- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
One would surely believe that a riveting end to a gruelling Test match at the gabba, which saw Australia escape with a win, would be the cricketing highlight of December 19 2016. But over 9,000 kilometres away, Karun Nair had other ideas.
You would be forgiven for not knowing Karun Nair. After all, he hasn’t even played three Test matches. However, in Chennai, India, Nair was immersed in a match that would send records tumbling.
Day four of the Test saw Nair resume 71 and his partner, Murali Vijay on 17, both unbeaten with their team 87 runs short of passing England’s total.
Nair’s innings began building, after a cautious start. The Indian reached his maiden Test ton shortly after drinks in the first session, defying his critics who called for him to be dropped following two poor performances with the bat. Those critics and hundreds of millions of fans were unknowingly witnessing a record-breaking performance.
After his century, Nair noticeably started batting with less angst and started to plunder English bowlers. At tea, day 4, Nair was unbeaten on 195 with his side almost 100 runs in front.
Spectators aplenty would have been hoping to see Karun reach his double ton and see Virat Kohli soon declare, in hope of seeing a result.
Nair reached his double century, saluted the crowd before continuing his dominance. India had a lead of almost 200, had achieved 2016s highest Test score and were closing in on the highest ever score by an Indian team.
By this time, he had established he was more comfortable against spin and the Englishmen learned he was a great sweeper of the ball. He reached 250 as declaration seemed increasingly imminent.
Sensing this, Nair exploded, scoring 32 of his next 53 runs from boundaries, seemingly targeting Adil Rashid, smashing one of his overs for 16 runs.
After an anxious few minutes in the 290s, Nair brought up his triple century off a beautiful square cut, thanks to a misfield. The declaration was immediately called for as India were 282 runs ahead at 7/759.
Credit ought to go to Ravi Ashwin and Ravi Jadeja who’s lower order resistance gave Karun Nair the opportunity to go for 300 and further frustrate England. Both batsmen finished with half centuries.
This became both India’s highest Test score and the highest Test score against England.
Karun Nair became the second Indian to reach the coveted milestone, with his predecessor, Virender Sehwag remarkably achieving the feat twice. He also became the third player to have a triple century as their maiden 100.
In 2016, the only other triple centurion has been Pakistani batter, Azhar Ali who achieved the feat in his first ever day/night Test match against the west indies in October.
Nair’s unbeaten knock of 303 should see him a lock for their only Test against Bangladesh as well as their series against Australia. Worryingly for the Aussies, Nair hit runs at utmost ease against Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid, both considered better bowlers than Australia’s spinner stocks.
The same can be said about Lokesh Rahul, who, despite becoming the ninth batsman to fall on 199, also played comfortably. Australians don’t also need reminding of Virat Kohli’s elegance and fieriness.
Oh, well let’s just beat Pakistan first.
Build your own fantasy cricket team and put it to the test with Draftstars daily fantasy competitions. Pick your match, pick your team and watch the points roll in to take out cash prizes on each match. What are you really gambling with? Set a deposit limit.