5 iconic cricketers and their 'bogey' grounds in Tests
Five of the most prolific Test batsmen in the last 20 years or so, enjoyed a tremendous amount of success wherever they played. Wielding their willows, these legends plundered a plethora of runs in the longest format of the game almost everywhere.
Challenging conditions or lethal bowling attacks - nothing could come in their way as they went on amassing runs at will in the longest format of the game. However, on some grounds, these legends found it tough to get going and that particular venue became sort of a bogey stadium for them.
Which are those venues? Well, here is the list.
Note: For our analysis, we only chose those grounds where these legends played at least 4 Test matches. Considering this fact, we couldn’t find substantial data for Kumar Sangakkara, who adorns the 5th spot of the highest run-getters’ list in Tests with 12,400 runs. So we chose the other 5 highest run scorers in Test match history.
5. Brian Lara - The Gabba, Brisbane
The Prince of the Caribbean was undoubtedly one of the greatest players of his generation. Impeccable timing, delectable strokes, quintessential flair - Lara was a delight to watch.
The southpaw tormented most of the bowling attacks on his day and he often meted out special treatment for some world class bowlers. With 11,953 runs in Tests, the southpaw’s penchant for big hundreds saw him recording scores like 375 and 400 in the longest format.
The genius had a great time against the mighty Australians as well. In fact, Lara played the second Test of his career at Brisbane in Australia and his first century in Tests too came against the same opposition when he scored that magnificent 277 in Sydney in 1993.
Lara played 19 Tests in Australia and averages 41.97. However, in the ground, where Lara played his first Test in Australia( the Brisbane Cricket Ground, Woolloongabba), he has an abysmal record.
After scoring that 58 in his first Test at Brisbane, he went on to add only 118 runs in the next 3 matches he played at the ground to finish with 176 runs in 4 Tests at an abysmal average of 22. Lara even scored two ducks in the 8 innings he played at Brisbane, and apart from that fifty, he surely doesn’t have too many fond memories of Brisbane.