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I always believed that a leader should always lead from front and guide his team to success, in the past we have seen a lots of leaders who've exactly done that and they were successful as well.
In international cricket, captaining a national side is always a stuff of dreams for a cricketers but only few are seen as captain for their respective team in the future.
In international cricket, players are selected, tested and scrutinized by a think tank to see if they're really have the mettle to captain their national side and then only a cricketer becomes a leader.
The fourth innings of a test match is often termed as the toughest phase of a test match, because by the time a team come out to bat for the 4th time, the pitch at that point of time went through a lots of changes a lots of wear and tear changed the way pitch behaved earlier.
But their are some leaders or captains who led from the front and showed his team how it's done, let's discuss some of those innings.
Pakistan vs Australia 2nd test at Karachi, 2022
Australia is currently touring Pakistan for 3 match test series, 3 match one day series and one T-20 match. in the the first test match held at Rawalpindi ended as a draw, as batsmen from both side scored heavily.
In the second match, which was held at Karachi, Australia batted first and posted a mammoth total of 556/9 (Decl),in reply Major contributors were - Usman Khawaja - 160, Alex Carey-93, Steve Smith- 72.
Pakistan were decimated by Starc & Co. and were bowled out for 148 in their first innings with Starc taking 3/29, Swepson took 2/32, despite having chance to apply follow-on Australian skipper Cummins decided not to (and this decision is undoubtedly debatable) and decided to bat again.
Cummins declared the 2nd innings when Australia reached at 97/2, with 506 runs to chase and 1st innings debacle in their mind Pakistan were already in the backfoot, the strangle hold become more evident when Pakistan lost their 2 wickets quiet early in the match.
Pakistan's captain Babar Azam (196) walked in at 21/2 and he stayed in the crease for 603 minutes, played 425 balls, it all started with a partnership of 228 with opener Abdullah Shafique (96) after the dismissal of Shafique, Azam stitched another partnership of 115 runs with Mohd. Rizwan (104*).
Azam was dismissed at 196, he missed out on a well deserved double century, but he assured that Pakistan can't lose from this situation, it's another thing that Lyon made a match out of it by taking
3 quick wickets (from 392/4 they were suddenly at 414/7), however Rizwan kept his cool and helped his team to the draw.
England Vs. South Africa 2nd test at Johannesburg, 1995
In 1995, England toured South Africa to play 5 test match series,and 7 Match ODI series, the first match of the series was ended in a dull draw with England was the only team to bat and complete their innings and hosts never got a chance to bat.
In the second test, South Africa batted first and scored 332 with major contributors were- Gary Kirsten - 110 and Daryll John Cullinan - 69, in reply, England were bowled out for 200, with 132 runs in the kitty, South Africa batted again and declared at 346/9 with the major contributors were - Brian Mcmillan- 100, Daryll John Cullinan - 61, Jonty Rhodes- 57 and captain Hansie Cronje - 48.
With 479 to chase England skipper Mike Atherton took matter in his own hand, opening the innings he scored a patient knock of unbeaten 185, he stayed at the crease for 643 Minutes facing 492 balls against a bowling attack which comprises of Shaun Pollock and Allan Donald, Atherton handled the situation well and take his team to a safe draw.
The test series eventually ended with South Africa winning the 5th and final test series and the series ended with 1-0 with all the matches ended in a draw.
New zealand Vs. England 1st test at Nottingham, 1973
In 1973, New Zealand traveled to United Kingdom to play 3 test match series and two ODI series, in the 1st test match played at Nottingham, England batted first and were bowled out for 250 with Dayle Hadlee took 4 for 42 and Bruce Taylor took 4 for 53 respectively.
In reply, England bowlers bowled for a paltry 97 with Tony Greig took 4 for 33, John Snow 3 for 21, Geoff Arnold 2 for 23, with a huge lead of 153 in hand ,England scored 325/8 (decl) in the 2nd innings with Tony Greig (139) and Dennis Amiss (138*) scored splendid centuries which helped England to post a mammoth total of 479 to chase.
New Zealand were 130/4, when skipper Bevan Congdon (176) and Vic Pollard (116) joined hands and scored a valuable partnership of 177 runs, they surprised the English attack by going for the runs.
Bevan played for 409 minutes and faced 377 balls for his 176, he was ultimately done by Geoff Arnold who bowled him, after his dismissal Ken Wadsworth (46) stitched another valuable partnership of 95 runs with Pollard brought Kiwis to quiet closer to the target but both Wadsworth dismissal at 402 and Pollard's at 414 killed any chances of New Zealand's chances of chasing the score successfully and win the match, England won the match by 36 runs.
The 2nd test match ended as a draw and the 3rd and final test match ended with England winning the match by an innings and 1 run.
Australia (Invincibles) vs. England, 4th test at Leeds, 1948
In 1948, Australian test team toured England and they're still the only touring side to remain undefeated throughout the tour of England, this feat also helps them to get the nickname 'invincible' as this team is still considered as the greatest cricket team of all time, the team is also captained by the greatest batsman of all time 'Sir Donald Bradman'.
In the 4th test,England batted first and scored 496 with the major contributors were - Cyril Washbrook- 143, Bill Edrich - 111, Leonard Hutton - 81 and Alec Bedser - 79, in reply, Australia were bowled out for 458 with the major contributors were -Neil Harvey - 112, Sam Loxton - 93, Ray Lindwall - 77 and Keith Miller - 58.
With 38 runs lead, England started their innings and they eventually declared at 365/8, with the major contributors were - Denis Compton - 66, Cyril Washbrook- 65, Leonard Hutton- 57, Bill Edrich - 54 and Godfrey Evans- 47. Australia chased the total quiet easily with opener Arthur Morris- 182 and captain Donald Bradman- 173* added a valuable partnership of 301 runs and ultimately Australia won the match by 7 wickets.
Australia vs. England, 3rd test match at Old Trafford, 2005
After Bradman's invincibles we are discussing about the best cricket team of modern era, Aussies were hard to defeat during this time, such was their dominance that when a team used to defeat them in a match it would become a surprise to many.
On the other hand, we've got England, a team which hasn't won an Ashes series since their 1986-87 victory at Australian soil losing the last eight Ashes series, almost every experts or pundits written off England's chances of winning against a all-wiinning Australian side.
But this time world of cricket was up for a major surprise, because England would triumph over their sporting rivals on this one.
In the 1st test match held at Lord's, Australia defeated England by 239 runs, however, England came back into the series by winning a close encounter at Edgbaston, where they defeated Aussies by 2 runs.
With the series at 1-1, it was an important match for both teams as winning this one would give winning team a slight edge over other in a so far closely fought series.
Australian captain Ricky Ponting won the toss and decided to let England bat first, English team replied strongly by scoring 444, top contributors were - Captain Michael Vaughan - 166, Marcus Trescothick - 63, Ian Bell- 59, also important contributions from Andrew Flintoff - 46 and Geraint Jones - 42 .
In reply, Australia was bowled out for 308 runs, top contributors was - Shane Warne who scored a fighting 90 for his team, with a important 99 runs lead it was already England's game.
In their 2nd innings England declared at 280/6, the top contributors were- Andrew Strauss - 106, Ian Bell- 65.
With 423 runs to chase, Australia started their 2nd innings, Australia lost Just Langer quite early and at 25/1, Captain Ricky Ponting walked in and stitched valuable partnerships through out his solid innings of 156.
Ponting's 156 is considered as an Ashes test classic, after all this was the innings that kept England at the bay and also kept the series alive, Ponting faced 275 balls and played for almost 7 hours, his defiant knock came to a halt when he was dismissed just 4 overs before the end of the play, however Australian tail enders ultimately denied England the victory.
Despite this drawn match, England has got the much needed momentum and they won the 4th series of the match to get the edge over Aussies, the 5th and the final test match was ended as draw but England won the Ashes test series.
South Africa's vs England, 3rd test at Edgbaston , 2008
South Africa toured England in 2008, to play four test matches, one Twenty20 International and five One Day Internationals, South Africa was becoming one of the top touring side of international cricket at that point of time with victories against Pakistan and Bangladesh and draw their test series against India, they were proving that they were far superior opposition in the test arena.
The first test was ended as a draw and the 2nd test was won by South Africa by 10 wickets, both teams arrived at Edgbaston , it was an important match for both the teams, South Africa would like to keep the momentum and win the match and maintain the stranglehold over the hosts.
England were also looking to win the match and keep the series alive, England won the toss and batted first and scored 231 with only opener Alistair Cook (76) and Ian Bell (50) showed some resistance and scored fighting half centuries.
In reply, South Africa scored 314 runs, with Opener Neil Mckenzie (72) and Jacques Kallis (64) being their best contributors and got an important 83 runs lead, England performed better with the bat in their second essay and managed a hefty 363 runs, top contributors were - Paul Collingwood (135) and Kevin Pietersen (94).
South Africa then batted in the 2nd innings for the pursuit of 283 runs, Captain Greame Smith (154*) played a lone hand with some meager but important contributions from other team mates took South Africa home with 5 wickets to spare.
West Indies vs. Australia, 3rd test at Bridgetown, 1999
This series was one of the finest examples of competitiveness between two top playing nations, West Indies vs. Australia, also this series can safely be assumed as a completely captain Brian Lara's show as he scored 546 in the 4 match test series, this highly competitive test series was ended as 2-2, the subsequent 7 match one-day series also ended up as tie (3-3).
The first two test matches was won by both Australian and West Indies respectively, in the 3rd test Australia batted first and via a Steve Waugh's brilliant innings of 199, Australia ended up scoring 490, in reply, West Indies were bowled out for 329, with 161 runs lead Australia were looked like going for a big win, but thanks to a inspiring spell from Courtney Walsh (5/39), west Indies were able to bowl out Aussies for 146.
With 307 runs to chase, West Indies was rattled by Aussie bowling attack, but it was Lara's (153) defiant knock that made the difference at the end Lara's brilliance helped West Indies to win the thrilling encounter with 1 wicket.
Australia vs. South Africa 3rd test at Sydney, 2006
In 2006, South Africa toured Australia to play 3 match test series, 1 T201 match series, the 1st test match was ended as draw and the 2nd test match was won by Australia by 184 runs, both side want to win the final test match, Australia wanted to win the final test match to win the test series and South Africa wanted to win the match to level the series.
In the third test at Sydney, South Africa batted first and scored 451/9 (declared) thanks to a magnificent innings by Ashwell Prince (119), in reply, Australia were bowled out for 359 via a memorable innings by Ricky Ponting (120), South Africa got an all important lead of 92 runs, but after 70 fourth-day overs were lost due to rain South Africa declared in the first session of the fifth day to give themselves a chance of victory and level the series. However, Ricky Ponting hit 143 not out to become the first batsman to hit centuries in both innings of his 100th Test, and in the process took Australia past the winning target to secure a 2–0 win.
India vs. Australia 1st test at Adelaide, 2014
The Indian cricket team toured Australia for four test matches and also took part in Tri-series, this test series is famous for Steven Smith's (769) and Virat Kohli's (692) competition for scoring runs and centuries and also for start of Virat Kohli's captaincy era.
In the first test match, Australia batted first and scored 517/7 (declaration) via a stunning innings of 162* by Aussie captain Steven Smith, in reply India were bowled out for 444 with Indian captain Virat Kohli (115) scored a fighting century.
Australia got an all important lead of 73 and they went for the kill straightaway, through a century by David warner (who scored twin centuries in both innings 145 & 102 of the test match) Australia declared at 290/5 and India were given a daunting task of chasing 364.
Everyone thought that India will opt for a safe draw, However, Kohli mentioned to his team mates that they'll be going for the total, Indian batsmen indeed shown their intent to going for the total and surprised everyone, Kohli walked in at 57/2 and alongwith opener Murali Vijay (99) formed a valuable partnership of 185, while Kohli (141) and Vijay at it, everything looked sunny for India, but the dismissal of Vijay gave Australia an opportunity to make a comeback.
Off spinner Nathan Lyon turned the match into Australian's way by taking quick wickets, flurry of wickets dented India's momentum, when the score was at 304 Kohli was dismissed, despite centuries in both innings by Kohli, India lost the match by 48 runs.
England vs. South Africa 5th test at Durban, 1939
In 1939, England toured South Africa to play 5 match test series, the first two test matches ended up as a draw, in the third test match England defeated South Africa by an innings and 13 runs, 4th test match also ended up as a draw.
The fifth and final test match which was also a timeless test which was played over the course of 10 days (not including two rest days). The final Test was declared a draw as the England team had to leave to ensure they caught the boat home from Cape Town.
In the fifth test, South Africa were bowled out for 530 with the top contirbutors were - Pieter Gerhard Vintcent van der Bijl -125, Dudley Nourse- 103, Alan Melville - 78, Ronnie Grieveson - 75, Eric Dalton - 57.
In reply, England were bowled out for 316 with the top contributers were - Les Ames -84, Eddie Paynter - 62, South Africa came out to bat at their second essay and were bowled out for 481, in the 2nd innings England were in the unlikely pursuit of 696 runs, however, both sides ended agreed to end the match when England was at 654/5 thanks to major contributions from Bill Edrich - 219, England skipper Wally Hammond - 140, Paul Gibb- 120, Eddie Paynter - 75, Leonard Hutton - 55.
Wally Hammond's men were almost done the unthinkale, but by this time the players are tired and were very eager to return back home so they decided to return despite victory was almost at their grasp.
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