The best batting performance you've seen in Australia?

[Webby]

Re: The best batting performance you've seen in Australia?

Best innings I've seen full stop, ever, and I was not a huge fan of Hughes by any means.

I’ve got a much older cousin who I respect greatly who was at the MCG to see it live. He has sworn for nearly forty years now that Hughes’s innings that day was the greatest individual performance he’s ever seen on a cricket field.

He’s quite balanced and reasonable, but won’t hear of anything else being close. So I accept his verdict.

[Sedat]

Re: The best batting performance you've seen in Australia?

I’ve got a much older cousin who I respect greatly who was at the MCG to see it live. He has sworn for nearly forty years now that Hughes’s innings that day was the greatest individual performance he’s ever seen on a cricket field.

He’s quite balanced and reasonable, but won’t hear of anything else being close. So I accept his verdict.

AB making 98no and 100no in Barbados in 1984 to single-handedly save the test against the Windies in their prime is right up there with Hughes’ knock at the MCG.

[westdog54]

Re: The best batting performance you've seen in Australia?

AB making 98no and 100no in Barbados in 1984 to single-handedly save the test against the Windies in their prime is right up there with Hughes’ knock at the MCG.

Was one of those his last stand with Terry Alderman?

I received AB's autobiography as a 10th birthday present and that century had a special place in his heart.

[lemmon]

Re: The best batting performance you've seen in Australia?

A ODI innings that really stands out was Shane Watson's 161* at the MCG back in 2011 against the Poms. When he was up and going, he could murder an attack.

[Twodogs]

Re: The best batting performance you've seen in Australia?

AB making 98no and 100no in Barbados in 1984 to single-handedly save the test against the Windies in their prime is right up there with Hughes’ knock at the MCG.

Didn't see them. We woke up the next day and read about those inning, so it's a different vibe to have actually sat there and watched it unfold in its full glory.

[Go_Dogs]

Re: The best batting performance you've seen in Australia?

I was only about 8 years old, but watching Langer v West Indies at Adelaide Oval where he put together a hard fought 50 against an unbeliable bowling attack has always stuck with me. Along with getting Tim May's autograph the day he took 5/9.

[Sedat]

Re: The best batting performance you've seen in Australia?

I was only about 8 years old, but watching Langer v West Indies at Adelaide Oval where he put together a hard fought 50 against an unbeliable bowling attack has always stuck with me. Along with getting Tim May's autograph the day he took 5/9.

That was his test debut. Such a gutsy knock - he got smashed on the helmet and was concussed and he said he was seeing 3 Ian Bishop’s running at him and followed the middle one.

[Doc26]

Re: The best batting performance you've seen in Australia?

Most memorable, given that I was a youngster and being my first recollection of being completely immersed in the atmosphere of test cricket at the G, was Derek Randall’s 174 in the second innings of the Cententary Test back in ‘77. Lillee was at his very best, taking 6 for in the first innings and 5 for in the 2nd, he was giving everything he had at Randall. I recall it being the most captivating battles between bowler and batsman. Although England ended up losing the match Randall certainly set them up for an unlikely victory.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Re: The best batting performance you've seen in Australia?

1984/85 summer was my first full series where I became mesmerised by Test Cricket, and we were absolutely blitzed by the most amazing cricket side I have ever seen - The West Indies.
The only guy who seemed to rise to the challenge from Australia that series was Kepler Wessels. He made a couple of pugnacious and belligerant half centuries ( a couple of 90') when all crumbled around him, and finally in the last Test he made a fantastic 173 at Sydney.
I recall being amazed at his ability to cop everything that a rampaging Marshall, Garner, Holding & Walsh threw at him all summer and he got just reward in that final test.

[westdog54]

Re: The best batting performance you've seen in Australia?

Didn't see them. We woke up the next day and read about those inning, so it's a different vibe to have actually sat there and watched it unfold in its full glory.

The century was even more special because he had a 61 run last wicket stand with Terry Alderman.

AB's recollection of the close of play is something along these lines:

With three overs left in the day, and with Viv Richards having tried absolutely everything to get Alderman out, Viv brings on Gus Logie.

With the first ball of Gus' over AB hits him straight down the ground to get to 100, and Viv yelled 'Enough!' and called it a draw.

[FrediKanoute]

Re: The best batting performance you've seen in Australia?

Lots of great memories there. Mine was Day 1 Lords test Jul 2015. Bucky Rogers and Steve Smith pummelled the English bowling with both notching up centuries. It was a wonderful exhibition of faultless batting on a grey morning that ended up being a beautiful day. Watching the game at Lords made it that little bit more special.

[Twodogs]

Re: The best batting performance you've seen in Australia?

Most memorable, given that I was a youngster and being my first recollection of being completely immersed in the atmosphere of test cricket at the G, was Derek Randall’s 174 in the second innings of the Cententary Test back in ‘77. Lillee was at his very best, taking 6 for in the first innings and 5 for in the 2nd, he was giving everything he had at Randall. I recall it being the most captivating battles between bowler and batsman. Although England ended up losing the match Randall certainly set them up for an unlikely victory.

That was the innings when Randall was given out caught behind but Marsh went and talked to Chappel and then they called him back. Apparantly Marsh said words to the effect of "ummm it was a bump ball, what should we do?" And Chappel said "call him back" so they did.

It's the only time I can remember the players overruling an umpire's decision to give a batsman out,

[westdog54]

Re: The best batting performance you've seen in Australia?

That was the innings when Randall was given out caught behind but Marsh went and talked to Chappel and then they called him back. Apparantly Marsh said words to the effect of "ummm it was a bump ball, what should we do?" And Chappel said "call him back" so they did.

It's the only time I can remember the players overruling an umpire's decision to give a batsman out,

I've seen a few.

Sanath Jayasuriya recalled Andrew Symonds in a ODI after a horrendous LBW involving a bottom edge thicker than post retirement Merv Hughes.