Benedict Bermange
Cricket statistician
Sky Cricket statistician Benedict Bermange uses a cricket simulator to settle the argument over the largest Test team ever; the last two Australian pitches against each other in the form of Don Invman ‘Invincibles’ in 1948 v Steve Xaugh in 2002 XI
Last Updated: 30/01/21 10:04 am
Don 1948 of Don Bradman in Australia advances Steve Waugh’s Australia 2002 in the Big Test Team final
The Australian side drew 2002 in the final of the Grand Test Team competition with a close three-wicket victory over Australia in 1948 in the second Test.
Don Bradman won the toss and picked up a bat but found himself walking to the crease in just a second after Arthur Morris fell to Jason Gillespie for one.
When Brett Lee ousted Sid Barnes, Lindman Hassett joined Bradman and the two formed an excellent partnership – after inadvertently brewing tea at 98, Hassett became the first to reach his generation, with Bradman not far behind.
The five-game series is tied at 1-1 with three games to play
However, two balls after beating Glenn McGrath for the end that gave up three figures, Bradman went to Adam Gilchrist going for 102. He was never out of the game for a while great, Shane Warne quickly dismissed Keith Miller and Neil Harvey in after delivery.
Hassett fell in the first half of the second day for a superb 153. The tail didn’t hang around long and the innings ended at 356, with McGrath picking the archers.
The 2002 side were soon in trouble as Ray Lindwall and Miller tore the heart out of their top order, reducing it to 16-3 in the 10th over. Justin Langer stood firm, but when he was sent off for 31, it was up to Steve Waugh to try to lift his side as close to parity as he could.
152 Steve Waugh ensured that Australia 2002 made only 25 runs on the first innings against Australia 1948
He found a worthy alliance in Damien Martyn and the pair led their side to 169-4 at the end of the second day. Martyn was more likely on the third morning but Waugh finished a very good season from 182 deliveries.
Adam Gilchrist made a lively 28 but the new ball took away Waugh for 152. Thankfully, the 2002 side only managed 25 runs on the first innings when they were knocked out for 331 on a tea stroke.
Then it was the turn of the 1948 team’s main order to struggle, with McGrath finding life from the pitch to remove three of the top four bats, including Bradman for a duck, to reduce the face to 23 -4, just 48 ahead.
Hassett tried his best to stop the rot with a stodgy 22, which caught 86 deliveries, but it was really only the eighth wicket pair of Lindwall and Don Tallon who were able to make any way, which ‘a partnership share of 87 before Warne was polarized. off the tail, leaving the 2002 224 side to win in four additional half-hour play sessions.
Adam Gilchrist ‘s regular innings helped lead Australia in 2002 to a series-level win
It was not long before Lindwall and Miller entered the act again, as the 2002 side took tea on the fourth day at 17-2 with both Hayden and Langer back in the shed. Mark Waugh followed for 15 but Ricky Ponting and Steve Waugh stayed together and finished day four with their side 78-3, needing another 146 to win.
When both Ponting (48) and Steve Waugh (30) fell within 10 minutes of each other to leave the 2002 102-5 team, Bradman would have been confident, but that only gave Gilchrist to the crease. Deciding that positive play was the best approach, he shared fifty partnerships with Martyn and reached a 73-ball half.
Warne made a valuable 18 and shared a crucial seventh wicket partnership of 54 with his keeper that led them to a win. Brett Lee made sure the target was reached with a finish off Miller to level the series at 1-1 with three games to play.
Be sure to return to skysports.com/cricket and the Sky Sports App for daily updates on the finals.