On the latest Sky Sports Cricket Podcast, the panel, including commentators Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain, picked out the top 10 moments of the 30 years of cricket on Sky Sports, with England’s famous Test win in Karachi in 2000 finding a place on the list.
The result was historic for a number of reasons. It was Pakistan’s first-ever loss at the ground, ending a 35-game unbeaten streak in the city, and gave the Hussain-led side their first series win in Pakistan since 1961/62. It was achieved in dramatic circumstances. With both first innings only completed deep into the fourth day, the game seemed to be headed for a third-successive draw of the series. Instead, England skittled Pakistan out for 158 before facing a chase in fading light on the final evening.
Atherton had been England’s form batsman on the tour, but his tendency for slow scoring prompted Hussain to suggest Graeme Hick be promoted to give it a whack against the new ball. Atherton, having scored 125 off 430 balls in the first innings, gave the idea short shrift.
“Do you remember Ath? We bowled them out and we were walking off, and obviously there was a time constraint there,” Hussain said. “There was going to be a run chase, we needed some hitters in. I ran up to Ath, walking off the field, and went ‘Ath, what do you think about the batting line-up? I’m thinking of moving Hick up the order and moving you down the order.’ And Ath just swore at me and told me ‘I have been your best batsman on this trip, there is no way I’m moving down the order’. Put his pads on and went out and we knocked them off.”
Atherton made a relatively brisk 26 off 33 balls, with his strike rate of 78.78 higher than Hick’s 62.50, coming in at No.5, and Hussain was there at the end to seal a thrilling victory by six wickets.
