Birthday special: Nasser Hussain – Five most memorable knocks of English skipper
For more than a decade, Nasser Hussain was an important member of the England side. Not only was he one of the most prominent England batsmen of his generation, but he was also a leader par excellence. The England legend played 96 Test matches for his country and scored 5764 runs at an average of 36.48. He also scored 14 hundreds and 33 fifties in the whites.
In ODI cricket, Hussain featured in 88 matches and scored 2332 runs at an average of 30.29. The right-hander retired from international cricket in the year 2004, and since then, he has gone on to become one of the most respected commentators in the cricketing world. With Hussain celebrating his 54th birthday on 28th March 2022, let us take a look at the top 5 knocks played by the England cricketing legend.
5) 128 vs India (Tests)
In June 1996, India and England locked horns in the first Test at Birmingham. The Indian side won the toss and opted to wield the willow first. The Indian batting line up came a cropper as the England bowlers bowled out the visitors for just 214. Javagal Srinath top-scored for India with a 65 ball 52. The England innings was all about the flair and grace Nasser Hussain displayed in the middle. In a knock laced with 18 fours and a six, Hussain scored 128 to power England to a total of 313. Even though the legendary Sachin Tendulkar scored a masterly 122 for India in the second innings, the visitors could only muster a score of 219, and set England a meagre target of 121. Skipper Michael Atherton scored 53* in the second essay as England thrashed the Indian side by 8 wickets.
4) 115 vs India (ODIs)
We now travel to 13th July 2002, to the NatWest Series final to relive this classic from Nasser Hussain’s willow. The England side won the toss and batted first. The hosts posted a mammoth total of 325 runs on the board, and the catalysts of the England innings were Marcus Trescothick and Nasser Hussain. While Trescothick scored a 100 ball 109, Hussain top-scored with a crucial 115. This match witnessed a dramatic run chase by the Sourav Ganguly led Indian side. Even though the Indian side was reduced to 146/5, two young lads, Yuvraj Singh and Mohammad Kaif put on a match-winning partnership of 121 runs for the 6th wicket, as India won a humdinger of a match with 2 wickets to spare.
3) 146* vs South Africa (Tests)
Nasser Hussain’s marathon 463-ball vigil at the crease in Durban against a bowling attack consisting of the likes of Allan Donald and Shaun Pollock will rank as his greatest overseas Test innings. The England skipper scored an undefeated 146, as England ended their first innings with a challenging total of 366 on the board. In reply, South Africa were shot out for a paltry total of 156, as Andrew Caddick wreaked havoc and scalped 7 wickets. South Africa were asked to follow on. In the second innings, led by a masterly 275 by Gary Kirsten, the Proteas plundered 572 as the match ended in a draw.
2) 155 vs India (Tests)
In July 2002, Nasser Hussain etched his name in the Lord’s Honours Board by plundering a classy century against the Indian side. England got their willows out first and helped themselves to a mammoth total of 487. And, the chief architect of England’s excellent batting display was Nasser Hussain. The England captain scored a 331 ball 155 to help his side seize the initiative. In reply, the Indian side was shot out for just 221. England amassed a total of 301 runs in their second innings and set India a near-impossible target of 568 for victory. The Indian side put up a brave fight and scored 397 in the second innings. But in the end, the hosts came out on top and beat their opposition by 170 runs.
1) 207 vs Australia (Tests)
In June 1997, Nasser Hussain played the greatest knock of his career to help the England side thrash the Australian side by 9 wickets at Birmingham. The Aussies batted first and were bowled out for just 118, with Andrew Caddick picking up a five-wicket haul. In reply, the England side posted a colossal total of 478 on the board, with Nasser Hussain leading the way with the willow in hand. Against a bowling attack consisting of the likes of Glenn McGrath, Michael Kasprowicz, Jason Gillespie and Shane Warne, Hussain plundered 207 off 337 deliveries to power his side to a gargantuan total of 478. Even though the Aussies scored 477 in their second essay, England went on to thrash the kangaroos by 9 wickets to seal the Test match. And, for his stunning heroics with the willow, Hussain was awarded the Player of the Match award.
