So close to victory... and yet so far
Here are some of the other Tests that went down to the wire with cricket emerging as the only winner from the contest
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The third Ashes Test between England and Australia at Old Trafford ended in a draw. But the result remained uncertain until the very last ball was bowled. Few believed that cricket could reproduce the quality that had been on display at Edgbaston where Australia lost by two runs. Those few were rewarded for their faith at Old Trafford where only a single wicket stood between England and victory. It was perhaps the most thrilling draw ever. But it is not alone in the category of nail-biting drawn Tests. Here are some of the other Tests that went down to the wire with cricket emerging as the only winner from the contest.
List of matches when the team batting fourth was nine wickets down
Match | Venue/Year | Scorecard |
Eng v Aus | Old Trafford/2005 | Scorecard |
Eng v SL | Galle/2003-04 | Scorecard |
WI v Zim | Harare/2003-03 | Scorecard |
NZ v Aus | Hobart/1997 | Scorecard |
Pak v WI | Trinidad/1988 | Scorecard |
NZ v Aus | Melbourne/1987 | Scorecard |
WI v Ind | Kolkata/1978 | Scorecard |
WI v Aus | Jamaica/1978 | Scorecard | WI v Pak | Barbados/1977 | Scorecard |
WI v Aus | Adelaide/1969 | Scorecard | Eng v WI | Guyana/1968 | Scorecard |
Eng v WI | Lord's/1963 | Scorecard | Aus v WI | Adelaide/1961 | Scorecard |
Ind v Eng | Old Trafford/1946 | Scorecard |
Then there are instances when the team batting fourth was within touching distance of victory but did not manage to score those vital runs.
List of narrowly-drawn run chases
Match | Venue/Date | Team/runs to win |
Eng v Zim | Bulawayo/1996 | Scores level |
Ind v WI | Mumbai/1949 | India/5 runs |
Eng v WI | Lord's/1963 | England/5 runs |
Aus v Eng | Melbourne/1974 | Australia/7 runs |
Ind v Eng | The Oval/1979 | India/8 runs |
George Binoy is editorial assistant of Cricinfo. For the stats, he was assisted by Travis Basevi from the Cricinfo London office
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