A humdinger for the ages
What a Test match. George Binoy takes a look at the stats
George Binoy
07-Aug-2005
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What a Test. 1176 runs, 40 wickets, a run rate of 5 an over almost right through, 18 sixes and 143 fours. And all that in just three days and a session. But those numbers, impressive as they are, do not even begin to describe the nerve-wrenching last hour of what was one of the greatest Tests ever. Few gave Australia a hope of coming close after they came out this morning needing 107 runs with a couple of wickets in hand. They fell short, but only just.
A meagre two runs, paltry in number but gigantic in significance, was the difference between England drawing level in the Ashes and going 2-0 down. This is England's narrowest margin of victory in terms of runs in Test history, a whole run less than their three-run victory against Australia in the fourth Test at Melbourne in 1982-83. Incidentally, this is also the second-smallest margin of victory while defending a score. Once again, Australia have the distinction of losing by the smallest margin ever, a single run, against West Indies at Adelaide in 1992-93.
You cannot help but notice the numerous times Australia have competed in close Tests. It is testament to the kind of cricket they play - with undying self-belief and astonishing confidence. Edgbaston was not for the faint at heart. What magic does Old Trafford have for us?
England's narrowest wins | Opponents | Match/Venue/Date |
2 runs | Australia | 2nd Test/Edgbaston/2005 |
3 runs | Australia | 4th Test/MCG/1982-83 |
10 runs | Australia | 1st Test/Sydney/1894-95 |
12 runs | Australia | 4th Test/Adelaide/1928-29 |
12 runs | Australia | 4th Test/MCG/1998-99 |
13 runs | Australia | 1st Test/SCG/1886-87 |
18 runs | Australia | 3rd Test/Headingley/1981 |
19 runs | Australia | 6th Test/The Oval/1997 |
23 runs | South Africa | 5th Test/Headingley/1998 |
25 runs | Pakistan | 3rd Test/Headingley/1971 |
Narrowest wins | Won/Lost | Match/Venue/Date |
1 run | WI/Aus | 4th Test/Adelaide/1992-93 |
2 runs | Eng/Aus | 2nd Test/Edgbaston/2005 |
3 runs | Aus/Eng | 4th Test/Old Trafford/1902 |
3 runs | Eng/Aus | 4th Test/MCG/1982-83 |
5 runs | SA/Aus | 2nd Test/SCG/1993-94 |
6 runs | Aus/Eng | 3rd Test/SCG/1884-85 |
7 runs | Aus/Eng | 1st Test/The Oval/1882 |
7 runs | SA/SL | 2nd Test/Kandy/2000-01 |
(Only narrowest margins of victory while defending a score have been included)
George Binoy is editorial assistant of Cricinfo, and for the statistics he was helped by Arun Gopalakrishnan from the Cricinfo Chennai office