My favourite test. It beats Headingley 81 for me as we had already experienced the collapse of the Aussies chasing a small total. I remember as a ten year old boy hoping it could happen again as they had to get 150 odd. So this time the anticipation was greater as it was another small total to win. It was a better test match generally with less domination and more ebb and flow. However by the final afternoon all seemed lost for England. Border and Yallop put together a long partnership even though they were crawling towards the winning post. The BBC went away from the cricket and to the grand prix becausse they thought it was all over so I listened to TMS. It seemed a done deal but then Emburey got both Yallop and Border and Botham ran through the rest with hard, fast and mostly straight deliveries. It went from inevitable defeat to thrilling victory within about half an hour. Never has pressure in a test come to the fore so much with players. Kim Hughes said he had go for a walk on the final afternoon and was almost physically sick as he kept hearing the roars of the crowd as another wicket fell. Geoff Lawson (not playing) went for a run and Rod Marsh went to a quiet space and cried. I always felt for Martin Kent the Australian test debutant. He played very well and had a chance to be a hero but was bowled by Botham trying to get a run in order to keep the strike and protect Rodney Hogg. Australia who should have been leading the series 3 - 0 were now 2 -1 down. A remarkable final day and a great game.
My favourite test. It beats Headingley 81 for me as we had already experienced the collapse of the Aussies chasing a small total. I remember as a ten year old boy hoping it could happen again as they had to get 150 odd. So this time the anticipation was greater as it was another small total to win. It was a better test match generally with less domination and more ebb and flow. However by the final afternoon all seemed lost for England. Border and Yallop put together a long partnership even though they were crawling towards the winning post. The BBC went away from the cricket and to the grand prix becausse they thought it was all over so I listened to TMS. It seemed a done deal but then Emburey got both Yallop and Border and Botham ran through the rest with hard, fast and mostly straight deliveries. It went from inevitable defeat to thrilling victory within about half an hour. Never has pressure in a test come to the fore so much with players. Kim Hughes said he had go for a walk on the final afternoon and was almost physically sick as he kept hearing the roars of the crowd as another wicket fell. Geoff Lawson (not playing) went for a run and Rod Marsh went to a quiet space and cried. I always felt for Martin Kent the Australian test debutant. He played very well and had a chance to be a hero but was bowled by Botham trying to get a run in order to keep the strike and protect Rodney Hogg. Australia who should have been leading the series 3 - 0 were now 2 -1 down. A remarkable final day and a great game.
I agree with you about Martin Kent. He looked a very good player to me.
Its staggering how quickly Botham changed things
John Emburey's dismissals of Yallop and Border were crucial to England's win. When they were together it was the Aussies who looked like winning.
I had no memory of MJK Smith commentating. He didn’t last long, probably because all he ever does is tell the viewer exactly what they’ve just seen.
Hello Darren
Cracking Cricketing Classics
From The Vaults Very Grateful.
Top Draw Magic.
Have a Pleasant and Splendid Weekend.
WAYNE
Hello Wayne, soon off to Headingley for the 1998 decider. Have a great weekend, DARREN
And to think Botham didn't want to bowl on that 4th day at Edgbaston Botham said himself he would've bowled Willey if he'd been captain