Test cricket is always a challenge and it becomes even more challenging when you're facing the first ball of the match or first ball of the innings also it becomes too hard when you're playing in alien conditions or conditions which you're unaware of.
Opening is indeed a hardest job to do, not only batsmen have to face new swinging ball but also have to face a fresh and a charged up bowling attack who want an early breakthrough in the match.
It takes determination and sometimes luck to perform at the top spot of the batting and there are indeed some memorable opening partnerships throughout the history of international cricket, let us just discussed top 5 highest score of any opening pair on foreign pitches.
1. South Africa vs Bangladesh, Chittagong test 2008
Over the years, South Africa proved themselves that they are one of the best traveling test team , they performed their best in every country they've toured.
Under Greame Smith's leadership South Africa was dominating cricket world in 2008, they were touring Bangladesh, who were getting some success in limited format of the game but was struggling to find their feet in test cricket.
South Africa won the first test match and they were batting first in Chittagong, Captain Smith and Neil Mackenzie opened Innings for Proteas, both scored huge.
Both Mackenzie (226) and Smith (232) scored huge and made a record opening stand of 415 which is still unbroken, Mackenzie and Smith broke the record opening stand of 413, which was created by Pankaj Roy and Vinoo Mankad at Madras on January 11, 1952 it was a record that remained unbroken for 56 years.
South Africa scored 583/7 and declared their innings and bowled out Bangladesh for 259 (first innings), South Africa enforced follow on and Bangladesh were steamrolled by South Africa and were bowled out for 119.
2. India vs Pakistan 1st test at Lahore, 2006
Technically speaking this one wasn't played overseas, but since the match was played across border, I am adding the same.
Over the years, India vs Pakistan cricket rivalry has provided us entertaining matches but the match I am mentioning here is a quiet dud.
In the whole test match both teams batted only once, over 1000 runs were scored and only 8 wickets were taken overall.
Pakistan batted first and scored 679/7 declared, the top contributors were - Younis Khan-199, Mohd. Yousuf-173, Shahid Afridi- 103, Kamran Akmal- 102 not out.
In reply, India made- 410/1, top contributors were - Virender Sehwag- 254 and Rahul Dravid- 128 and due to bad weather The innings was never completed, it was on the 5th day that due to bad light the match was stopped and never started.
This match was itself a mess, the match was started and stopped a multiple times due to bad weather or bad lights and due to that this match was ultimately stopped.
The highlights of this match were-
Younis and Yousuf missed out on a well deserved double centuries.
319 runs partnership between Younis and Yousuf.
Shahid Afridi and Kamran Akmal's quick century-103 off 80 and 102 runs of 81 balls.
Shahid Afridi has smashed 4 sixes off Harbhajan Singh in a single over.
Virender Sehwag scored 254 in 100+ strike rate
Pakistan scored their innings total of 679 runs in 4.73 run rate.
India scored 410 runs with a run rate of 5.30 run rate.
Virender Sehwag and Rahul Dravid missed out on breaking and creating a new world record for opening partnership.
The series which started with a dud ended on a thrilling note, the 2nd test in Faisalabad ended in another draw but this time in a thrilling fashion.
Pakistan ultimately won the 3rd and final test of the series despite a brilliant first over hattrick by Irfan Pathan which is still unbelievable feat.
3. New Zealand vs West Indies 4th test match at Georgetown, 1972
It wasn't that easy to perform by a team against West Indies especially in the Carribbean, because they always seems to blessed with a brilliant bowling attack.
However, this was before skipper Clive Lloyd opted for the 4 pronged pace attack.
In the year 1972, New Zealand toured West Indies and they were there to play a 5 match test series, Kiwis were captained by Graham Dowling and West Indies by Garfield Sobers.
In the first 3 test match of the series, neither side were able to get the win and series was still on 0-0 with all the test matches were drawn.
In the 4th test match of the series, which was played at Georgetown, Windies batted first and declared after scoring 365/7, the top contributors were - Alvin Kalicharan - 100, Geoff Greenidge - 50.
In reply, New Zealand openers made an opening stand of 387, Glenn Turner (259) and Terry Jarvis (182) not only helped Kiwis to have a solid foundation but also wipe out the West Indies 1st innings total.
New Zealand eventually declared at 543/3, in the 2nd innings of West Indies, they were 86/0, when both side agreed for a stalemate.
The series was ultimately ended at 0-0 with।the 5th and final test match of the series also ended as draw.
4. Australia vs West Indies, 4th test at Bridgetown, 1965
This was a thrilling test series between two top test playing nations Australia and West Indies, which needs to be talked about, since this was a fighting test series that showed the competitiveness between the both sides.
Australia toured West Indies in 1965, they were there to play a 5 match test series with the hosts, West Indies won 2 test matches (1st and 3rd test match, 2nd match of the series was drawn), Australia still can level the series by winning the last 2 test matches.
In the 4th test match, Aussies batted first, both the openers started brilliantly and the opening stand was ultimately broken at 382, 31 runs short of the then world record, both openers Bill Lawry (210) and captain Bob Simpson (201) scored double centuries.
Australia eventually declared at 650/6, the top contributors were - Bill Lawry - 210, Bob Simpson - 201, Bob Cowper - 102, Norm O'Neill - 51.
West Indies replied strongly with Seymour Nurse - 201 scored double century, Rohan Kanhai- 129 scored fighting century, Conrad Hunte -75, Captain Garry Sobers - 55, Charlie Griffith - 54, West Indies were dismissed for 573.
With 77 runs in pocket, Bob (Simpson) decided to declare after making a defendable score and give his bowlers a chance to dismiss Windies, so that Australia can make a comeback in the series.
Australia declared after scoring 175/4, top contributors were - Bill Lawry - 58, Norm O'Neill -74, giving West Indies four and a half hours to chase down the total of 253 and win the match.
In reply, West Indies openers started strongly with a 145 runs opening stand, Conrad Hunte (81) and Bryan Davis (68) laid out the platform which other Windies batters can follow to get the victory.
However, Australian bowlers stopped the flow of runs and also took crucial wickets at crucial times to make it sure that by the time final ball of the test match being bowled West Indies were still 11 runs short of the target, West Indies were 242/5 when the match was ended.
Australia eventually won the final match of the test series by defeating Windies by 10 wickets, but West Indies won the test series by 2-1 results.
5. England vs. South Africa, 2nd test match at Johannesburg, 1948
After the end of the World war 2, world Was slowly slowly coming back to normalcy, with international cricket back on the track, in 1948, England toured South Africa, the tour was organised by the Marylebone Cricket Club and the side played five Test matches as England and 16 other first-class matches as "MCC".
The series was indeed a closely fought series, England won the first test match against South Africa by just 2 wickets, South Africa needed to make a comeback in the series, while England just need to carry the momentum to win the series.
In the second test match, England batted first and the openers gave the best start possible and both Cyril Washbrook (195) and Leonard Hutton (158) created a new record for opening partnership by scoring 359 runs.
England were bowled out for 608, the top contributors were: Cyril Washbrook- 195, Leonard Hutton-158, Denis Compton -114 and Jack Crapp -56.
In reply, South Africa were bowled out for 315 runs, the main contributors were: Bruce Mitchell -86 and Billy Wade -85, both scored fighting half centuries for their team.
As South Africa were unable to avoid follow on target, England captain George Mann asked the opposition to bat again.
Following on, South Africa replied strongly with 270/2, opener Eric Rowan scored a fine unbeaten century (156*), Bruce Mitchell's important innings of 40 and South Africa's captain Dudley Nourse scored an unbeaten half century (56*), which prevents an outright victory for England.
After this test match, the 3rd and 4th test match again ended up as a draw, however England won the 5th and final test match of the series which was again a closely fought contest and England won the match by 3 wickets.
The opening stand of 359 was a world record opening stand until it was broken by the duo of Vinoo Mankad (231) and Pankaj Roy (173) against New Zealand at Chennai, in the year of 1956.
Thanks for reading.
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