded as one of the greatest Test matches of all time. The match was played at the Eden Gardens stadium in Kolkata from March 11 to 15, 2001, and is famous for India’s dramatic come-from-behind victory.
Australia had won the toss and elected to bat first, and they put up a massive total of 445 in their first innings, with opener Matthew Hayden scoring 97 and skipper Steve Waugh scoring a century. In response, India struggled and were bowled out for just 171, with Sourav Ganguly top-scoring with 59.
Following on, India had a mountain to climb, but they staged a remarkable comeback thanks to an incredible partnership between VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid. Laxman, who batted at number three, scored a magnificent 281, while Dravid scored 180, and their partnership of 376 runs is still the highest partnership for India in Test cricket. Thanks to their heroics, India were able to post a mammoth second-innings total of 657/7 declared.
In their second innings, Australia were set a target of 384 runs to win, but they were bowled out for just 212, with Harbhajan Singh taking six wickets in the innings to finish with match figures of 13/196. India won the match by 171 runs, completing a remarkable turnaround and ending Australia’s record-breaking winning streak of 16 consecutive Test matches.
Australia vs West Indies at Brisbane, 1960/61
The Test match between Australia and West Indies played in Brisbane in December 1960 was one of the most thrilling matches in cricket history. The match ended in a tie, only the fourth such instance in Test cricket, and was a testament to the competitive spirit of both teams.
West Indies won the toss and elected to bat, scoring an impressive 453 in their first innings, thanks to a magnificent double century from Rohan Kanhai. Australia, in response, scored 505, with Norman O’Neill making a century and Neil Harvey and Ken Mackay also contributing half-centuries.
In the second innings, West Indies were bowled out for 284, leaving Australia with a target of 233 to win the match. However, the Australian batsmen were unable to handle the pressure of the situation, and despite a valiant effort from Mackay, who scored 89, they fell short of the target by just one run.
New Zealand vs England at Wellington, 2023
At the Basin Reserve, the New Zealand versus England test match became the most recent game on this list. In the second Test match in Wellington, New Zealand made cricketing history by defeating England. This one-run victory was a remarkable achievement for the Kiwis, who became just the third nation to win a Test match after being compelled to follow-on.
England batted first and declared on 435/8 in their first innings, riding on centuries from Harry Brook (184) and Joe Root (153). In reply, the hosts were skittled out for just 209, with skipper Southee top-scoring with 73. With two sessions in the test lost due to rain, England captain Ben Stokes enforced the follow-on.
New Zealand fought back in the 2nd innings led by former skipper Kane WIlliamson. Openers Tom Latham (83), Devon Conway (61) and wicketkeeper Tom Blundell scored half-centuries, while Williamson scored 132. New Zealand ended up with a massive score of 483 to set a target of 256 for England.
Ben Stokes’ side were rocked by the Kiwi pacers in the chase and were reduced to 80/5. At this stage, Root and Stokes stitched a crucial partnership of 121 to take them to the brink of victory. They once again lost wickets in a clutter and were soon 251/9, with 5 needed to win. With 2 to get, James Anderson was strangled down leg by Neil Wagner to give New Zealand the win.
