Did you know about the highest 10th-wicket partnership?

Test cricket is a game of partnerships, both batting and bowling partnerships are necessary to win a test match. Often it happens that the tailenders score some crucial runs down the order which can turn the game on its head. Getting the tailenders dismissed can often be irritating for the bowling team. In this article, we will take a look at the highest 10th-wicket partnership in Test cricket history.

Joe Root and James Anderson

During the first Test match in Nottingham of India’s tour of England in 2014, Joe Root and James Anderson etched their names in history. The pair shared a 198-run stand for the 10th wicket. For their historic effort, the duo were even presented with ‘Silver Bats’.

England vs India, 2014

England was in a dangerous position in the match when India had taken 9 wickets already. After winning the toss, India opted to bat first. Opener Murali Vijay scored a mammoth ton to put India in the driver’s seat. Vijay scored 146 runs in 361 balls. Along with Vijay, Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni scored 82 runs and bowlers Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami scored half-centuries.

England came in to bat in the second innings after India had put on 457 runs. The hosts had a poor start as they lost their captain, Alastair Cook with just nine runs on the board. Sam Robson and Garry Ballance then helped in steadying the ship as they both scored their fifties. But the game-changing partnership for England turned out to be the 10th wicket partnership.

Root and Anderson, 198 runs

England lost their 9th wicket with 298 runs on the board. They were trailing India’s total by 159 runs. India was in a great position when they dismissed Liam Plunkett. But Plunkett’s dismissal brought in Anderson. Anderson was and still is known for his bowling. The number 11 batter had not scored a fifty in a test match before this game. 

Both Anderson and Root not only scored crucial 198 runs down the order but even tired out the Indian bowlers. Anderson played the aggressor role among the two. The fifty-run partnership came in just 74 balls with almost equal contributions from both batters. Their partnership of 198 runs meant that England reached 496 and led India by 39 runs. India’s misery was ended as Bhuvneshwar Kumar dismissed Jimmy Anderson for his highest score of 81 while Root remained not out for 154 runs after batting almost 400 minutes.

Result

The flat nature of the track coupled with India’s cautious approach in the first innings meant that the match ended in a draw. Even though the game ended in a draw, the partnership shared between Joe Root and James Anderson will always be remembered. This match also serves as a testament to how far the Indian team has come in removing the lower order cheaply in tests.

Also Read: World Cup 2023: How does the schedule benefit India?

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