I’m pretty sure that test cricket does not make the NY Times list of things that were great about the 1990’s – but it should!
I was lucky enough to be introduced to test cricket during this decade, initially with Gooch’s 333 in 1990 and then by the 1993 Ashes I was fully hooked. My first live test was Trent Bridge 1995 England V West Indies.
Test cricket was the unquestionably pinnacle of the game at this time, the cricket world looked on those who could play “pyjama cricket” but not test cricket with suspicion and even contempt (think Michael Bevan, Neil Fairbrother)
The measure of a ‘proper player’ was their ability to mix it and succeed in test match cricket home and away. Not this amateur stuff where bouncers are banned, fields restricted, and bowlers can only bowl a handful of overs …
Test cricket tours had long and proper warm-ups, teams would arrive 6 weeks before the first test and play 4 or 5 warm up games with 11 players on each team and actual cricket rules. The tests were never back to back, players would have a rest and/or a practice match between each test allowing them to find form and fitness.
They even had a rest day in the middle of some tests – genius! A rest (often a pool party involving both teams) before resuming the battle the next day.
Anyway, all of this misty-eyed reminiscing made me think about my favourite players from that era. I stress favourite, the ones that I loved watching …
1. Saeed Anwar – 55 tests, 11 centuries average 46.
A left hander with wristy impeccable timing through the offside in particular. Opening the batting in this era was a serious assignment, but Anwar was more elegant than most, rarely did he seem to hit the ball hard but frequently he waved his wand like bat and dispatched another boundary.
2. Alec Stewart – 51 tests, 9 centuries average 47. (as a specialist batsman)
The Gaffer has been the subject of my affections once before, I have cheated a little (naturally as its my blog) and quoted only his stats as a batsman. To cut, pull and drive opening bowling in this era and maintain an average of 47 is seriously good. I never tired of watching Stewie with the collar up, zinc on his lips, running on his tip toes and the bat twirl (if you’ve not seen him, watch Barbados 1994 footage)
3. Brian Lara – 131 tests, 34 centuries, average 53.
I was lucky enough to see a fair bit of the genius, not least his Trent Bridge 100 in 1995. He had/has a charisma this is magnetic, his batting in a struggling team against a very strong Australia defined his greatness. The high back lift and the pull shot with one knee in the air were trademarks. The best I have ever seen.
4. Mark Waugh – 128 tests, 20 centuries, average 42 + 59 wickets.
Junior Waugh first appeared on my screen in 1993, he barely seemed to need to hit the ball, it was a flick or a caress and it floated to the boundary. Always a little fallible, sometimes it just seemed too easy for him, but I loved the way he made it look easy and never seemed flustered. Many will say the whip off his pads is his trademark, for me it was his catching. He is the best I have ever seen, the softness and deftness of his ands at 2nd slip where the ball often appeared to be pas him before melting into his hands was absolute class.
5. Graham Thorpe 100 tests, 16 centuries, average 45.
I am English and in the mid 1990’s Thorpey was our great hope. He entered the test match arena with a 2nd innings 100 against Warne and 18 months later scored one in Australia. I admired his determination and his class, he was a good player of fast bowling, cutting and pulling with style, the backbone that we so desperately needed.
6. Carl Hooper 102 tests, 13 centuries, average 37 + 114 wickets.
Carl was the ‘universe boss’ while Chris Gayle was still in nappies. Hooper needed no self-styled nickname, he made even mark Waugh look intense. He hit a cricket ball with great power and cared little for what pace the bowler he was dispatching bowled at. He languidly strolled off 2 steps to bowl his off spin and could literally catch flies in the slips.
7. Ian Healy 119 tests, 4 centuries, average 27.
Heals was annoying, in a good way! His average is low compared to the backstops of today, but he often scored runs when they were most needed by his team. His day job was keeping wicket, and at this he was a master with clean and nimble footwork negating the needless dive. Most incredible to watch was his keeping to the great Shane Warne – he did this without fuss or quirk with a brilliant technique and softness of hands. Few things better to watch in the game than Warne and Healy in tandem – artists.
8. Wasim Akram 104 tests, 414 wickets, average 24 + 3 centuries.
A cricketer who glued you to the game, he could do lots of things such as 3 test 100’s and captaincy but his left arm fast bowling was mesmeric. He literally had it all, swing, seam, bouncer, reverse swing, yorker, slower ball and he had the intelligence to use the correct delivery at the correct time. When he bowled you had to watch, it was electric.
9. Shane Warne 145 tests, 708 wickets, average 25.
A genius with an amazing cricket brain. The best bowler have I ever seen, and quite possible the best captain too. He could bat a bit and was a decent slipper … but his bowling was pure theatre. Regardless of the surface, opposition, match situation this guy encapsulated everyone, and he genuinely made test cricket cool. RIP Legend.
10. Darren Gough 58 tests, 229 wickets, average 28.
Goughie was a mighty talented bowler, not least with the old ball. Shorter than Wasim and right arm but he also had the ability to bowl swing, reverse swing, yorker’s and a good skiddy bouncer. He was a breath of fresh air in a struggling England team – he was a seriously good cricketer, but his greatest gift was his ability to enjoy himself, to smile and play with the infectious nature that made everyone want to be him or be his mate.
11. Curtley Ambrose 98 tests, 405 wickets, average 21
What a man, what a bowler. He was pretty much silent on the field, he was far too cool and good to need to get involved in verbals. He flung down rockets at best part of 100pmh from about 9ft high and they landed on a sixpence time and time again.
I feel so fortunate to have been introduced to the great game at a time when test cricket was the pinnacle, and its custodians were given the time and space to prepare properly. I had these guys and plenty more to inspire my generation – Alan Donald, Waqar Younis, Sachin, Ricky Ponting etc etc.
Ah I miss the 1990’s!