Dilshan’s innings will rank among the best played by a captain in Test history

Tillakaratne Dilshan’s 193 injected a much-needed confidence in the shell-shocked Sri Lankan batting line-up. After England piled up 486, what Sri Lanka needed was a collective effort  from their batsmen in setting up a big score, with Dilshan leading from the front – literally and figuratively. And he responded aggressively, but responsibility, to score one of the finest knocks in Test cricket by a captain.

When the head is under attack, the body wobbles, too. The West Indies under Clive Lloyd were known to target the captain because a beleaguered captain can cause great damage to his team. By the same token, if a captain is in full flow, that positive energy radiates through the team.

Here’s my list top five efforts by captains in Test cricket. I didn’t get into crunching numbers or delve deep into statistical analysis; I simply focused on batting epics by captains that touched me most:  

1. Brian Lara 153 not out vs Australia, 3rd Test Bridgetown Barbados, 1999:

Set a target of 308, West Indies were in dire straits at 105 for five, with Glenn McGrath at his menacing best. Yet, there was one formidable challenge before Aussies in the form of Brian Lara, who was batting majestically amid the West Indies ruins.

When the eighth wicket fell, West Indies still needed 60 to get. But Lara was defiant at one end. He inspired Curtly Ambrose to occupy the crease for 82 minutes. Later, last man Courtney Walsh survived five balls – helped by a wide and a no-ball – before Lara crashed Jason Gillespie to the cover boundary to complete a fairytale victory to help West Indies take a 2-1 lead in the series.

It was, arguably, the greatest innings by Lara because there was no safety net. One mistake and the game would have been lost.

Lara may not enjoy the reputation of being a great captain, but this innings was certainly the best knock by a captain in the history of Test cricket.

2. Imran Khan 136 vs Australia, 2nd Test Adelaide, 1989-90:

Pakistan started their second innings with 84 behind Australia. And what a horrendous start it was! Pakistan lost three wickets with just seven runs on the board. Not much later, it was 22 for four.

Imran Khan and Javed Miandad stayed together for nearly three hours before Miandad was dismissed. Pakistan were now 90 for five – six runs ahead and half the side gone! Salim Malik retired hurt which brought Wasim Akram to the scene. The next 729 minutes saw some extraordinary cricket that would have done a classy, top-order batsman proud.

Imran and Akram (123), who was guided all throughout the innings by his captain, added 191 runs for the s to help Pakistan take a lead of 304 that ensured their team a respectable draw.  

3. Brian Lara 213 vs Australia, 2nd Test Kingston, Jamaica, 1999:

Another Lara classic! In reply to Australia’s 256 in the first innings, the shell-shocked West Indian batting line-up were reduced to 34 for four. West Indies needed a Herculean performance from captain Lara. On a sunny, windy Sunday, Lara reignited the passion of cricket throughout the Caribbean. He did it with an unforgettable double-century.

He was circumspect early on, but stepped up a gear to strike Stuart MacGill for two sixes in an over, and Greg Blewett for four successive fours. He drove Shane Warne for a third six, and hit 28 fours in all, batting for 469 minutes and 344 balls. It was poetic murder!

West Indies took a lead of 175 and went on to win the Test by 10 wickets.

4. Sourav Ganguly 144 vs Australia, 1st Test Brisbane, 2003-04:

Australia were off to a flying start in the first Test against India. Mathew Hayden and Justin Langer were mauling the Indian attack. Then followed a dramatic collapse; Australia slumped to 323 all out after being 262 for two at one stage!

 After a good start, India had lost three wickets – including Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar – in the space of four balls from Jason Gillespie. In walked, Sourav Ganguly, carrying a history of grief against the quick stuff, to face the test of his life. But the “Prince of Kolkata” was not be bogged down by the fury unleashed by the Aussie pacemen. He seemed determined and more focused then ever to play the innings of his career – a polished 144 which is now part of Indian cricket’s folklore.

India needed their captain to rock and roll and the captain responded. It surely would have been a winning knock had rain not interfered.

5. Graham Gooch 154 not out vs West Indies, 1st Test Leeds, 1991:

It was a wet summer in England and as all know Leeds is the happy hunting ground for the fast men.

The West Indian pacers, Malcolm Marshall, Curtly Ambrose, Courtney Walsh and Patrick Patterson ripped through the English batting line-up to dismiss the home team for 198. But the West Indian batsmen did not find the going get easy and were bowed out for 172.

 Curtly Ambrose was at his menacing best in the England second innings. His ferocious pace and venomous bounce rattled the English batting line-up, but captain Graham Gooch defied Ambrose and Company in style. He played strokes of high quality with enough guts. He pulled and drove with authority to remain unbeaten on 154 in a total of 252. Thanks to his courageous innings, England won by 116 runs – England’s first home win over the West Indies since 1969.

PS: The above list is my pick of the top five captain’s innings played by captains which I have seen since 1990. You may disagree with me. If you think someone else should have figured in the list, do share your comments.

Note: This article has been published in Cricket Country on 06/06/2011 http://www.cricketcountry.com/articles/dilshans-innings-will-rank-among-the-best-played-by-a-captain-in-test-history-3196

Thank You

Faisal Caesar