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18 great Ashes knocks at Lord’s
The first Ashes Test was played in July 1884 and since then has witnessed some fabulous batting feats.
Before the ongoing Test, there have been 34 Ashes Tests at Lord’s so far with seven going in England’s favour and 14 Australia’s. The first Ashes Test was played in July 1884 and since then has witnessed some fabulous batting feats. Chris Rodgers and Steve Smith scored stunning hundreds on the first day to bring back Australia in the series. Suvajit Mustafi lists down such 18 great Ashes knocks at the home of cricket — Lord’s.
1. Allan Steel’s (England) 148 in July 1884
His peers rated his all-round skills next only to WG Grace. Allan Steel’s 148 was the first Test hundred at Lord’s. Australia had scored 229 in the first innings and England kept losing wickets to Joey Palmer at one end, while Steel batted close to four hours to craft a sturdy 148 which inspired England to a series win.
2. Arthur Shrewsbury’s (England) 164 in July 1886
Arthur Shrewsbury was considered to be one of the best batters in the world. In this particular Test, coming in at No.3, he scored more than half of England’s runs scored with the bat and was the last man to be dismissed. The weather conditions changed drastically throughout the game. Shrewsbury’s defense wore out the Aussie bowling and he then began scoring of it. England scored 353 and Shrewsbury got 164 and at that time it was the highest score, ever made against Australian bowling in England.
3. Harry Trott’s (Australia) 143 in June 1896
Ranjitsinhji was among the many who hailed Harry Trott as one of Australia’s greatest captains. Trott’s numbers may not reflect his playing abilities. But on this occasion, he got Australia back in the game where they were trailing by 239 runs on the first innings. They were reduced to three for two, when Trott came in to bat for three and half hours and score to score 143. His partnership of 221 with Syd Gregory helped Australia set a target of 109, which wasn’t enough in the end. The knock is remembered for its combative nature with the captain trying to bail out his side.
4. Frank Wooley’s (England) 95 in June 1921
Beyond a doubt, Frank Wooley was one of the most elegant left-handed batsmen of all-time, but this innings was more than grace. England kept losing wickets and it was a one man show. Wisden describes the knock, “Nothing finer in English batting was seen last season than Woolley’s 95.” The knock took England to 187 as Australia scored 342. The match would have ended in an innings defeat had Wooley not crafted another 93 in the second innings. Despite his heroics in both innings, England couldn’t avert a defeat.
5. Warren Bardsley’s (Australia) 193* in June 1926
Warren Bardsley is regarded as one of the greatest left-handers from Australia. The last of his six Test hundreds came at Lord’s and it was also his highest score. In a total of 383, Barsley, opening the batting remained unbeaten on 193. The match which ended in a draw could have been a defeat for Australia if not for the masterful knock by the New South Wales veteran who was 43 at that time.
6. Duleepsinhji’s (England) 173 in July 1930
England were powered to 425, thanks to Duleepsinhji’s 173. It was his first Ashes Test and he made a name for himself. He drove the ball beautifully and mastered the Aussie attack. He scored a fighting 48 in the second innings too, but was his efforts enough? No, thanks to a man named Donald Bradman!
7. Donald Bradman’s (Australia) 254 in June 1930
The score of 425 was a good one if you didn’t have Don Bradman as your opposition. Bradman scored 254 and scored them at a strike-rate of over 67, powering Australia to 729. In the end, Australia managed an eight-wicket win.
8. Les Ames’ (England) 120 in June 1934
Ames’120 at Lord’s is the only century to be scored by an England wicket-keeper in an Ashes series. Ames was the top-scorer in the game that Bob Wyatt’s side won by an innings and 38 runs. Post this win, England had to wait 75 years to taste a win at this venue.
9. Wally Hammond’s (England) 240 in June 1938
The Test ended in a draw and saw two double hundreds, one hundred, a innings of 99 and three other fifties. Hammond, considered one of the greatest ever in the game, struck 240 helping England to 494. He hit 32 boundaries in his strokeful knock was the highest score in an Ashes Test in England. Bill Brown’s unbeaten 206 took Australia to 422. Later, Dennis Compton’s 76 helped England get their grip on the game as they set a target of 315 in less than three hours. Bradman was up for the challenge and scored another hundred but the game ended in a draw.
10. Sid Barnes’ (Australia) 141 in June 1948
Bradman’s Invincibles had dominated the Test with Arthur Morris scoring a hundred and Ray Lindwall picking a fifer. In the second innings, Bradman was expected to score a hundred. He and opener Sid Barnes stitched a superb 174-run stand with the latter scoring a brisk 141. Bradman fell for 89, eleven short of another hundred, but Australia managed to win the Test by 409 runs.
11. Willie Watson’s (England) 109 in June 1953
The Test swung like a pendulum. Australian captain Lindsay Hassett’s 104 put Australia in a good position, but Len Hutton’s 145 put England ahead. Keith Millier’s 109 helped Australia set a target of 343 and England were reduced to 73 for four. A defeat was in near sight but Willie Watson saved it for England. His 109 — and his 153-run stand with Trevor Bailey helped England save the Test as England finished with 282 for seven. In Watson’s career of 23 Tests, he is best remembered for this gritty feat.
12. Greg Chappell’s (Australia) 131 in June 1972
Not many could match Greg Chappell’s class as a batsman. A soldier to the core, he once again made the difference in a Test. England had put up 272 and Australia were down at seven for two when the master batsman made his way. Greg, along with his older brother and captain Ian Chappell steadied the ship. Greg’s patient yet splendid 131 helped Australia get a 36-run lead. Bob Massie’s heroics saw England get dismissed for 116 as Australia laughed their way to an eight wicket win.
13. John Edrich’s (England) 175 in August 1975
In an innings of skills, patience and grit, England opener John Edrich anchored the second innings. He had the task to negotiate the likes of Dennis Lillee, Jeff Thomson and Ashley Mallett; he did it with ease. His 175 helped England to set a target of 484. Australia, however, managed to save the Test.
14. Allan Border’s (Australia) 196 in June 1985
“This was Border’s match. The Australian captain scored 43 per cent of his side’s runs, 237 out of 552, and led them superbly to maintain Australia’s unbeaten run at cricket’s headquarters since Verity bowled them to defeat in 1934,” is how Wisden describes the Test. The Australian captain was a tough nut to crack and exemplified true grit. England scored 290 and Border came out to bat when Australia were 24 for two. His 196 took them to 425. Later, chasing 127, Australia were 65 for five when Border with an unbeaten 41 saw them through.
15. Steve Waugh’s (Australia) 152* in June 1989
Like Border, Steve Waugh was another tough nut. His unbeaten 152 saw Australia in a commanding position once again at Lord’s. His knock ensured that England wouldn’t win a Test at this venue since 1934.
16. Andrew Strauss’ (England) 161 in July 2009
England hadn’t beaten Australia in an Ashes Test in 75 years and captain Andrew Strauss led the side to a remarkable win. Opening the batting, he set the tone with his 161 before Andrew Flintoff demolished the Aussie batting as England won by 115 runs.
17. Michael Clarke’s (Australia) 136 in July 2009
The 2009 Lord’s Test won’t just be remembered for the heroics of Strauss and Flintoff. From Australia, it was Michael Clarke who kept his team in the hunt. Chasing 522, Australia had succumbed to 128 for five but Clarke fought on. His combative 136 was an innings of poise and it once even threatened to take the game away. The wily off-spin of Graeme Swann got the better off him but nevertheless it was truly champion-like batting.
18. Joe Root’s (England) 180 in July 2013
No wonder Joe Root is currently among the best in the world. In 2013, he was asked to open the innings, a role unfamiliar to him. He took it up for his side and went on to be the youngest English player to make a Test hundred at Lord’s. The 22-year-old batted like a champion as he scored 180 in the second innings, helping England set a target of 583. That wasn’t all, Root went on to pick up the wickets of Clarke and Usman Khwaja as England pulled off another win by 347 runs
(Suvajit Mustafi consumes cricket for lunch, fiction for dinner and munches numerous other snacks throughout the day. Yes, a jack of several trades, all Suvajit dreamt of was being India’s World Cup winning skipper but ended up being a sports writer, author, screenwriter, director, copywriter, graphic designer, sportsmarketer , strategist, entrepreneur, philosopher and traveller. Donning so many hats, it’s cricket which gives him the ultimate high and where he finds solace. He can be followed at @RibsGully and rivu7)
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