Ian Botham Imran Khan Brian Lara WG Grace Gary Sobers Don Bradman


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100 great matches of the century
The Results!
Whether we celebrate the new millenium on 1 Jan 2000, or more correctly on 1 Jan 2001, the end of 1999 prompted the preparation of many reviews of the last 100 years. Not wanting to be left out, CricInfo's contribution has been to compile a list of 100 great matches of the last 100 years. We asked our users to review the list, and vote on which matches were the top ten.
[complete reader's rankings].

Our readers have kindly suggested nearly 50 more matches that they believe should have made the list. In addition, CricInfo polled thirteen of its staff and contributors for their picks. [The CricInfo Panel and their picks]

The points/ votes were tabulated as follows. For each list of 10, 10 points were allocated to the first choice, 9 to the second, 8 to the third, down to 1 for the 10th. Without further ado, here are the results of the two polls.

 CricInfo's top 10points
11st TEST: Australia v W.Indies at Brisbane, 9-14 Dec 196090
23rd TEST: England v Australia at Leeds, 16-21 Jul 198189
32nd Semi-Final: Australia v South Africa at Birmingham, 17 Jun 199954
43rd Test: West Indies v Australia at Bridgetown, 26-30 Mar 199943.5
55th TEST: England v Australia at The Oval, 11-13 Aug 190238
6 2nd TEST: England v West Indies at Lord's, 20-25 Jun 196337
7India v Australia, 1986/87, 1st Test, Madras 18-22 September 198628.5
83rd TEST: Australia v England at Adelaide, 13-19 Jan 193325
9 Warwickshire v Hampshire at Birmingham, 14-16 Jun 192225
104th TEST: Australia v West Indies at Adelaide, 23-26 Jan 199323.5

Notes

  • 52 of 100 matches recieved votes.
  • Only one limited overs game was chosen.
  • Seven of the ten decades of the century are represented, the 1910s, 1950s, and 1970s being absent.
  • 11 of the 13 panelists picked the 1981 Headingley match, and ten the first tied Test.
  • Only one non-international match was selected.
  • 7 picks were extremely close finishes, two were astonishing comebacks, and one was of mostly historical interest.
  • Australia took part in eight of the ten picks (although they did not win any of those eight), whilst Pakistan, Sri Lanka, New Zealand and Zimbabwe do not appear.
  • Wes Hall bowled the final over of both matches 1 and 6 on the list.

 The readers' top 10points
12nd Semi-Final: Australia v South Africa at Birmingham, 17 Jun 1999 5144
2Final #3: India v Pakistan at Dhaka, 18 Jan 19982335
3 1st Test: India v Pakistan at Chennai, 28 Jan - 1 Feb 1999 2335
43rd Test: West Indies v Australia at Bridgetown, 26-30 Mar 19992324
5Australasia Cup, 1985/86, Final India v Pakistan Sharjah C.A. Stadium 18 April 1986 1802
6 4th TEST: Australia v West Indies at Adelaide, 23-26 Jan 1993 1784
71st TEST: Australia v W.Indies at Brisbane, 9-14 Dec 19601545
8India v Australia, 1986/87, 1st Test, Madras 18-22 September 19861481
9 3rd TEST: England v Australia at Leeds, 16-21 Jul 19811284
10World Cup, 1991/92, 1st Semi Final New Zealand v Pakistan, Auckland 21 March 19921263

Notes

  • The selections are dominated by the 90s with 6 matches, including 3 in the last 12 months. Either readers have short memories or cricket is better today than it ever has been.
  • Only one selection predates 1981, and there were none for the first 60 years of the century.
  • Six matches are common to both lists.
  • 7 of the 9 Test playing nations are presented in the list.
  • There are four limited overs internationals, six Tests and no non-international matches represented.
  • Every match recieved at least one vote.



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