A Skippers Knock

Following on from Pup's 329no, cricinfo have dug up some other 'great' captain's knocks.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/548528.html

But, are there more?

Ponting's 143no against South Africa perhaps or even his 150 in the drawn test in 2005.

Ponting's innings at Old Trafford in 05 kept them in it no doubt

Michael Vaughan 166 at old trafford in 05

When I first read the title of the article, Punter's 156 at Old Trafford in 2005 was the first innings that sprang to mind. That was a truly fantastic innings.

What about Graeme Smith in England in 2003? When he made consecutive double hundreds after Nasser Hussain called him "Whassisname, Greg Smith" and with all the pressure of being made a captain at so such a young age, those innings really cemented his place as captain and proved he could do it.

Gooch's 333 and 123 in the same Test.

Strauss's 164 (or whatever it was) against Australia at Lords in 09 was an important knock in the context of that series.

Clive Lloyd in the first male WC final, obviously.

Atherton's J'Berg 185no is surely the very definition of a Captain's innings in difficult circumstances - a case of taking on the responsibility of almost single-handedly saving a game (although Jack Russell's 4.5hour 29no has to also be mentioned as a great performance of self control and discipline).

Gatting scored 150no against Pakistan in 1987 against Imran and a young Akram. This after Pakistan had scored 700 odd and England were following on, 450 in arrears.

Peter May 285 not out plus an England record stand with Colin Cowdrey of 411 which has stood for well over half a century. This was to save the first Test of the 1957 home series against the West Indies at Edgbaston. The threat of the once great Sonny Ramadhin was blunted for ever and England went on to win the series 3 -0.

May is now a largely and shamefully forgotten great of English cricket. Hopefully 606 v2 will be able to go a small way towards rectifying that.

Corporal - don't do subtle. Your turn.

You Surrey boy's, what are you like

skyeman wrote:You Surrey boy's, what are you like

Wait til TheGooch7 signs back on in April!

haha that will be good

county season banter is always good, especially as im flying the flag for the essex boys

'flying' from the depths that Essex lie at?

Can't wait for cricket season now, under 4 months until my clubs season starts as well

guildfordbat wrote:May is now a largely and shamefully forgotten great of English cricket. Hopefully 606 v2 will be able to go a small way towards rectifying that.

Corporal - don't do subtle. Your turn.

As a military man I can sometimes sniff when an upcoming skirmish is in the offing. I have that sixth sense that a Mayday alert will soon be needed....

Corporal - further cable was sent to Carrot last night on the England v Pakistan thread.

Graeme Smith's 154* at Birmingham in 2008. An innings that sealed a series victory. Smith's 108 at Perth also set the wheels in motion for the epic 404 run chase.

hodge wrote:'flying' from the depths that Essex lie at?

Can't wait for cricket season now, under 4 months until my clubs season starts as well

yup


also cant wait for my 2nd season of captaincy to begin

I read something the other day: of Smith's 22 test match hundreds, none have come in defeat. Quite remarkable.