Bowlers are usually known for their bowling skills and technique and get despised in the role of a batsman.; They are said to have limited batting ability. But there are times when the prime batsmen fail to deliver, and the tailenders take charge of saving their teams from slipping into the corridors of uncertainty. They have played some spectacular innings, which took everyone by storm. Today we are featuring the Top 10 Centuries by Tailenders.
1. Anil Kumble
Anil Kumble was against England that Anil Kumble decided to unleash his hidden batsman and hit 110 against England. When the Indian batting lineup, comprising quality batsmen like Dravid, Sachin, and VVS Laxman, collapsed, the ace spinner ensured that he weaved a partnership to get the team to a fighting total. On that day, Oval saw the audacious number 8 batsman, more of a bowler, stunning England with his boasting shots.
2. Mitchell Johnson
Australia is known for its fine tailenders, which add 50 to 80 runs to a forging total. Mitchell Johnson, known for bowling at an incredible velocity, smashed 123 against South Africa in 2009. Australia had already lost the series and was on the verge of facing whitewash when Johnson came in to bat and contrived a total of 163 runs with Andrew McDonald. Johnson tore down the bowling attack completely, nonchalantly hammering peak Dale Steyn for sixes.
3. Jayant Yadav
Yadav scored his maiden test hundred against England and became the first Indian to hit a ton at number nine. His century and eight-wicket partnership with Virat Kohli's skipper helped India take command over the ongoing series. The Indian off-spinner clobbered 14 boundaries against the boasting pace attack of England and reached his 100 in 196 balls.
4. Stuart Broad
One of the most glorious inept tailenders, Stuart Broad, scored 169 while batting at number 9 against Pakistan at Lord's and made it to the Elite list of Players. Broad, widely known for his bowling prowess, came in to bat when his team was 102-7 and put up a 332 runs partnership alongside Jonathan Trott, which saved England from ignominy. He took 297 deliveries to score his century and clobbered 18 fours and a six against the lethal bowling attack.
5. Wasim Akram
Known for his bowling prowess, Wasim Akram did something magical with his bat by scoring 257 against Zimbabwe in 1996. After Pakistan's batsmen failed to deliver at home, Akram took the job of scoring runs and teamwork with Moin Khan and Saqlain Mushtaq, saving Pakistan from a plausible embarrassment in front of the home crowd. He played a captain's innings and displayed a quality game by hitting bowlers for some beautiful square drives, precisely timing the shot.
6. Ajith Agarkar
Agarkar, the Indian medium pacer, made it to the Lord's Honors board by smashing a superlative 109 against England in 2002. It was still hard to fathom that "Bombay Duck" reached the three-figure mark by exploiting Flintoff and Simon Jones. From precisely timing the ball to smoothly slicing the ball, Agarkar led India to Victory and gave some moments worth remembering moments to all of the Indian cricket fans.
7. Mohammed Rafique
Rafique took up the arduous task of scoring runs when the Bangladesh batting lineup fell apart. The resilient Rafique got under the bowler's skin and hammered the below-par bowling attack of West Indies. After being dropped twice in his nineties, the Bangladeshi left-arm spinner exploited the chance he got by luck and stroke 111 and saved Bangladesh from possible humiliation. Rafique's gritty batting shook the West Indian side since they expected an easy win over the guests.
8. Jerome Taylor
Taylor gave direction to the drifting batting lineup of the West Indies by scoring 106 against New Zealand. Jerome Taylor, alongside Chanderpaul, built a formidable partnership that inflicted Kiwis' easy win. Taylor came in at eight and wholly-owned the match.; From playing defensive shots to smoothly hitting the ball in gaps, Taylor displayed a quality game.
9. Harbhajan Singh
The match between the New Zealanders and Indians was heading towards a draw until Chris Martin took the ball and went bonkers. He took the batting lineup by storm and put India in a substandard position. Then came in Bhajji, alongside VVS Laxman, to save the match. He fired 115 from his bat and helped India secure a draw. He also weaved a 163-run partnership with VVS, who was calm and resilient in his approach, contrary to Harbhajan, who was more of an aggressive batsman. Nevertheless, Harbhajan’s 115 saved the match. On the other hand, Laxman got out on 91; anyway, their innings helped India win a draw.
10. Ashwin
Indian batters struggled to bat on a turning pitch when the Indian off-spinner, Ashwin, bat and smashed a crackling 103 against West Indies. Helping India secure a draw at home, Ashwin saved the team from further embarrassment. He also obtained five wickets in the dame match and walked out as a hero. Partnering with Virat Kohli, Ashwin capitalized on Kohli’s resilience and smashed the ball for boundaries, unleashing his penitential to bat and fetching runs more quickly.
