Shane Warne and Adam Gilchrist. (Photo by Martin Philbey/Getty Images)
Recently, England and New Zealand improved their performances in the subcontinent, with their wonderful series victories on Pakistani soil. England whitewashed Pakistan in the Test series by 3-0, riding on youngster Harry Brook and Jack Leach’s extraordinary performances. Kane Williamson-led New Zealand thrashed the Men in Green by a 2-1 margin and succeeded in ending the drought of winning an ODI series in Pakistan after 46 years. Along with England and New Zealand, Australia have also enhanced their level of performance in the subcontinent conditions.
In the recently concluded 2022-23 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in India, the Kangaroos lost the first two games against Rohit Sharma and Co., but in the last two matches of the competition, they displayed a fighting spirit against the hosts. Riding on the heroics of Nathan Lyon, the visitors dominated India in the third Test in Indore. However, this was not the first time that subcontinent nations got dominated by the visiting side in their home conditions. In the past, some top players of the fraternity utilised their skills and helped their sides to bag the tournament against subcontinent teams in their own backyards.
Talking more about it, here are five foreign players who could be considered subcontinents GOATS
5. Makhaya Ntini
Makhaya Ntini. (Photo Source: Twitter)
Makhaya Ntini achieved a lot while playing for South Africa from 1998-2011. In 13 years of his career, the legendary bowler took 662 wickets in 284 international appearances. Talking about his overall record in the subcontinent, the former Protea claimed 107 wickets in 54 games across formats.
In India, Ntini played 12 games for his side and bagged 29 wickets. The former South Africa stalwart has fine numbers in Pakistan and Sri Lanka as well. Playing 14 matches on the land of the Men in Green, one of the greatest Protea bowlers picked up 33 wickets in 14 contests. While on Sri Lankan surfaces, he racked up 19 wickets in 15 matches.
Back in 2007, South Africa pulled off an incredible ODI series victory against Shoaib Malik-led Pakistan in Pakistan. In the huge triumph, Ntini played a crucial role with the ball, becoming the leading wicket-taker with 12 wickets in five matches at an economy of 5.30. In 2008, the pacer also delivered stupendous bowling numbers to his team to beat India in the Ahmedabad Test. With his 3/18 and 3/44 spells in the contest, the Proteas annihilated the hosts by an innings and 90 runs.
4. Shane Warne
Shane Warne. (Photo Source: Twitter)
Late Shane Warne will always be remembered for his incredible contribution to the Australian cricket team. One of the greats of the game, he redefined spin bowling during his career with incredible talent. Back in Australia’s tour of Pakistan 2002-03, Warne wreaked havoc against the hosts.
Trapping 27 batters in six innings of three games, he helped his team to whitewash Pakistan in the three-match competition. In 2004, Australia visited Sri Lanka for a five-match ODI series and three-match Test series. In the longest form of the sport, he again showed his magic, taking 26 wickets in six innings of three matches.
After delivering his best in Sri Lanka, a few months later, he again showcased his bowling skills in the four-match Test series in India. The leggie took 14 wickets in five innings of three matches and helped his team to win a Test series in India after 35 years. The former Aussie legend also clinched 6/125 figures in Chennai Test, which ended in a draw. In 2007, he hung his boots after taking 1001 wickets in 339 matches.
3. Michael Clarke
Michael Clarke. (Photo Source: Twitter)
Michael Clarke is considered one of the best batters in the history of Australian cricket. Scoring more than 17,000 runs in his career, across all forms of the sport, he left an incredible impact on Australian cricket. These figures not only make him an influential batting figure in his country but in the entire cricketing world.
In the 2004-05 Border Gavaskar Trophy, Clarke displayed his potential, notching up 400 runs in eight innings of four matches. His batting efforts helped the visitors to seal the series by a 2-1 margin. Playing the first Test of the competition in Bengaluru, he contributed 151 runs for his team to vanquish India by 217 runs. The Aussie batter also won the Player of the Match award for his incredible performance.
Along with India, he did well in another subcontinent nation Sri Lanka as well. In 2011, during Australia’s 3-2 ODI series triumph in Sri Lanka, he scored 242 runs with two half-centuries in five matches at a jaw-dropping average of 121.00. With these extraordinary batting figures, he also became the highest run-scorer for his team in the competition.
2. Jacques Kallis
Jacques Kallis. (Photo Source: Twitter)
The former South Africa player Jacques Kallis served his nation as a cricketer efficiently for 19 years. In his immense career, he amassed 25534 runs in 519 matches, with 62 centuries and 149 fifties. In terms of centuries in the longest form of the sport, he stands in the second position with 45 tons.
The legendary South African batter also played a lot of cricket on subcontinent wickets. In 99 games in the subcontinent region, he accumulated 4,399 runs with 11 tons and 26 half-centuries. In 2007, he looked phenomenal with the bat during his team’s tour of Pakistan.
Playing the two-match Test series, the legend showed his plucky side and hit 421 runs with three centuries and a fifty in two matches. With his exceptional batting display, South Africa succeeded in winning their maiden Test series in Pakistan. After winning the Test series for his team in Pakistan, the veteran solidified his side in a three-match Test series in India in 2008. Against Anil Kumble’s strong Indian side, the South Africa great smashed 132 runs and pulled off a comprehensive victory for his team in the second Test held in Ahmedabad.
1. Adam Gilchrist
Adam Gilchrist. (Photo Source: Twitter)
The former Australia wicketkeeper batter Adam Gilchrist was known for his fearless batting style. During his playing days, Australia bagged a lot of matches with the help of his batting excellence. After the famous 2003 World Cup victory, emboldened Australia toured India after seven months for an ODI triangular series. Along with Australia and India, New Zealand also participated in the tournament.
In the crucial ODI tournament, Australia dominated both teams and emerged victorious. From the Australian side, Gilchrist was the leading run–scorer in the tournament with 296 runs with a ton and a half-century in six matches at a sensational strike rate of 108.02. In 2004, he helped his team to dominate over Sri Lanka in their backyard. Against the dangerous Lankan side, he played a stunning knock of 144 runs in the second Test played in Kandy. His amazing innings along with Damien Martyn’s 161 helped Australia to evade defeat.
In the same year, the Australian team headed to another subcontinent nation India for a four-match Test series. This time, Gilchrist donned the role of a batter and skipper both due to Ricky Ponting’s injury. Under his leadership and fine batting display, the Aussie played phenomenally beating India by a 2-1 margin. In the massive win, the Southpaw chipped in with 218 runs in four matches. In the first Test played in Bengaluru, his rapid 106-run knock demolished India’s confidence to win the game by 217 runs.