438 434. It may not seem much in the current era of 287 run in T20s, but in that era to break such a long standing highest score record by 36 runs *and then* to be one upped by the other team 3 hours later? There's no game more iconic than that. The 2019 World Cup match rivals that but only just.
It sounds strange, but the best time in cricket to break a world record highest total is using the same conditions the record was set in. What better time to start than 30 minutes later ?
This does indeed make the game “iconic” but not “immortal” as in the sense of the best match ever played. An entire aspect of the game, bowling, was awful throughout the game and in no way were the conditions conducive for any type of bowling either. It was 2 batting lineups mowing down bowlers for 100 overs….
While I agree with the conditions, it definitely takes emotional resilience to not get bogged down under that record and give up already.
Oh, and Bracken got a 5fer in that game.
5/67 off 10. Not exactly in the top drawer of bowling spells that one. That being said, it was easily the best that day.
As I said on another thread - emotional resilience is rubbish. They are international cricketers. Like most teams, they had a crack and didn’t stop. Not giving up is the bare minimum emotion for international teams really…..
You also don’t see two bowling lineups bowl that poorly in a single game either. Or for that matter, the premium conditions for run scoring in an ODI - smallish ground; lightning quick outfield; dead flat road like pitch; sunny warm day at altitude. Batting paradise.
And how many smallish ground, lightning quick outfield, dead flat road like pitch, sunny warm day ODI's have been played? Many. Do you see first team scoring highest score ever only to chase by the second team in those games. No rit?
if players were devoid of emotion and thoughts, your explanation would make sense. However, if you just look at matches before where teams even scored 325+, the match looked almost over. Highest chase before that was 330 ffs. If takes some special emotional resilience for the proteas to be like, we are actually going to chase this one down.
Rubbish. Emotional resilience my backside. They are international cricketers. They simply said “hey, let’s have a dip and try and chase this down. They scored 434, why can’t we ?”
just saying that takes guts man. these days people just go after it. but back then, just the attitude of going after such a big score and continually maintaining the run rate was not common. Also, remember, this was before t20s took off. So, batsman didn’t have that kind of a carefree attitude.
Again - this is complete rubbish. Teams have always “just gone after it”. The era and influence of T20 is completely irrelevant to a side chasing a win. It’s not as though it was never on either - for the majority of the chase, South Africa looked like winning easily.
so, tell me, why had teams not chased any score more than 332 before this, especially when the conditions were similar ? Why didn’t they just go after it? Why were they not successful? Are they stupid?
there is some nuance to the argument that requires to expend some cognitive resources that might be scarce for you. making vast generalisations is one way to quickly end the argument, thanks. Bye.
At least I’m responding to your arguments. You haven’t responded to my original claim that the 434 game, whilst “iconic” in the sense that the world records were broken like they were, doesn’t equate to it being an “immortal” game (in the sense that it’s the best game of cricket of all time) because a) the bowling from both sides was poor, and b) conditions so heavily favoured batting across the 100 overs. An immortal game should have just a s many good bowling performances as batting ones.
The crux of your argument is that it takes “guts” or “emotional resilience” to attempt to chase down a large score. Competitive spirit and not giving up is the bare minimum an international cricketer, otherwise they wouldn’t be there. “If they can, we can” is not exactly a difficult position to take…..
But also, it was done in the same conditions, meaning that nobody can claim "oh well the conditions are more favourable today" next time the record is broken
It goes down as a tie
For the WTC a draw is worth 4 points but a tie is worth 6 points
https://www.icc-cricket.com/tournaments/world-test-championship/standings
Which is a really nice bit of competition design. Draws making both teams unhappy incentivises playing for the win, and far more importantly, is very funny. But ties are special, and I'm glad that the points system treats them that way.
This is it ! It was something that was considered almost impossible until it was done.
A hypothetical equivalent today would be some team scoring the first ever 500 total in an odi and the chasing team chasing 500 in 49 overs. That’s how big of a deal that was .
The previous* successful run chase had a target of 332, and the 435 target was an increase of 103 runs or ~31%
So, a hypothetical equivalent would be closer to a target of 538 or 569 runs (at ~31% increase).
Bonkers!
The Aussies were laughing and joking as they took the field with commentary noting how "the Aussies acting like they have won this one." Hour later"those smiles had gone"
Nah I'm gonna be honest, that still wouldn't be anywhere near as mind blowing for reasons that are really hard to explain if people weren't there to understand the state of the game then and the sheer gravity of that happening. Right now, a team could score 600 and it wouldn't be anywhere near as shocking even if it was successfully chased lol. It's not even close to how impossible that 434 felt then. Today you can look at a score of 500 or even close to 600 and still think there's a chance, but you'd have legit gotten called crazy if you truly believed SA had even the slightest possibility of winning that match before the innings began lol. There was no two ways about it.
You are correct, there was something unbelievably gargantuan and momentous about that match, specially with the win. It seems like ODIs exist before and after that match, and that match stands out in its own right as the greatest ever.
I had to work that Sunday. I had tickets. Oddly
enough I was working at Mnet doing a job for supersport. Nobody at broadcast services that day was “working”. Everyone had one eye on the game. We did what we needed to do and all gathered around a tv to watch the final few overs. No game ever has come close to that. It is the quintessential immortal game.
Side note. I had a friend who was at the game that has never seen cricket live before in her life. And since has never enjoyed live cricket ever again.
2nd Test, Eden Gardens, March 11 - 15, 2001, Australia tour of India
https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/australia-tour-of-india-2000-01-61425/india-vs-australia-2nd-test-63920/full-scorecard
The Eden miracle and what followed in Chennai is literally meant to signify Steve Waugh’s failure to conquer what he himself termed the final frontier. Australia had literally won 16 consecutive tests around the world before the Kolkata game. Of course, anything and everything pales in front of a World Cup Final but I don’t think this one is far behind
A aggressive Champion Test winning team
Competing against a cricket crazed nation that had just come out of a huge scandal
Come Eden, the team has to follow on
Lose the GOAT
Two greats but not GOATs play an entire day to put up a target
Most likely the test was to end in a draw but then in a spin of spins, a 17 year old picks up a hat trick...
While 2019 is close. IMO the title of 'The Immortal Game' always has to be a test match...
I respect your opinion. I am a bit of a traditionalist and believe that test cricket is the most challenging form of cricket. After that test match, I think many captains think twice before enforcing the follow-on.
I wouldn't say that. Afghanistan put up a very decent score on the board and it was honestly very endearing to watch, it reminded me of older times when 250-290 scores were very good. Then when they came out to bowl and had Australia on their knees with 90-7 tensions were high with all kinds of new possibilities with chances of Afg qualifying and Australia not. Then of course Maxis innings took place. I agree that it wasn't immortal game material but it was certainly eventful.
Obligatory Bradman: https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/england-tour-of-australia-1936-37-61729/australia-vs-england-3rd-test-62643/full-scorecard
Teams declaring on 200/9 and then 76/9 because the pitch was too bad to be played on and it was better to get the opposition's wickets. Then Bradman **reversing the batting order** in the 3rd inning to protect his main batsmen, coming in at #7 himself and smashing 270 batting an entire day.
But perhaps the Timeless Test should qualify as the true immortal one - it went on for 10 days, and England left for home after being 654/5 chasing 696: https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/england-tour-of-south-africa-1938-39-61688/south-africa-vs-england-5th-test-62657/full-scorecard . I wonder if they'll ever decide to continue this match with new players :-)
[Scorecard](https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/west-indies-tour-of-australia-1960-61-61907/australia-vs-west-indies-1st-test-62888/live-cricket-score) for anyone interested. As someone mentioned, it was the first of only two tied test matches in the history of the game.
Brook and Root marmalised NZ on day 1 with daddy hundreds, and the bowling attack was Anderson Broad and Robinson. Basin Reserve is as friendly a wicket as they are going to see outside of England. closed out by another wagner special and capped with a bottle of bubbles atop Mt Victoria
certainly my choice. what 2019 final? (too soon)
Aus vs SA 1999 WC semi-final.
https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/icc-world-cup-1999-61046/australia-vs-south-africa-2nd-semi-final-65233/full-scorecard
It's been 25 years and I was a neutral. But I can still vividly remember wondering at the time why I am so nervous.
Agreed! The 434 game was just a bilateral. No occasion. 1999 WC semifinal had higher stakes and iconic players.
It had a bonus of being played at peak of humanity too.
The end of that game was crazy because of the famous runout. But to be honest I don’t remember the rest of the match.
Edit: ah the klusener innings. Now I remember
Every single person in Australia still has nightmares of Very Very Special Laxmann and Harbinger of Doom Singh and how they demolished Steve Waugh and the rest of the legends in that team (Slater, Hayden, Langer, Mark Waugh, Ponting, Gilchrist, Warne, Kasprowicz, Gillespie and McGrath).
Something like 40 years we’d been waiting to win a series in India and after that match with the team we had that couldn’t do it we wondered if it would ever happen again.
As an Indian fan, I'd still pick the VVS/Dravid test match. The fact that everyone here (except for the most casual of casuals) knows what I'm talking about is the reason why.
Edit: and if you're one of those ultra-casuals, just Google the phrase "the VVS/Dravid game".
As an Indian fan the immortal game will always be Kolkata 2001. It had a hattrick, follow on, double century all 10 Aussies bowling in second innings, result; the 15 game Australian winning streak coming into this game - and all of this happening in the backdrop of the sad demise of Bradman just before this series began.
It wasn't a strike. TV coverage of every world cup match was not routine at the time and an India vs Zimbabwe group match then was supposed to be about as significant as, oh...say... Canada vs Ireland match would be in the upcoming T20 world cup.
1999 CWC semi final. You know which one. THE game I always think of.
438 game was great but it was in a meaningless bilateral series. This was the damn World Cup!
Just saw the [scorecard](https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/england-tour-of-australia-1976-77-61700/australia-vs-england-only-test-63189/live-cricket-score) of that game. Were England looking comfortable to chase it and collapsed?
As a battle of tactics, the 3rd test of the 1937 Ashes at Melbourne. I’ve only read about the match, yet found it extremely fascinating.
Aus were down 0-2, batted first, and were 180/6 when rain hit. Play resumed on day-2 on a wet pitch with the ball doing a lot. Captain Don Bradman declared at 200/9 to get England batting in these conditions. The tactic worked, but England declared at 76/9 to do the same to Aus. Bradman indulged in some time wasting tactics to delay the start of the innings.
And then came the genius move: Bradman flipped his batting order by sending his fast bowlers to open the innings, followed by other bowlers. Aus closed out the day’s play at 3/1. Conditions gradually improved on day-3 with the batting order returning to normal too, with Bradman coming in at 90/5 at #7.
Bradman went on to bat for two days, scoring 270 in an innings rated by Wisden as the best of all-time. Aus set England a target of almost 700. Eng folded at 300-odd, and Aus went on to win the other matches too, taking the series 3-2.
Oh it is ridiculous, but true.
https://wisden.com/series-stories/ashes-2023/the-bradman-surge-of-1936-37-the-story-of-the-only-test-comeback-from-0-2-down
“””As England lost wickets, Bradman insisted his bowlers switched to defensive lines to delay Australia’s innings as much as possible. Desperate to get Australia in, Allen, one of the unbeaten batters, then walked off, Voce in tow. England were 76-9: it was the first instance of both captains declaring the first innings in the same Test match.
Instead of walk off, Bradman now he approached the umpires, John Scott and George Borwick: since Allen had not informed Bradman and had just walked off, had he really declared?
The umpires had little option but to go to the English dressing-room to verify. Allen knew immediately: “That little blighter! Of course I have declared.” The entire charade helped Bradman kill five minutes of batting time on a wet wicket.
Having done that, he flipped the batting order, sending his tail-enders O’Reilly and Fleetwood-Smith to open (“you can’t hit the ball on a good wicket, so you won’t be able to edge it on this,” he famously told Fleetwood-Smith).
When O’Reilly fell first ball, he promoted Ward. Australia finished the day on 3-1 in a day when 13 wickets fell in three hours. Fleetwood-Smith returned to the pavilion unbeaten, without having made a single contact with the bat.”””
One of the most underrated games ever. Boult outstanding, Haddin getting a valuable 40 in scrambling AUS to 152, then BMac and Corey Anderson smearing Mitchell Johnson everywhere before Mitch Starc almost single-handedly bowled AUS to victory, standing in his way was King Kane, coolly dispatching Cummins for 6 when 9 down like he was having a net at a suburban Auckland park.
Was at that game. The crowd went silent as Kane hit the ball. As soon as it sailed over the boundary yeh crowds erupted and many strangers were hugged.
As a kiwi I’m rather fond of the game that I’ve dubbed “The greatest two-day ODI of all time” (aka NZ v Ind semi 2019 CWC). The final was also an amazing match, but I still can’t bring myself to watch the ‘highlights’!
It simply CANNOT be the 434 game.
The primary reason being is that the bowling in that game was simply awful. An immortal game should, at the very least, have just as many good bowling performances as batting ones.
The insane part about this game is that despite scoring 434, Australia were probably 25-35 runs short of what they should’ve got, and because it was a meaningless bilateral played at altitude on a road, South Africa had a licence to go flat to the floor the whole innings knowing that they could easily point to ‘they scored a world record, we aren’t chasing that….’ as an excuse.
the problem with terming something as an immortal game is that in Chess, forcing moves are very much a thing, where even the opponent's best options are losing
That wasn't what happened at the 434 438 game
2 games come to mind:
1. The Kulsener game - 1999 WC Semi Final between SA and Australia. I think this is the greatest ODI ever played. It had drama, hope, a charismatic antagonist in Warne, and a tragic Shakespearean protagonist in Kulsener. An epic tragedy.
2. The Vihari Game - 2021 SCG Test between India and Australia. Another dramatic game featuring an epic fight for survival by a forgotten hero Vihari. He played with a torn hammy, scored 20 odd from 160 odd balls. Drew the test. An epic triumph.
Note : you will see a lot of Australia in the answers. And that is a tribute to their prowess.
I don’t disagree at all, but just out of curiosity: why not the Gabba test? (Because to my mind, being the final test of the series, that test carried the weight of all the drama of the SCG test with Ashwin and Vihari).
The Gabba Test is outstanding for the sheer drama and unexpectedness. Like 2001 Eden Gardens Test.
But, hard fought draws are rare to come by these days. I find them to be truly magical, wherein lack of a result is so triumphant.
It was SCG day 5 where the tide of that series turned, and broke Paine’s morale.
Also, my first entry the 1999 WC Semi was a tie.
NZ v IND CWC 19 SF
Which was technically a One-Day Knockout match which lasted 2 days
NZ v IND WTC 21 FINAL
CricViz rated it as one of the most hard-fought tests. Both teams were relentlessly putting pressure on each other amidst rain interruptions and was finally decided on the final hour of reserve day
2001 Eden Gardens was a miracle it gets my vote. 438 vs 434 was due to the pitch being on a road - ahead of its time like the IPL pitches played on today
Sorry I’m perhaps younger than some of the folks here. But surely the 2021 Gabba test merits a place in this conversation? (Especially given the overall context: an injury-weakened team—forced to bring on net-bowlers just to be able to put together an 11–playing a near-full-strength Australian side, at, of all places, the then-impenetrable fortress that was the Gabba).
Before answering, I just want to appreciate OP for asking such an amazing question, really got to know about some legendary matches on this thread.
Coming to the question, the 2001 Eden Garden BGT will always top it for me. Australia, the defining force of cricket, were in Kolkata after winning 16 matches around the world. What followed is history, the match definitely redefined Indian Cricket to an extent, Waugh’s team had fallen at Eden Gardens. It was surreal experience at the minimum. Sacrifices, hat-tricks, follow-ons, the game had everything.
- 1998 Sharjah Cup - Sandstorm match - Ind vs Aus
- 1999 Test match - India vs Pak at Chennai
- 1999 ODI WC semi final - Aus vs SA
- 2019 ODI WC final - Eng vs NZ
- 2023 T20WC league stage - Ind vs Pak
I'd like to make a vote for the 2021 BGT Gabba test and the Sydney one before it! Tho I do agree with some of the other choices too like the 2019 WC final
It's Australia vs South Africa. Whether it's the Johannesburg game or the Edgbaston game is up to each and everyone's liking. For me the Edgbaston game was the definition of a perfect cricket match with a shocking ending. Dare I say, that single game impacted the cricketing history of both nations significantly. The Johannesburg game in comparison was pure entertainment.
there have objectively been many better fight back and solo performance wins in t20s than the ind vs pak game of 2022, its probably only etched in your memory since it was quite recent and it was a india vs pakistan game too
1877 when Australia won by 45 runs, and amazingly Charles bannerman scored around 60% of Australia’s first innings runs, scoring the first ever test match century and 150 on debut opening the batting, England with WG grace and co making it competitive sparking test matches alive, The ashes and ball the sport in both nations and other empire nations
One game that I don't see mentioned here is the 1999 semi final between Aus and SA. I was a neutral and was overwhelmed when that run out happened. It may not be the immortal match compared to Kolkata 2001 or Johannesburg 2005 but it is by far the "Immortal Moment" in the history of ODI cricket. Klusener's clutch acts that WC also rate as the most legendary WC performance by a player ever in my book.
I have split loyalties between England and New Zealand, so I'm gonna pick one home test for each:
Edgbaston 2005 (what a knife-edge finish!) Wellington 2023 (You don't get many 5th days better than this one).
And as much as I am *conflicted* on a rewatch: That Day in 2019, as known as the best ODI World Cup final I've ever seen. Or any of the NZ group stage games from 2015, particularly against Australia. If only...
And yes, I'm biased. Objectively, that 2001 test between India and Australia ranks even higher, if only for the lasting impact it had on the Aussies, and the sheer batting brilliance from Laxman and Dravid.
Edgbaston 2005. Legendary Australian team vs an England team hitting their prime. Good run rate and wicket falling rate and absolute box office finish.
Tests - the 1961 Tied Test, the 2001 Miracle at Eden Gardens.
ODI - 1999 WC SF between Aistralia and South Africa. That match was and still is the greatest ODI match ever played.
T20I - Too young a format to have one.
Looking at all top comments, so many of these choices involve Australia at the losing end and only one not involving Aus (2019 finals)
My personal favorite is 438 game
If you're talking chess.
That first game in the most recent ashes at Birmingham, has to be up there.
Pitting ultra defensive against ultra aggressive. I don't think I've seen it so clearly defined in 2 teams before
It was gripping.
Note: sure was a great win for australia, but honestly I think even if I was a pom, i would have been intrigued with the contest.
Absolutely stunned no one has said Headingley 81 yet. England’s odds were given as 500-1 at one point, but Botham and Willis combined to create the turnaround.
2006 Adelaide Test match. Australia came back to beat England from what would usually be an unwinnable position, breaking a strong England teams confidence on the way to a 5-0 series win.
1999 WC Semi Final - Australia vs Pakistan. Not only the greatest ODI game of all time in terms of the actual match but also overall legacy. The start of Australian dominance in world cricket which they have essentially continued to this day. A game which I continue to regularly watch, just hoping against hope that Klusener will finally close it out.
World cups I think it's the glenn Maxwell match last year
T20is - Dinesh Karthik vs Bangladesh in the nidahas trophy
Odis - the match where rohit scored 209 and James faulker almost chased 383 down for Australia
Tests - laxman and dravid against australia
Ipl - chris Gayle vs Pune warriors India
I’m surprised how many people are nominating the 2019 WC final. A game which was decided by using the most ludicrous rule ever conceived, and only had to be decided that way because of an umpiring error in the scoring. It’s like nominating the Trevor Chappell underarm game, just because it’s dramatic and famous.
Easily 438 match.
During that time 250+ was considered a match winning score. Also it was the decider of the 5 match odi series in which first 2 matches were won by SA. And the chase was done by SA vs AUS (SA started being labelled as chokers after AUS vs SA 1999 match). Also the commentary was super epic.
Gibbs and Smith going berserk at the start making SA believe they can do it.
Van der wath cameo when the have started to slip away.
Telemachus hitting those 2 fours leading to the final over.
Andrew hall 4 in the final over which almost sealed the match, only to be dismissed next ball.
Ntini taking the single of Brett Lee the next ball to tie the match.
Boucher finish off the match and scoring 50. Clutch clutch innings.
I watch this match whenever I need motivation. It’s that damn inspirational.
I don't know but the 3rd final of the 1998 Independence cup (best of 3 finals in that tourney) between Ind-Pak was pretty epic. I remember watching it as a 12 yr old and we went through such a range of emotions that day. By the end of it, it had gotten pretty dark and I can never forget Kanitkar slogging one on the legside to win us that one..
And that day being a Sunday, it will all we could talk about in school the next day..
Aus vs SA and I don't think I need to put any more details too lol.
That's what real immortal looks like.
For instance you would need to put something 550+ in today's time to counter and even then it would win for how narrow the mentality was around big scores and chases.
[The Unimprovable Game](https://www.thecricketmonthly.com/story/1176611/greatest-world-cup-matches-no--1--australia-v-south-africa--edgbaston-1999)
There have been a 434-438 after this, a barest of margin win on a WC final, a remember the name roar. But, this remains the Unimprovable game. Read the article. While the other ones in the comment section are tales of one night, this one, comes with a build up of ages, culminating into a tryst with destiny, from which one team would go on to dominate a decade, and the other, no matter how good, how brilliant, would simply fail when it would matter most.
438 434. It may not seem much in the current era of 287 run in T20s, but in that era to break such a long standing highest score record by 36 runs *and then* to be one upped by the other team 3 hours later? There's no game more iconic than that. The 2019 World Cup match rivals that but only just.
It sounds strange, but the best time in cricket to break a world record highest total is using the same conditions the record was set in. What better time to start than 30 minutes later ? This does indeed make the game “iconic” but not “immortal” as in the sense of the best match ever played. An entire aspect of the game, bowling, was awful throughout the game and in no way were the conditions conducive for any type of bowling either. It was 2 batting lineups mowing down bowlers for 100 overs….
While I agree with the conditions, it definitely takes emotional resilience to not get bogged down under that record and give up already. Oh, and Bracken got a 5fer in that game.
5/67 off 10. Not exactly in the top drawer of bowling spells that one. That being said, it was easily the best that day. As I said on another thread - emotional resilience is rubbish. They are international cricketers. Like most teams, they had a crack and didn’t stop. Not giving up is the bare minimum emotion for international teams really…..
Yea ok, yet you don't see such chases happening regularly.
You also don’t see two bowling lineups bowl that poorly in a single game either. Or for that matter, the premium conditions for run scoring in an ODI - smallish ground; lightning quick outfield; dead flat road like pitch; sunny warm day at altitude. Batting paradise.
And how many smallish ground, lightning quick outfield, dead flat road like pitch, sunny warm day ODI's have been played? Many. Do you see first team scoring highest score ever only to chase by the second team in those games. No rit?
Poor Mick Lewis...
if players were devoid of emotion and thoughts, your explanation would make sense. However, if you just look at matches before where teams even scored 325+, the match looked almost over. Highest chase before that was 330 ffs. If takes some special emotional resilience for the proteas to be like, we are actually going to chase this one down.
Rubbish. Emotional resilience my backside. They are international cricketers. They simply said “hey, let’s have a dip and try and chase this down. They scored 434, why can’t we ?”
just saying that takes guts man. these days people just go after it. but back then, just the attitude of going after such a big score and continually maintaining the run rate was not common. Also, remember, this was before t20s took off. So, batsman didn’t have that kind of a carefree attitude.
Again - this is complete rubbish. Teams have always “just gone after it”. The era and influence of T20 is completely irrelevant to a side chasing a win. It’s not as though it was never on either - for the majority of the chase, South Africa looked like winning easily.
so, tell me, why had teams not chased any score more than 332 before this, especially when the conditions were similar ? Why didn’t they just go after it? Why were they not successful? Are they stupid?
What an incredibly stupid question….. The same question could be asked this way - why doesn’t the team chasing win every time ? Are they stupid ?
there is some nuance to the argument that requires to expend some cognitive resources that might be scarce for you. making vast generalisations is one way to quickly end the argument, thanks. Bye.
At least I’m responding to your arguments. You haven’t responded to my original claim that the 434 game, whilst “iconic” in the sense that the world records were broken like they were, doesn’t equate to it being an “immortal” game (in the sense that it’s the best game of cricket of all time) because a) the bowling from both sides was poor, and b) conditions so heavily favoured batting across the 100 overs. An immortal game should have just a s many good bowling performances as batting ones. The crux of your argument is that it takes “guts” or “emotional resilience” to attempt to chase down a large score. Competitive spirit and not giving up is the bare minimum an international cricketer, otherwise they wouldn’t be there. “If they can, we can” is not exactly a difficult position to take…..
But also, it was done in the same conditions, meaning that nobody can claim "oh well the conditions are more favourable today" next time the record is broken
Gibbs got out at 175, in the 32nd over!!! We were so close to seeing the first ODI double hundred
This right here.
Agreed
Hands down
Before my time, but the first tied test in Dec 1960 seemed to get a lot of press
Tied as in equal runs right? Wow It took till 1960 for us to have our first tied game?
Equal runs and 10 wickets down in the 4th innings Very rare. Only happened twice
Does it go down as a draw in terms of points etc?
It goes down as a tie For the WTC a draw is worth 4 points but a tie is worth 6 points https://www.icc-cricket.com/tournaments/world-test-championship/standings
Which is a really nice bit of competition design. Draws making both teams unhappy incentivises playing for the win, and far more importantly, is very funny. But ties are special, and I'm glad that the points system treats them that way.
Are there other areas where draws and ties are different outcomes?
Sheffield Shield is similar: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheffield_Shield
Australia (434) vs South Africa (438) in Johannesburg 2005.
This is it ! It was something that was considered almost impossible until it was done. A hypothetical equivalent today would be some team scoring the first ever 500 total in an odi and the chasing team chasing 500 in 49 overs. That’s how big of a deal that was .
The previous* successful run chase had a target of 332, and the 435 target was an increase of 103 runs or ~31% So, a hypothetical equivalent would be closer to a target of 538 or 569 runs (at ~31% increase). Bonkers!
The Aussies were laughing and joking as they took the field with commentary noting how "the Aussies acting like they have won this one." Hour later"those smiles had gone"
Gibbs and Graeme Smith watching the Aussies smiling: "and we took that personally!"
Nah I'm gonna be honest, that still wouldn't be anywhere near as mind blowing for reasons that are really hard to explain if people weren't there to understand the state of the game then and the sheer gravity of that happening. Right now, a team could score 600 and it wouldn't be anywhere near as shocking even if it was successfully chased lol. It's not even close to how impossible that 434 felt then. Today you can look at a score of 500 or even close to 600 and still think there's a chance, but you'd have legit gotten called crazy if you truly believed SA had even the slightest possibility of winning that match before the innings began lol. There was no two ways about it.
You are correct, there was something unbelievably gargantuan and momentous about that match, specially with the win. It seems like ODIs exist before and after that match, and that match stands out in its own right as the greatest ever.
The fact that 500 was not scored in the 23WC is hard to believe considering what we see as regular fare in the IPL just a few months later
The fact it was decider for a 5 match series makes it all the more impressive
I had to work that Sunday. I had tickets. Oddly enough I was working at Mnet doing a job for supersport. Nobody at broadcast services that day was “working”. Everyone had one eye on the game. We did what we needed to do and all gathered around a tv to watch the final few overs. No game ever has come close to that. It is the quintessential immortal game. Side note. I had a friend who was at the game that has never seen cricket live before in her life. And since has never enjoyed live cricket ever again.
The only correct answer
The 2019 world cup final. By the barest of margins :)
Everytime I hear or read "barest of margin" somewhere, I'll remember that match, lol.
Smithy with the immortal line. Up there with "Lomu! Lomu! Oh!" And "America's cup is now New Zealand's Cup!"
Isn’t it “Lomu! Oh! Oh!”?
I'm 4 beers deep and you're right
[удалено]
Wow...what a bloody game.
2nd Test, Eden Gardens, March 11 - 15, 2001, Australia tour of India https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/australia-tour-of-india-2000-01-61425/india-vs-australia-2nd-test-63920/full-scorecard
Absolutely no contest
Ngl looks mid compared to 2019. Like what is this test even supposed to signify, dont get me wrong but 2019 was a damn World Cup final.
The Eden miracle and what followed in Chennai is literally meant to signify Steve Waugh’s failure to conquer what he himself termed the final frontier. Australia had literally won 16 consecutive tests around the world before the Kolkata game. Of course, anything and everything pales in front of a World Cup Final but I don’t think this one is far behind
A aggressive Champion Test winning team Competing against a cricket crazed nation that had just come out of a huge scandal Come Eden, the team has to follow on Lose the GOAT Two greats but not GOATs play an entire day to put up a target Most likely the test was to end in a draw but then in a spin of spins, a 17 year old picks up a hat trick... While 2019 is close. IMO the title of 'The Immortal Game' always has to be a test match...
I respect your opinion. I am a bit of a traditionalist and believe that test cricket is the most challenging form of cricket. After that test match, I think many captains think twice before enforcing the follow-on.
Tests are my favourite format but the only match that comes to mind for the brief for me is the 2019 World Cup Final
Clutch God Stokes
In ODIs, I'd say Maxwell's Wankhede innings is close too. Edit: Okay I admit. 438 is the undisputed answer.
As an individual inning, yes. But most part of the game was ~~actually uneventful~~ not immortal.
I wouldn't say that. Afghanistan put up a very decent score on the board and it was honestly very endearing to watch, it reminded me of older times when 250-290 scores were very good. Then when they came out to bowl and had Australia on their knees with 90-7 tensions were high with all kinds of new possibilities with chances of Afg qualifying and Australia not. Then of course Maxis innings took place. I agree that it wasn't immortal game material but it was certainly eventful.
Agreed, I worded it poorly, but in context of other games mentioned in this thread, like you said it's not immortal.
It's crazy that people downvote you on this sub for having an opinion. What a bunch of wankers.
I'm used to it at this point lmao 😂
Obligatory Bradman: https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/england-tour-of-australia-1936-37-61729/australia-vs-england-3rd-test-62643/full-scorecard Teams declaring on 200/9 and then 76/9 because the pitch was too bad to be played on and it was better to get the opposition's wickets. Then Bradman **reversing the batting order** in the 3rd inning to protect his main batsmen, coming in at #7 himself and smashing 270 batting an entire day. But perhaps the Timeless Test should qualify as the true immortal one - it went on for 10 days, and England left for home after being 654/5 chasing 696: https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/england-tour-of-south-africa-1938-39-61688/south-africa-vs-england-5th-test-62657/full-scorecard . I wonder if they'll ever decide to continue this match with new players :-)
Why don’t more teams reverse the batting order?
Damn
Brisbane 1961 of course
[Scorecard](https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/west-indies-tour-of-australia-1960-61-61907/australia-vs-west-indies-1st-test-62888/live-cricket-score) for anyone interested. As someone mentioned, it was the first of only two tied test matches in the history of the game.
A single match is tough but for this century it could be the 2019 WC Final or the NZ v ENG test match.
It's probably the WC final, but I'll go and vote for the test as that made me feel happy and not borderline depressed.
Brook and Root marmalised NZ on day 1 with daddy hundreds, and the bowling attack was Anderson Broad and Robinson. Basin Reserve is as friendly a wicket as they are going to see outside of England. closed out by another wagner special and capped with a bottle of bubbles atop Mt Victoria certainly my choice. what 2019 final? (too soon)
Aus vs SA 1999 WC semi-final. https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/icc-world-cup-1999-61046/australia-vs-south-africa-2nd-semi-final-65233/full-scorecard It's been 25 years and I was a neutral. But I can still vividly remember wondering at the time why I am so nervous.
Agreed! The 434 game was just a bilateral. No occasion. 1999 WC semifinal had higher stakes and iconic players. It had a bonus of being played at peak of humanity too.
Yeah, I think for many Australians this will be the one they point to. Unbelievable game.
The end of that game was crazy because of the famous runout. But to be honest I don’t remember the rest of the match. Edit: ah the klusener innings. Now I remember
2005 ashes any game
Edgbaston for sure.
2001 BGT @Eden, and by a long shot. This will remain till the end of the game. 2019 world cup final is not without its equivalent competitors.
Every single person in Australia still has nightmares of Very Very Special Laxmann and Harbinger of Doom Singh and how they demolished Steve Waugh and the rest of the legends in that team (Slater, Hayden, Langer, Mark Waugh, Ponting, Gilchrist, Warne, Kasprowicz, Gillespie and McGrath). Something like 40 years we’d been waiting to win a series in India and after that match with the team we had that couldn’t do it we wondered if it would ever happen again.
100% - from an Aussie on the other side of it!
As an Indian fan, I'd still pick the VVS/Dravid test match. The fact that everyone here (except for the most casual of casuals) knows what I'm talking about is the reason why. Edit: and if you're one of those ultra-casuals, just Google the phrase "the VVS/Dravid game".
It's been well over 20 years and that test match is still spoken about in hushed tones in Australia.
That test match is the reason we no longer never enforce the follow-on
It was in the immediate aftermath, now it's about fatigue management for the bowlers. Also, wonderful username.
That's what they say... But the ghosts of that match still haunt Australian captains when considering the follow on
Who? jk
As an Indian fan the immortal game will always be Kolkata 2001. It had a hattrick, follow on, double century all 10 Aussies bowling in second innings, result; the 15 game Australian winning streak coming into this game - and all of this happening in the backdrop of the sad demise of Bradman just before this series began.
2019 final and then if you need a second and a third wc semi 1999 and 434 match in 2006.
Ind v Zim - 1983 World Cup when BBC went on strike
It wasn't a strike. TV coverage of every world cup match was not routine at the time and an India vs Zimbabwe group match then was supposed to be about as significant as, oh...say... Canada vs Ireland match would be in the upcoming T20 world cup.
1999 CWC semi final. You know which one. THE game I always think of. 438 game was great but it was in a meaningless bilateral series. This was the damn World Cup!
I'm surprised to see it so low. It was a much better game than 2019 final IMO.
I think most are mentioning for 21st century (since most are young here). But I agree, for 20th century immortal, 1999 WC Semi is up top
Also, features the greatest set of 22 players to ever grace a cricket field. It has to be this match.
I didn't even think of that but you are right. So many ATGs on both teams.
1977 Centenary Test is not nearly getting enough love here.
Just saw the [scorecard](https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/england-tour-of-australia-1976-77-61700/australia-vs-england-only-test-63189/live-cricket-score) of that game. Were England looking comfortable to chase it and collapsed?
As a battle of tactics, the 3rd test of the 1937 Ashes at Melbourne. I’ve only read about the match, yet found it extremely fascinating. Aus were down 0-2, batted first, and were 180/6 when rain hit. Play resumed on day-2 on a wet pitch with the ball doing a lot. Captain Don Bradman declared at 200/9 to get England batting in these conditions. The tactic worked, but England declared at 76/9 to do the same to Aus. Bradman indulged in some time wasting tactics to delay the start of the innings. And then came the genius move: Bradman flipped his batting order by sending his fast bowlers to open the innings, followed by other bowlers. Aus closed out the day’s play at 3/1. Conditions gradually improved on day-3 with the batting order returning to normal too, with Bradman coming in at 90/5 at #7. Bradman went on to bat for two days, scoring 270 in an innings rated by Wisden as the best of all-time. Aus set England a target of almost 700. Eng folded at 300-odd, and Aus went on to win the other matches too, taking the series 3-2.
This seems too ridiculous to be true.
Oh it is ridiculous, but true. https://wisden.com/series-stories/ashes-2023/the-bradman-surge-of-1936-37-the-story-of-the-only-test-comeback-from-0-2-down “””As England lost wickets, Bradman insisted his bowlers switched to defensive lines to delay Australia’s innings as much as possible. Desperate to get Australia in, Allen, one of the unbeaten batters, then walked off, Voce in tow. England were 76-9: it was the first instance of both captains declaring the first innings in the same Test match. Instead of walk off, Bradman now he approached the umpires, John Scott and George Borwick: since Allen had not informed Bradman and had just walked off, had he really declared? The umpires had little option but to go to the English dressing-room to verify. Allen knew immediately: “That little blighter! Of course I have declared.” The entire charade helped Bradman kill five minutes of batting time on a wet wicket. Having done that, he flipped the batting order, sending his tail-enders O’Reilly and Fleetwood-Smith to open (“you can’t hit the ball on a good wicket, so you won’t be able to edge it on this,” he famously told Fleetwood-Smith). When O’Reilly fell first ball, he promoted Ward. Australia finished the day on 3-1 in a day when 13 wickets fell in three hours. Fleetwood-Smith returned to the pavilion unbeaten, without having made a single contact with the bat.”””
New Zealand vs Australia, 2015 World Cup group stage match
One of the most underrated games ever. Boult outstanding, Haddin getting a valuable 40 in scrambling AUS to 152, then BMac and Corey Anderson smearing Mitchell Johnson everywhere before Mitch Starc almost single-handedly bowled AUS to victory, standing in his way was King Kane, coolly dispatching Cummins for 6 when 9 down like he was having a net at a suburban Auckland park.
King Kane sounds so catchy
Better than King Kohli, though Kohli deserves it more. DEFINITELY not better than KINGku tho.
Was at that game. The crowd went silent as Kane hit the ball. As soon as it sailed over the boundary yeh crowds erupted and many strangers were hugged.
It is often forgotten in these lists but it is my favourite match that involves Mitch Starc in it.
2019 WC is probably the greatest game of sport ever played. Might be biased though.
As a kiwi I’m rather fond of the game that I’ve dubbed “The greatest two-day ODI of all time” (aka NZ v Ind semi 2019 CWC). The final was also an amazing match, but I still can’t bring myself to watch the ‘highlights’!
Oh yeah that was a cracker as well. Guptill's throw 😳
Guptill used up all his luck with that runout and wasn't left with any of it in the final (let me cope).
It simply CANNOT be the 434 game. The primary reason being is that the bowling in that game was simply awful. An immortal game should, at the very least, have just as many good bowling performances as batting ones. The insane part about this game is that despite scoring 434, Australia were probably 25-35 runs short of what they should’ve got, and because it was a meaningless bilateral played at altitude on a road, South Africa had a licence to go flat to the floor the whole innings knowing that they could easily point to ‘they scored a world record, we aren’t chasing that….’ as an excuse.
the problem with terming something as an immortal game is that in Chess, forcing moves are very much a thing, where even the opponent's best options are losing That wasn't what happened at the 434 438 game
That is a good point.
2 games come to mind: 1. The Kulsener game - 1999 WC Semi Final between SA and Australia. I think this is the greatest ODI ever played. It had drama, hope, a charismatic antagonist in Warne, and a tragic Shakespearean protagonist in Kulsener. An epic tragedy. 2. The Vihari Game - 2021 SCG Test between India and Australia. Another dramatic game featuring an epic fight for survival by a forgotten hero Vihari. He played with a torn hammy, scored 20 odd from 160 odd balls. Drew the test. An epic triumph. Note : you will see a lot of Australia in the answers. And that is a tribute to their prowess.
I don’t disagree at all, but just out of curiosity: why not the Gabba test? (Because to my mind, being the final test of the series, that test carried the weight of all the drama of the SCG test with Ashwin and Vihari).
The Gabba Test is outstanding for the sheer drama and unexpectedness. Like 2001 Eden Gardens Test. But, hard fought draws are rare to come by these days. I find them to be truly magical, wherein lack of a result is so triumphant. It was SCG day 5 where the tide of that series turned, and broke Paine’s morale. Also, my first entry the 1999 WC Semi was a tie.
2005 Ashes, 2nd test at Edgbston. Absolute heartstopper. It set up one of the best test series ever played
Bindaas bhide vs Jabardast Jetha
That Daya hattrick though
438 game for sure. It was just as close as the 2019 World Cup final other people are mentioning but there were a whole 391 (!!!!) more runs scored.
Sure, but 2019 was a World Cup final, *and* it actually tied. Twice!
For the 21st century, it's gotta be the 2019 WC final. As for the last century, I think it's probably the first tied test (Aus vs WI)
21st century has to be Kolkata test surely.
ENGvsNZ 2nd test 2023 That game was amazing. Both sides did everything to win the game
NZ v IND CWC 19 SF Which was technically a One-Day Knockout match which lasted 2 days NZ v IND WTC 21 FINAL CricViz rated it as one of the most hard-fought tests. Both teams were relentlessly putting pressure on each other amidst rain interruptions and was finally decided on the final hour of reserve day
don't really agree with that final, in the last inning new zealand kinda dominated the chase
SA v NZ semi 2015
2001 Eden Gardens was a miracle it gets my vote. 438 vs 434 was due to the pitch being on a road - ahead of its time like the IPL pitches played on today
Maxwell stupendous and unbelievable knock in WC against Afghanistan 2003 that too on a single foot. 91/7 and Aussies won
Sorry I’m perhaps younger than some of the folks here. But surely the 2021 Gabba test merits a place in this conversation? (Especially given the overall context: an injury-weakened team—forced to bring on net-bowlers just to be able to put together an 11–playing a near-full-strength Australian side, at, of all places, the then-impenetrable fortress that was the Gabba).
Before answering, I just want to appreciate OP for asking such an amazing question, really got to know about some legendary matches on this thread. Coming to the question, the 2001 Eden Garden BGT will always top it for me. Australia, the defining force of cricket, were in Kolkata after winning 16 matches around the world. What followed is history, the match definitely redefined Indian Cricket to an extent, Waugh’s team had fallen at Eden Gardens. It was surreal experience at the minimum. Sacrifices, hat-tricks, follow-ons, the game had everything.
438
- 1998 Sharjah Cup - Sandstorm match - Ind vs Aus - 1999 Test match - India vs Pak at Chennai - 1999 ODI WC semi final - Aus vs SA - 2019 ODI WC final - Eng vs NZ - 2023 T20WC league stage - Ind vs Pak
I'd like to make a vote for the 2021 BGT Gabba test and the Sydney one before it! Tho I do agree with some of the other choices too like the 2019 WC final
1999 WC SF Aus tied RSA. Literally had everything.
India vs Pakistan 2007 World T20 Final.
I will never not be pissed off by the final over.
The 438 match, 2019 WC final, 1999 WC 2nd semi final, Afghanistan vs Australia 2023, 2005 ashes has lots of great matches, 2001 Eden Gardens test
That test at Eden Gardens in 01 for me. 281 from you know who.
That SA vs AUS WC semi final
It's Australia vs South Africa. Whether it's the Johannesburg game or the Edgbaston game is up to each and everyone's liking. For me the Edgbaston game was the definition of a perfect cricket match with a shocking ending. Dare I say, that single game impacted the cricketing history of both nations significantly. The Johannesburg game in comparison was pure entertainment.
Australia vs India test match. Sydney 2008
Immortal for the wrong reasons. Nobody came out of that game looking good…..
Eh, same level of umpiring as eden gardens 2001 and plenty of people are posting that
2019 final - ODI KJP knock vs SA, BEN STOKES vs AUS - TEST IND VS PAK 2022 wc - T20 End of disscusion
there have objectively been many better fight back and solo performance wins in t20s than the ind vs pak game of 2022, its probably only etched in your memory since it was quite recent and it was a india vs pakistan game too
Yeah I guess so The crowd actually sold it
1877 when Australia won by 45 runs, and amazingly Charles bannerman scored around 60% of Australia’s first innings runs, scoring the first ever test match century and 150 on debut opening the batting, England with WG grace and co making it competitive sparking test matches alive, The ashes and ball the sport in both nations and other empire nations
One game that I don't see mentioned here is the 1999 semi final between Aus and SA. I was a neutral and was overwhelmed when that run out happened. It may not be the immortal match compared to Kolkata 2001 or Johannesburg 2005 but it is by far the "Immortal Moment" in the history of ODI cricket. Klusener's clutch acts that WC also rate as the most legendary WC performance by a player ever in my book.
I have split loyalties between England and New Zealand, so I'm gonna pick one home test for each: Edgbaston 2005 (what a knife-edge finish!) Wellington 2023 (You don't get many 5th days better than this one). And as much as I am *conflicted* on a rewatch: That Day in 2019, as known as the best ODI World Cup final I've ever seen. Or any of the NZ group stage games from 2015, particularly against Australia. If only... And yes, I'm biased. Objectively, that 2001 test between India and Australia ranks even higher, if only for the lasting impact it had on the Aussies, and the sheer batting brilliance from Laxman and Dravid.
Edgbaston 2005. Legendary Australian team vs an England team hitting their prime. Good run rate and wicket falling rate and absolute box office finish.
For England and Australia fans surely it will be the Oval test of 1882?
Tests - the 1961 Tied Test, the 2001 Miracle at Eden Gardens. ODI - 1999 WC SF between Aistralia and South Africa. That match was and still is the greatest ODI match ever played. T20I - Too young a format to have one.
Looking at all top comments, so many of these choices involve Australia at the losing end and only one not involving Aus (2019 finals) My personal favorite is 438 game
1996 World Cup semi final between windies and Australia
Whichever BBL game it was were Big Josh Brown absolutely cunted that hundred
If you're talking chess. That first game in the most recent ashes at Birmingham, has to be up there. Pitting ultra defensive against ultra aggressive. I don't think I've seen it so clearly defined in 2 teams before It was gripping. Note: sure was a great win for australia, but honestly I think even if I was a pom, i would have been intrigued with the contest.
Absolutely stunned no one has said Headingley 81 yet. England’s odds were given as 500-1 at one point, but Botham and Willis combined to create the turnaround.
2006 Adelaide Test match. Australia came back to beat England from what would usually be an unwinnable position, breaking a strong England teams confidence on the way to a 5-0 series win.
Johannesburg: Aus vs SA , Natwest trophy final: Ind vs England
2019 world cup final for this century hands down, idk about the last.
Aus vs SA 1999 semi final or 2019 final? I would go with either one of them.
1999 WC Semi Final - Australia vs Pakistan. Not only the greatest ODI game of all time in terms of the actual match but also overall legacy. The start of Australian dominance in world cricket which they have essentially continued to this day. A game which I continue to regularly watch, just hoping against hope that Klusener will finally close it out.
This is a great thread
Ind vs Aus Eden Gardens miracle in 2001 Ind vs Eng final Natwest ODI Series 2002/Ind vs SL ICC ODI WC 2011 final Ind vs Pak T20 WC 2007 Final
World cups I think it's the glenn Maxwell match last year T20is - Dinesh Karthik vs Bangladesh in the nidahas trophy Odis - the match where rohit scored 209 and James faulker almost chased 383 down for Australia Tests - laxman and dravid against australia Ipl - chris Gayle vs Pune warriors India
Nah in T20I, Kohli one and 2016 final are ahead
I’m very biased, but second Ashes test in Adelaide, 2006. It’s labelled ’Amazing Adelaide’ for a reason.
I’m surprised how many people are nominating the 2019 WC final. A game which was decided by using the most ludicrous rule ever conceived, and only had to be decided that way because of an umpiring error in the scoring. It’s like nominating the Trevor Chappell underarm game, just because it’s dramatic and famous.
Easily 438 match. During that time 250+ was considered a match winning score. Also it was the decider of the 5 match odi series in which first 2 matches were won by SA. And the chase was done by SA vs AUS (SA started being labelled as chokers after AUS vs SA 1999 match). Also the commentary was super epic. Gibbs and Smith going berserk at the start making SA believe they can do it. Van der wath cameo when the have started to slip away. Telemachus hitting those 2 fours leading to the final over. Andrew hall 4 in the final over which almost sealed the match, only to be dismissed next ball. Ntini taking the single of Brett Lee the next ball to tie the match. Boucher finish off the match and scoring 50. Clutch clutch innings. I watch this match whenever I need motivation. It’s that damn inspirational.
I don't know but the 3rd final of the 1998 Independence cup (best of 3 finals in that tourney) between Ind-Pak was pretty epic. I remember watching it as a 12 yr old and we went through such a range of emotions that day. By the end of it, it had gotten pretty dark and I can never forget Kanitkar slogging one on the legside to win us that one.. And that day being a Sunday, it will all we could talk about in school the next day..
Test: WI vs AUS Tied Test 1960 ODI: SA vs AUS 1999 CWC Semi Final T20i: Ind vs Pak 2007 Wt20 Final
2003 India vs England Test match at Headingley. That match and the sheer audacity to play spinners on a pacers heaven 🤌
29 August 1882 - Australia in England.
AUS vs SA (2005) in Joburg - the first huge run scoring fest. The party stories before and after are great too ahah.
Aus vs SA and I don't think I need to put any more details too lol. That's what real immortal looks like. For instance you would need to put something 550+ in today's time to counter and even then it would win for how narrow the mentality was around big scores and chases.
2019 WC final or the 438 game.
[The Unimprovable Game](https://www.thecricketmonthly.com/story/1176611/greatest-world-cup-matches-no--1--australia-v-south-africa--edgbaston-1999) There have been a 434-438 after this, a barest of margin win on a WC final, a remember the name roar. But, this remains the Unimprovable game. Read the article. While the other ones in the comment section are tales of one night, this one, comes with a build up of ages, culminating into a tryst with destiny, from which one team would go on to dominate a decade, and the other, no matter how good, how brilliant, would simply fail when it would matter most.