Brian Lara’s epic 153 not out in 1999 in Barbados. VVS Laxman’s unforgettable 281 in 2001 in Kolkata. They are two of the six innings officially rated by Wisden, cricket’s bible, in its top 10 greatest list compiled 20 years ago.
On a new update, Pakistan captain Babar Azam’s masterpiece of 196 from 425 balls to somehow defy Australia might vault past both of them. It didn’t end in a victory against the odds against mighty Australia, like those other two, but what Babar magically conjured might have been even harder with Pakistan surviving 171.4 overs to draw the second Test - the most overs ever survived in a fourth innings in a conventional five-day match.
Before Babar produced the highest ever fourth innings score by a Test captain in history, Pakistan were staring down the barrel of an embarrassing defeat in their fortress of Karachi, where they had never lost to Australia in eight previous attempts.
After being made to toil amid oppressive conditions for over two days, a toothless Pakistan crumbled for just 148 off 53 overs in their first innings. Foreshadowing what was ahead, Babar defied Australia’s rampaging attack marked by quick Mitchell Starc conjuring rampant reverse swing as he lit a fuse under what had been a stale series, the historic first between the teams in Pakistan since 1998.
Late on day three, Pakistan faced the daunting prospect of following on and their top-order to survive another onslaught from a pumped-up attack before stumps. In a decision that has been heavily scrutinised, and Australia might rue with hindsight, captain Pat Cummins, who had made all the right moves before then, resisted the temptation and decided to bat on.
He was probably influenced by the hot conditions, nudging 95 Fahrenheit, as Australia batted for another 22 overs as the runs appeared not to matter as the tourists pressed their lead past an unassailable 500 runs. The highest successful fourth innings chase in Test cricket’s 145-year history was 418.
A refreshed Australian attack was looking for a quick kill but the breather also recharged Pakistan’s batters, including Babar who is his team’s talisman but has somewhat underachieved in his Test career.
For such a talent, who can exquisite drives sweetly like Virat Kohli, Babar came into the Test with a modest average of 42 from 38 Tests and had only five centuries - the last being two years ago.
He was a player who had underwhelmed but there’s a feeling that at some point the 27-year-old is about to make the leap - much like Kohli did at the Test level during India’s tour of Australia in 2014-15.
Coming in at 2-21 just after lunch on day four, Babar appeared to be on a hiding to nothing as the match seemed to be heading for an early finish. The Karachi pitch was expected to deteriorate further - with reverse swing and sharp turn occasionally evident - in a notable contrast to the dreary Rawalpindi deck which consigned the first Test to a tame draw.
But Babar, who had played a lone hand during Pakistan’s toothless first innings, found a willing ally in opener Abdullah Shafique, who is seen as his protege. Shafique scored an unbeaten ton in Rawalpindi and his only two dismissals in the series were of his own doing.
Shafique had been in a rut as a defensive Pakistan were being strangled by Australia’s star-studded attack. But Babar came out positively and runs were being scored relatively briskly although everyone assumed that was inconsequential.
The overs started ticking away as Babar and Shafique through to the end of day four where the pitch had played relatively sedately marked by Starc unable to summon his reverse swing prowess from 24 hours earlier.
Cummins was forced to rely on debutant Mitchell Swepson, who aimed at the rough but couldn’t quite conjure a wicket around the legs of Babar, who easily padded away.
Babar reached his sixth century before stumps on day four but celebrated only modestly knowing the business had not been completed by a long shot. Only he had the audacity to believe that Pakistan could survive the entirety of the fifth day.
But as the pair crossed a 200-run partnership nearing lunch, Pakistan started to dream and the empty terraces started to fill. Australia turned to their own colossus, Cummins, who finally broke through with Shafique and then got Fawad Alam after lunch as the momentum changed.
Babar, however, would not be denied in a masterclass mixing defence with counterattck and he found a new ally in wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan, who naturally plays with little fear.
For a brief moment early in the final session, it appeared Pakistan would boldly mow this jaw-dropping total down until they wisely realized the pitch was still playing occasional tricks and they shut up shop.
The only interest seemingly centered on Babar registering his first double ton but he fell on 196 to veteran spinner Nathan Lyon, who provided a late twist with two further quick wickets amid a thrilling finale.
But Rizwan notched his ton and Pakistan hung on with one of the most miraculous escapes in Test history. A gutted Australia couldn’t quite believe it, as Pakistan heads to the series-finale starting on March 21 with the momentum.
Back in 1999, before Lara hit 153 not out sandwiched between a trio of epic tons to destroy a great Australian attack, he had endured a strange two-year century drought.
Likewise, Babar ended his barren run with the most astounding ton that was so good it probably overtakes Lara’s in the pantheon of greatest Test innings.
