da prosport bet： What a Test match. George Binoy takes a look at the stats
George Binoy07-Aug-2005
England take the final wicket of a classic match © Getty Images
What a Test. 1176 runs, 40 wickets, a run rate of 5 an over almost right through, 18 sixes and 143 fours. And all that in just three days and a session. But those numbers, impressive as they are, do not even begin to describe the nerve-wrenching last hour of what was one of the greatest Tests ever. Few gave Australia a hope of coming close after they came out this morning needing 107 runs with a couple of wickets in hand. They fell short, but only just.A meagre two runs, paltry in number but gigantic in significance, was the difference between England drawing level in the Ashes and going 2-0 down. This is England’s narrowest margin of victory in terms of runs in Test history, a whole run less than their three-run victory against Australia in the fourth Test at Melbourne in 1982-83. Incidentally, this is also the second-smallest margin of victory while defending a score. Once again, Australia have the distinction of losing by the smallest margin ever, a single run, against West Indies at Adelaide in 1992-93.You cannot help but notice the numerous times Australia have competed in close Tests. It is testament to the kind of cricket they play – with undying self-belief and astonishing confidence. Edgbaston was not for the faint at heart. What magic does Old Trafford have for us?
2 runsAustralia2nd Test/Edgbaston/20053 runs
Australia4th Test/MCG/1982-8310 runsAustralia1st Test/Sydney/1894-9512 runs
Australia4th Test/Adelaide/1928-2912 runsAustralia4th Test/MCG/1998-9913 runs
Australia 1st Test/SCG/1886-8718 runsAustralia 3rd Test/Headingley/198119 runs
Australia6th Test/The Oval/199723 runsSouth Africa5th Test/Headingley/199825 runs
Pakistan3rd Test/Headingley/1971
Narrowest winsWon/LostMatch/Venue/Date1 runWI/Aus4th Test/Adelaide/1992-932 runs
Eng/Aus2nd Test/Edgbaston/20053 runsAus/Eng4th Test/Old Trafford/19023 runs
Eng/Aus4th Test/MCG/1982-835 runsSA/Aus2nd Test/SCG/1993-946 runs
Aus/Eng3rd Test/SCG/1884-857 runsAus/Eng1st Test/The Oval/18827 runs
SA/SL2nd Test/Kandy/2000-01(Only narrowest margins of victory while defending a score have been included)