Top 5 counter-attacking knocks in 2022 Tests

Test cricket has been about batters showing their strength and resstance while weighing down bowling attacks with their spectacular defensive techniques. However, there have been some cricketers who have gone against this ideology and played fearless brand of cricket in the longest format of the game. The year 2022 also witnessed some batters playing with freedom and taking the opposition’s bowling attack to the cleaners. But there were a few of them who took their batting to a whole new level and set the Test arena ablaze with their eye-popping knocks. Here are the top 5 counter-attacking innings in Tests in 2022 5. Rishabh Pant vs Bangladesh- 2nd Test, Mirpur India locked horns with Bangladesh in the final game of the two-match Test series in December 2022 in Mirpur. The Bangla Tigers batted first and posted 227 runs on the board with Mominul Haque (84 runs off 157 balls) top scoring for the side. India in response, were struggling at 72 for 3 with Taijul Islam wreaking havoc. Then the Men in Blue lost Virat Kohli to make the situation worse. But Rishabh Pant was up for the challenge. He took the attack to the opposition right from the get-go and put the opposition under the pump. The southpaw smashed 93 runs off 104 balls to bring India back into the game. His super innings included seven fours and five sixes. Shreyas Iyer was also prolific with the bat and scored 87 runs off 105 balls. Courtesy of half-centuries from the duo, India scored 314 runs in their first innings and took a lead of 87 runs. KL Rahul & co. ended up winning the game by three wickets. 4. Jonny Bairstow vs New Zealand- 2nd Test, Nottingham England clashed against New Zealand in the second game of the three-match Test series in June 2022 in Nottingham. The Blackcaps set a target of 299 runs for Ben Stokes & co and in response, the Three Lions were in deep trouble at 93 for 4. Jonny Bairstow rose to the occasion and knocked the wind out of the potent Kiwi bowling attack. He hammered bowlers all around the park and smashed 136 runs in 92 deliveries. The wicketkeeper-batter’s stunning knock came consisting of 14 boundaries and seven maximums. Courtesy of Bairstow’s counter-attacking innings, England chased down the target comfortably, with five wickets in hand. The flamboyant batter was adjudged Player of the Match for his incredible knock. 3. Travis Head vs England- 5th Ashes Test, Hobart Australia encountered England in the final game of The Ashes 2021-22 in January 2022 in Hobart. The visitors won the toss and elected to field. England bowlers were on the money right from ball one and left the Aussies reeling at 12 for 3. Travis Head arrived at the crease and put on a show with the bat. The southpaw played an aggressive brand of cricket and took down each and every bowler who came his way. He plundered 101 runs off 113 balls, including 12 boundaries. Cameron Green too was in pristine touch and played a crucial knock of 74 runs in 109 deliveries. Riding on impressive knocks from the duo, Australia posted 303 runs on the board. England in response could only manage 188 runs in their first innings. Eventually, Pat Cummins & co. won the match by 146 runs. Head was awarded the Player of the Match for his sensational century. 2. Rishabh Pant vs England- rescheduled 5th Test, Birmingham India took the stage alongside England in the rescheduled fifth Test in July 2022 in Birmingham. Stokes & co. won the toss and put the Men in Blue into bat. Jasprit Bumrah & co. had a poor start and were in a precarious situation, losing five wickets for just 98 runs. India needed someone to pull them out of the hole and Pant stepped up. The wicketkeeper-batter put up an exhibition of his swashbuckling stroke play and inflicted carnage upon the opposition. He played a breathtaking knock of 146 runs in 111 deliveries to help change the momentum in favour of his side. Ravindra Jadeja (104 runs off 194 balls) formed a great foil to the wicketkeeper-batter and he too smashed a glorious ton. Courtesy of the spectacular centuries from the southpaws, the Men in Blue posted 416 runs on the board. England in reply scored 284 runs in their first innings. In a five-day tussle, the hosts ended up winning the game by seven wickets. 1. Jonny Bairstow vs New Zealand- 3rd Test, Leeds England faced New Zealand in the final game of the three-match Test series in Leeds. Kane Williamson & co. batted first and posted 329 runs on the board. The hosts in response had an awful start and were in a spot of bother at 55 for 6. It was looking like one-way traffic but Bairstow had other plans. The wicketkeeper-batter dismantled the Kiwi bowling attack with his powerful bat and brought his team back into the game. He plundered 162 runs in 157 deliveries to take England to a total of 360 in their first innings. The ace batter’s jaw-dropping knock comprised 24 boundaries. New Zealand scored 326 in their second innings to set a target of 296 runs for England. Bairstow again showed his class in the second innings, smashing 71 runs in 44 deliveries to help his team cross the line.

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Top 5 counter-attacking knocks in 2022 Tests

There were certain players who set the Test arena ablaze with their jaw-dropping knocks in the year 2022.

1. Jonny Bairstow vs New Zealand- 3rd Test, Leeds

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