The year was 2014 and we had a test match between England and India with lots of runs made for the last wicket. This day also included the highest last-wicket stand in the history of test cricket. The two main protagonists were Joe Root who scored a sublime 154 and James Anderson who batted close to four hours without any trouble and got his highest First-class score.
The pitch at Trent Bridge in Nottingham was an easier one and tail-enders from both the teams had a good time with the bat. India won the toss and batted first. Their innings was driven by a majestic 146 from the opener Murali Vijay. It was a wonderful knock from Vijay who got good support from MS Dhoni who also scored 82. Vijay fell with the team score on 304 and Dhoni was out with 345 on board. India also lost their 8th and 9th wicket on 345 and 346 and looked like they would finish below 350 despite that knock from Vijay.
However, Indian number nine Bhuvneshwar Kumar and number eleven Mohammad Shami had different plans. Kumar was solid at one end and Shami kept playing his shots. The duo took the score past 400 as they reached 50 of the partnership. The shots kept coming as Shami also hit a six and soon their partnership reached 100. The duo also reached their individual fifties before finally, Kumar was out. Their partnership of 111 was the 10th wicket partnership record for India against England but well short of 133 which was added by Sachin Tendulkar and Zaheer Khan against Bangladesh.
But that was not enough of 10th wicket partnership for that match. England was in trouble from the beginning and at a stage, they were 202/7 with the fear of follow on looming. But Root and Stuart Broad added 78 and saved the follow on. Soon England were 298/9 and James Anderson walked in to join Root. Till then Anderson’s highest test score was 34 and he was famous for a few match saving knocks. But in Nottingham, he was comfortable from the beginning and kept playing his shots. Anderson hit astonishing 17 boundaries in his innings of 81, on the other hand, Root reached his 100 and then extended it to 150 plus. The partnership reached 50, then 100 and then 150. Soon England took the lead and when 200 of the partnership looked possible but then Kumar got rid of Anderson with the partnership on 198. England finished at 496 and got the lead.
India survived the last day after some tension thanks to Stuart Binny and Bhuvneshwar and the test match ended in a draw. But it remained memorable for the two ten-wicket partnerships.
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