Sporting icons : Allan Border - the Aussie cricket collosus

 

Allan Border, born on July 27, 1955, in Cremorne, New South Wales, Australia, is a renowned figure in the world of cricket. As a former Australian cricketer, Border is celebrated for his remarkable contributions both as a player and a captain. His illustrious career is marked by numerous achievements and records that have solidified his legacy in the sport. He was a collosus in Australia & world cricket . 

One of the greatest ever cricketers to have played the game in the last 50 years  turns 69 today.  Allan Border stands as a colossus in world cricket history . Showing great resilience and skills since his test debut in 1978 December in the Ashes , Border  carved a niche for himself in his early days even as Greg Chappell was ruling Australia as their most leading batsman . Border's performances particularly at overseas in India , England and in the hostile environment of West Indies took him to the top as a batting great and subsequently in 1984 he got the captaincy in the middle of a hostile series vs the invincible West Indies . With some great Aussie players retiring and many going to a rebel South Africa tour , AB was left fending for himself as Australia kept losing in international cricket . Border held together , a fragile Australian team and singlehandedly made Australia cricket relevant in the international stage , playing his numerous masterclass match saving knocks .

The luck returned in 1987 when Border led underdogs Australia to a magnificent world cup win in India in 1987 which finally started the resurgence of Australia cricket under his captaincy.   Border is a life lesson to never give up in adversity and when he left cricket in 1994 , Australia was ready to take up the mantle of the best cricket team in the years to come .

Some of his great test knocks were his 123 not out in Ashes in 1981 at Old Trafford with a hand injury , 146 not out in a match rescuing act in 1985 Ashes in England , 196 at Lords in 1985 in a match winning effort . A 163 vs India at MCG in a miraculous escape with a draw abd above all his 98 not out and 100 not out vs the hostile West Indies at their  peak at Port of Spain in 1984 marked as one of the modern day classics . 

Also his match winning 127 vs the West Indies in the 1st of best of 3 finals in 1985 was one of the all time great ODI innings 

### Career Achievements

- **Test Cricket:**

  - Border made his Test debut for Australia on December 29, 1978, against England.

  - He played 156 Test matches, scoring 11,174 runs at an average of 50.56.

  - His highest Test score was 205, and he hit 27 centuries and 63 half-centuries.

  - As a bowler, Border took 39 wickets at an average of 39.10, with his best bowling figures being 7/46.

  - Border held the record for the most Test runs until it was surpassed by Brian Lara in 2005.

- **One Day Internationals (ODIs):**

  - Border's ODI debut came on January 13, 1979, against England.

  - He played 273 ODIs, scoring 6,524 runs at an average of 30.62.

  - His highest ODI score was 127*, and he hit 3 centuries and 39 half-centuries.

  - In ODIs, Border took 73 wickets at an average of 28.36, with his best bowling figures being 3/20.

  

- **Captaincy:**

  - Border captained Australia in 93 Test matches, winning 32 of them.

  - Under his leadership, Australia won the 1987 Cricket World Cup.

  - He played a crucial role in rebuilding the Australian team, transforming them into a dominant force in world cricket.

### Batting and Bowling Style

- **Batting Style:**

  - Allan Border was a left-handed batsman known for his resilience, technique, and consistency.

Though not a very attractive player to watch he had a wide range of shots including the drives , cuts , pulls , flicks and sweeps . He was a fine player of both pace and spin 

  - His ability to play long, patient innings was a hallmark of his batting, earning him the nickname "Captain Grumpy" for his determined and gritty approach.

- **Bowling Style:**

  - Border bowled left-arm orthodox spin.

  - While primarily known for his batting, he was an effective part-time bowler, often breaking partnerships and providing crucial breakthroughs.

Border was a brilliant fielder almost anywhere on the field and often came up with stunning catches and razor sharp throws 

Allan Border's contributions to cricket extend beyond his playing days, as he has remained involved in the sport through commentary, coaching, and cricket administration. His impact on Australian cricket is immeasurable, and his legacy continues to inspire new generations of cricketers.

In the below video  watch his match winning 127 vs the West Indies in the 1st of best of 3 finals in 1985 in ODIs