Jan 07 2009
Australia and Greatest Run Chases
Well with the first test between Australia and South Africa witnessing a mammoth run chase of 414 by South Africa at Perth, I think that there is some connection between Australia and some of the greatest run chases in both the tests as well as one day internationals. This, I realized recently when I went through the pages of cricinfo in order to find some of the greatest run chases in the history of the game of cricket. And much to my fortune, I could find the word Australia repeating itself as many as five times in the first five one day internationals and three times, when the first five tests are considered.
The mammoth run chase of 434 by South Africa at Johannesburg is still in the minds of cricket fans. Then, on three other instances, the Australian team has conceded a successful run chase to New Zealand, with two of them being in consecutive matches, when below par Australian team toured New Zealand before the world cup in early 2007. And within a span of twelve months, Australia were victims of successful run chases of huge totals. One against South Africa and the other two as I quoted, against New Zealand. In between February 2006 and Febtuary 2007, Australia ended up losing side despite imposing a then highest target.
If my memories are doing well, New Zealand successfully chased down a target of 331 against Australia in early 2006, in the third match of the Chappel-Hadlee trophy 2006, after going down to the same in the first two one dayers. And New Zealand came close to winning the second one day match against Australia, falling just 2 short of the Aussie target of 323. Anyway, that cannot be considered a New Zealand win. However, the fifth instance would bring smiles on the faces of the players of the Australian cricket team and the fans as well. For, this time Australia were not on the receiving end.
Australia this time successfully chased down a target of 329 imposed upon them by South Africa in 2002. However, the name Australia still appears in all of the first five instances of a successful run chases. And the next part is in tests, where Australia repeats itself on three occasions with the first five successful run chases being considered.The first one being the match where West Indies successfully chase down a terget of 418, which even today remains an unbeaten record. And the next instance, as mentioned above, the successful run chase of 414 by the Proteas at Perth. Then, in the fourth instance, it is Australia once again, when in 1948, they chased down a total or 404 against England , wih Sir Donald bradman captaining the side.
In addition to Australia, the name New Zealand appears four times in highest run chases in ODIs and West Indies on two occasions. One for winning and the other for giving it up.
