In the modern era, Test Cricket is generally perceived as a defensive game when compared to the more modern versions like the ODIs or the Twenty-20s. This is because while the other versions of the game ensure that there is a result and a winner in each game played unless it is affected by the elements of nature, the ancient form of cricket has a Draw as a result, where there is no specific winner of the game. No person likes to follow an event which is insignificant and does not produce any result. In the 1930s itself, Cricket Administrators thought about it and thus, conceived the Timeless Test, in which no team could play out time to force a draw on the match, theoretically. It also means that there is far less reason for a side to declare an innings, since time pressure should not affect the chances of winning the game.
The most significant Timeless Test in the history of the game is the one played at Kingsmead, Durban between the 3rd of and 14th of March in the year 1939. It was also the last Timeless Test in the game, held for ten days. England were 1-0 up in the 5 match series, and it was the last test in the series. South Africa batted first, scored 530 runs, more importantly at a whopping run rate of 1.96!!! England followed suit and were dismissed for 316, at an equally impressive run rate of 2.01! ;-) After the second Innings of South Africa, the English were set a target of 696 to win the match.
The perfect Anti-Climax
Though the English were dismissed for a paltry 316 in their first outing, they would have favoured themselves to win, with the likes of Wally Hammond, Bill Edrich and Len Hutton in their side, and with the mediocrity of the South African attack ; atleast once they reached 496/3 at the end of the ninth day. They needed 200 runs to win, with seven more wickets in hand. Everyone would have thought it was going to be a cakewalk for them. But that was not what the match turned out to be.
On the final day, South Africa put forth a great effort to check the flow of runs and keen fielding. Hammond and Eddie Paynter, weren't able to score runs at their will. This paid way to frustration, and as almost always, Desperation ended up at their own peril. Moreover, two interruptions occurred through rain and Hammond, when endeavouring to force the pace, was stumped. When Hammond was dismissed finally at the score at 650, they needed just 46 more runs to win the game. But, drama prevailed as the Englishmen were confused in whether to continue the game or not. This is because, they were fast running out of time to catch the ship bound for their home country, and rain was pouring in the ground, ensuring the match could not be resumed for anytime soon. And thus, most unfortunately when victory was within grasp, they had to abort the game at 654/5, at an expected run rate of 2.24 [:x] and they had to rush inorder to board the ship. Ah!! What a perfect anti-climax to a game conceived to ensure that the match ends with a result! :-( Any England fan who had a look at the scorecard given here in the image, would have suffered a heartbreak!! ;-)
No comments:
Post a Comment