Allan Border takes 11 wickets

Australia taking on the West Indies in the 1988/89 series. The phenomenal batting of the Windies was carrying on unabated. Desperate, Allan Border brought himself on to bowl and surprisingly, started to get results. What followed was one of the most unexpected outcomes in Test history - a part time orthodox left armer taking 11 wickets in a match.

[@adriankinslor9487]

Thanks for posting this (9 years ago). I was there at the SCG on the first day when Border took his 7 for. I think this innings, and this test match, marked the beginning of the ascendency of Australia after some terrible years. They had lost the first three tests to the Windies 3-0, but then had a break in the middle of the test series to play a triangular one-day tournament. They won it, defeating the all-powerful West Indies. Then, on the back of the ODI win, they went to the fourth test with some optimism. From memory, Greenwich and Haynes put on a century opening stand before Border, as a second spinner, brought himself on. The first wicket fell, the second wicket fell, and the momentum built. Seven wickets to Border for the innings, four more in the second dig. Australia went on to win the SCG and the subsequent test, losing the series 3-2 but setting themselves up for the Ashes, which they had not won in a long time. A few months later Australia arrive in England, derided by the press as the worst cricket team to ever tour there. The team included young Mark Taylor, David Boon, Steve Waugh, Merv Hughes, and Ian Healy, as well as Geoff Lawson, Terry Alderman and of course AB. They absolutely steamrolled the Poms and would not give the Ashes back for another 18 years. I believe it was that SCG 4th Test Match that set it all up.

[@robertlater2918]

Actually the West Indies won 3-1. The last test in Adelaide was a draw.

[@Bernie8330]

@@robertlater2918 The last test in Adelaide was a complete waste of time with bowlers never in the contest anytime beyond the very first session of the match. An absolute featherbed. Dean Jones and Merv Hughes making nearly 300 between them against the West Indies says it all.

[@CJArnold-hq3ey]

Capt Grumpy captained Rabble into a hardened unit that started a Dynasty for us Aussies to crow about ✔️

[@juz882010]

his bowling technique is such a pleasure to watch

[@imacgra1]

I noticed that rarest of things in cricket at 3:30 - Allan Border actually smiling! And well he should have. Might've got quite a few wickets with average-looking deliveries too, but when you bowl it, they've got to play it, and even the best (which the Windies were back then) can't always.

[@lulamidgeable]

I love AB, ps - Shaun Marsh looks so much like his dad it's unreal.

[@rankoutsider2363]

That's because his Dad is Geoff Marsh 😉

[@pantherz9103]

Went to that Test match as a 7 year old, my first test match. Although didn't see AB's wickets, I watched David Boon's 149.

[@horwichlad350]

IMO the greatest cricketer ever he could bowl he could bat he could field and on top of all that was a genius of a captain. This is coming from A pom.

[@XZagatoX]

Yep, agreed. Imran Khan really was the greatest, did just about everything a cricketer could do

[@sugarnads]

This aussie thinks garry sobers is the greatest ever.

[@scroggin92]

as the saying in club cricket goes 'shit gets wickets'!

[@vivekpilot]

Alan looks very much like a philosopher....

[@IamAnik7]

Like a Greek philosopher

[@Brendanvio]

And the only Australian captain to take 10 wickets in a Test match.

[@adsdynamic9219]

Strange, that too a part time bowler.

[@r.cjones1515]

Pat Cummins could put that record on danger

[@roybennett9284]

Richie beneo?

[@rickydumas9994]

@@roybennett9284 Benaud's sole career 10wm was before he became captain (Calcutta 1956, under the captaincy of Ian Johnson). He did have a couple of nine wicket hauls as skipper.

[@roybennett9284]

@@rickydumas9994 yes he did and was Australias leading wicket taker up to do Lillee in 1981.. sadly missed by all and sundry... pretty sad that

[@Momo-jz9ju]

Best bowling figure by an Australian captain

[@jamesmelton869]

Viv Richards was plum LBW if he didn't nick at and i'm certain he didn't.

[@nevillemenezes2102]

Shane Warne would've been happy with those figures and match haul against the Windies in their pomp! Surely Border must be the only test player to score 10,000+ test runs and take 11 test wickets in a match!

[@HkFinn83]

Jacques Kallis got nearly 300 wickets but not sure he ever got 11 in a match

[@glennarcher6]

Great cricketer and great captain.

[@fredie464646]

allan border the great . fantastic team aswell . look at the names .

[@BadgerBotherer1]

The batsmen kept hitting bad balls straight to fielders!

[@saptarshisaha2508]

AB was simply enjoying

[@daveross1638]

4:20 Back when players clapped for opposing players when they got out after a good knock

[@rajeshiyer1692]

Yes sir those divine days tears of joy ji

[@sugarnads]

Still happens all the time. Dont know what youre watching.

[@jameshiller6204]

AB got wickets with bad balls and grew in confidence to the extent by second innings he was bowling like Shane Warne.

[@roybennett9284]

When cricket was better.

[@SLC2283]

Viv Richards had every reason to be cranky. There's no way he gets an edge on it. LBW perhaps, but it's a big call given he gets in a half a stride.

[@pubcrawlchannel3619]

Awesome - they don't make them like that anymore - cheers

[@adsdynamic9219]

That too a part time bowler taking 10+wickets in a test match is really strange.

[@vivekpilot]

If you get Viv Richard's wicket especially when you are a part time bowler then you are no less than a King...!!

[@zodiac6968]

Except he wasn't actually out.

[@harshaare]

Mitchell Clarke bowling action

[@kh.rafiqueabdullah799]

Would you believe that except of Desmond Heynes wicket all 10 wickets were pure sloppy to get? Cricket is such an amazing game, Wow!

[@sahibaforoz7905]

Vivs also

[@derekrichards9418]

Geoff or Shaun Marsh? Omg the resemblance is unreal

[@IanGorton]

Yes no paternity test required

[@apontutul]

Peter Taylor looks like Martin guptil

[@fredie464646]

@ausguyinjpn off the glove is out

[@MichaelMenegazzo]

Sometimes you bowl well and don't take wickets, other times.........

[@MrNympholover]

@ausguyinjpn I would have given him LBW.

[@xavierdouglas-smith3682]

Lol wtf was this fixed or something?

[@XZagatoX]

Yep. No other explanation, how could so many pies and gifts end up being the opposite to the batsmen hitting them? I smell briefcases of greens being exchanged before this...

[@sliferxxxx]

Wi were already up 3-0 with this the 4th of a 5 match series. To give you some context. Still, great performance by Border and poor from the WI.

[@Bernie8330]

@@sliferxxxx Back then, Australia relied on a spinning SCG minefield to win a token dead rubber after getting thrashed by the West Indies. Antigua 1991 was the real turning point: still a dead rubber, but we didn't rely on the local spinning minefield, but rather achieved it in their own conditions, and we had actually been relatively competitive while the series had still been alive.

[@perrotthill]

There is, pre-DRS days, 0% chance any umpire would ever give that delivery out LBW!

[@thewayneflyinghigh9128]

Listenperreconte, truly name me one instance where the Aussies have been found out by the ICRC to be cheats?. And have you ever cheated in anything yourself?.

[@thewayneflyinghigh9128]

johnnytheprick then show me that fact.

[@sentimentalbloke185]

@johnnytheprick scrotum

[@thewayneflyinghigh9128]

@johnnytheprick not all Aussie cricketers are cheats.

[@thewayneflyinghigh9128]

@johnnytheprick didn’t A B Devilliers also ball tamper?

[@sentimentalbloke185]

@johnnytheprick hahaha, sounds like you're an experienced negotiator for said services.

[@laurencehirst7814]

I could'nt understand it!..Alan Border?..11 wickets in a match?..How?..Left arm nude spinners! (Nothing on 'em!)..Then the penny dropped, most of them were playing for spin, that was'nt there!..A.B. never turned the ball!..It then started to become comical, the baffled and confused batsmen wandering off wondering what happened!..As the great Richie Benaud would have said.."Marvelous that!"

[@sugarnads]

They drift, dip and spin a bit. You need yr eyes tested.

[@sugarnads]

They drift, dip and spin a bit. You need yr eyes tested.

[@SLC2283]

Plenty of spin there. Mark Waugh bowled nudies, but Border actually puts a few revs on them. The ball to Richards straightened down the line nicely.

[@garfield4108]

Viv Richards was nowhere near that one

[@johnt7630]

That's why we use technology these days

[@thewayneflyinghigh9128]

It he didn’t hit it, he was lbw was viv.