G.A. Gooch

123

G.A. Gooch 123 v IndiaBack to boards

Graham Gooch’s masterful unbeaten 333 against India at Lord’s in 1990 proved the catalyst for him becoming the leading aggregate scorer in a Test Match, as he struck 123 in the second innings against India.

Not content with pummelling the Indian bowlers around the Home of Cricket for over ten hours in the first innings, Gooch’s 123, from only 113 balls, helped England declared on 272 for 4 before they went on to win the match by 247 runs.

Gooch and fellow opener Michael Atherton put on 204 for the first wicket in only two and a half hours and his knock, which included thirteen fours and four sixes, saw him easily pass a significant milestone. His total haul of 456 runs in the match saw him surpass Greg Chappell’s record, who sixteen years earlier had scored 380 for Australia against New Zealand.

The match ended with 1,603 runs having been scored, with six centuries and three half-centuries. There were 197 fours and twelve sixes, along with 28 wickets. England’s victory, and Gooch’s heroics, will certainly live long in the memory.