5 instances when a batsman was dropped after scoring big
Karun Nair, who has been dropped for Ajinkya Rahane, is not the first cricketer to be dropped after scoring big in a Test match.
Mumbai: Indian cricketer Karun Nair would be gutted to sit out of the one-off Test match against Bangladesh, in Hyderabad. In his last match for India, the middle-order batsman entered record books for making an unbeaten 303 against England in Chennai.
Nair is only the second Indian batsman after Virender Sehwag to smash a triple ton in Test cricket. The Karnataka cricketer has been dropped to make way for senior batsman Ajinkya Rahane. This, however, is not the first time that a cricketer has been dropped after scoring big in a Test match.
Here are the five instances when a big score was not enough to secure a batsman's place in the team.
1. Geoffrey Boycott: 246 not out against India, 1967
One of the greatest English batsmen of all time, Geoffrey Boycott was dropped after he made an unbeaten double century against India, in Headingley, in 1967. England won the match by six wickets, but Boycott was dropped for his slow batting as he took 555 deliveries to score 246.
2. Aravinda de Silva: 206 against Bangladesh, 2002
In this case, Sri Lankan great Aravinda de Silva was not dropped, but was rested after scoring 206 against the lowly Bangladesh, in 2002. The selectors decided to rest the senior cricketer for the next Test against Bangladesh to try out new players. This would prove to be de Silva’s last Test.
3. Jason Gillespie: 201 not out against Bangladesh, 2006
In this case, it’s not a batsman but a bowler, Jason Gillespie. The Aussie pacer, who came out to bat as a night watchman, stunned everyone with a double ton against Bangladesh in 2006. The bowler, however, was dropped from the Australia squad as he continued to battle with his bowling form.
4. Kevin Pietersen: 149 against South Africa, 2012
One of the most infamous cricket incidents led to Kevin Pietersen’s axing from the England side after he made a handsome 149 against a strong South African bowling attack, in 2012. The England cricketer was embroiled in a controversy for allegedly sending derogatory text messages about Andrew Strauss and Andy Flower to South African cricketers, subsequently leading to him being axed.
5. Shaun Marsh: 182 against West Indies, 2015
Shaun Marsh, the eternally unlucky Australian cricketer, was dropped from the Australian team after he made 182 against West Indies in Hobart, in 2015. The batsman was dropped in favour of Joe Burns and Usman Khwaja – who would go on to make centuries in the next Test.