h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

He came to Leeds for the Third Test having just lost the captaincy, with England one down. He came to the wicket in the second innings with England following on, still a hundred adrift, half the side back in the pavilion.
He responded with 145 not out. The pulls off Lillee remain the most exhilirating batting butchery I've ever seen.
Let's not forget Willis too, on that final day, and the way the supposedly unflappable Australians lost their nerve.
Charles and Di were the sideshow that summer. It was this match that truly stopped the country.
And then on to Birmingham. Facing apparently certain defeat once again, he took 5 for 1 with the ball.
By Manchester, Australia were in shreds. Another marvellous and brutal century.
There is a generation who've never seen Australia humiliated. We have to get back there. Those of us who can, remember Kim Hughes in tears. Remember the world's most feared pace attack reduced to hapless apoplexy by the antics of Randall, Gower and in particular this demi-God of English cricket.
Remember Botham.

Moved, I am.

Just to rub it in to ol' Australian wounds - an achievement of different sorts - was Sir Donald Bradman's last innings @ the Oval in 1948. For those who don't know, Australia's most prolific batsman ever!! Out for a duck!! Everyone (including the English!) stunned & he only needed another four runs for a career batting average of over 100. I don't think anyone would have denied him that!!

Quite. And also Jim Laker ... A1038188

But this Entry would be incomplete without a tribute to Don Bradman. Who's doing the research?

Not forgetting Brian Lara as well, who now holds both the first-class and Test batting world records (501 not out (Warwickshire vs. Durham?) and 375 (West Indies vs. England)) - both achieved in the same year, if I'm not mistaken.

I'd quite like Wasim Akram to get a mention. He's streets in front of the rest as an ODI bowler. And he's the only player to take hat-tricks in both test and one-dayers.

Anyone remember Bob Willis's 8 wicket haul in the same ashes series and Graham Gooch's innings of 333 (not in the same series)

Ah, so many fond memories. Brearley's almost desperate turn - Oh, give it to Guy, see what he does. He'll take 5 for 1, is what he'll do. And let's not forget Brearley, one of the finest England captains ever.

Though I still think my persoanl favourite moment is either Devon Malcolm ripping the South Africans apart after they had the temerity to bounce him or Nasser lifting the Worrell tropthy for the first time in three decades...