Greatest Tests: Inzamam saves the day in Multan vs Shamar Joseph breaches fortress Gabba
Bangladesh’s heartbreak or West Indies defeating Australia in a Test for the first time in 21 years? Which Test was better? Vote now!
ESPNcricinfo staff16-May-2025Update: This poll has ended. The AUS-WI 2024 Brisbane Test moves into the round of 16.Defiance and heartbreak – Multan, 2003This was supposed to be Bangladesh’s moment. Their first Test win after 22 defeats (and one draw). A chance to show the world they belonged.Only they couldn’t get past one man.Bangladesh batted first and scored 281, riding on Habibul Bashar’s 72. They then skittled Pakistan for 175 with Khaled Mahmud and Mohammad Rafique sharing nine wickets between them to secure a 106-run lead. Despite being bowled out for 154 in their second dig, the odds were stacked in Bangladesh’s favour with Pakistan chasing 261.On a fourth day Multan surface, Bangladesh had Pakistan in trouble at 81 for 4, which became 164 for 7 in no time. They breached the defences of every player, barring one: Inzamam-ul-Haq. But by the time he completed his fifty, Pakistan had already lost six wickets.When Inzamam brought up his century, Pakistan were still 44 runs adrift of the target with two wickets in hand. He found an able ally in Umar Gul, with the duo adding 52 runs for the ninth wicket, in which Gul’s contribution was just five off 50 balls. But when Gul was run out with the target only four runs away, Bangladesh saw some hope, again.Inzamam, however, kept his cool and flicked Mahmud away to the long-leg fence as Pakistan clinched a thriller. A teary-eyed Inzamam was showered with rose petals as he made his way to the change room, unbeaten on 138 and giving Pakistan a win to savour.Shamar announces his arrival – Brisbane, 2024Carl Hooper and Brian Lara broke down. The most patriotic Australian supporter cheered for the opposition. The Test world champions were knocked over. All because one bowler, with a broken toe, decided it was time for a siege on fortress Gabba.Australia had not lost a Test to West Indies since 2003, and not lost to them at home since 1997. They had also never lost a pink-ball Test. It was all going to change.They were coming into the second Test having decimated West Indies in Adelaide inside three days. At the Gabba, West Indies batted first and scored 311 with useful middle- and lower-order contributions. Australia declared behind on 289 for 9 to make use of the twilight session.West Indies showed fight but were bowled out for 193, giving Australia a 216-run target. But more importantly, Shamar Joseph had to retire hurt after a searing Mitchell Starc yorker struck him flush on the toe. This was late on the third evening. Australia lost Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne early in the chase, but Steven Smith and Cameron Green took them to stumps, requiring 156 runs to win. Shamar hadn’t bowled at all on the third evening.On the fourth afternoon, Smith and Green went merrily about their run-scoring ways. Then Shamar arrived. He conceded 19 runs off his first ten balls. Off his 11th and 12th, he knocked over Green and Travis Head.The odds were still stacked in Australia’s favour at this stage. There were just 103 runs away and Shamar had a broken toe. How long could he continue? He continued… straight for 11.5 overs. And Australia were blown away. Shamar removed Mitchell Marsh, then knocked over Alex Carey with 145kph thunderbolt. He then snapped up Starc before sending back Pat Cummins.All this while, Smith kept at it. But when Alzarri Joseph had Nathan Lyon with Australia still 25 adrift, the end was in sight. Fittingly, it was Shamar who claimed the final wicket, flattening Josh Hazlewood’s off pole and then wheeling away in celebration, finishing with stunning figures of 7 for 68. It was a performance that single-handedly elevated Shamar to stardom.