During the final day of the 3rd Test match between England and India at Lord’s, people talked about the brilliance of Ravindra Jadeja and Ben Stokes, who delivered terrific all-round performances on a tricky pitch. Despite their greatness, there was one person who actually turned the game in England’s favour and gave them the Test victory – it was none other than Shoaib Bashir.
Despite battling a finger fracture, Bashir showed bravery and courage, and bowled a crucial match-winning ball to dismiss Mohammed Siraj, who was playing brilliantly. Had Bashir not bowled at that moment, England might have lost the game.
Here are a few other cricketers who showed courage on the field and played for their country’s pride:
Sachin Tendulkar (1999)
During India’s fourth-innings chase of 271 runs, Sachin Tendulkar developed a severe back spasm while batting. Despite the injury, Sachin refused to leave the crease, knowing that the match and national pride depended on him. He countered the fiery Pakistani bowling attack of Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, and Saqlain Mushtaq with pure grit and class. Sachin walked off the field with a standing ovation from a crowd that understood the magnitude of his effort.
Anil Kumble (2002)
One of the most iconic moments in cricket history. Despite a fractured jaw, Anil Kumble bowled 14 consecutive overs against Brian Lara & Co. in Antigua, even managing to dismiss Lara.
Also Read: WTC 2025-27 Points Table: Australia Dominate As India Slip After Lord’s Defeat
Graeme Smith (2009)
During the third Test at Sydney, South Africa’s captain Graeme Smith walked in to bat at No. 11 with a broken left hand and a heavily strapped right elbow, trying to save the match.
Rohit Sharma (2022)
India’s captain injured his left thumb while fielding in the slips during the second over. Despite medical advice, Rohit returned to bat at No. 9. He scored a blistering 51 off just 28 balls, including 3 fours and 5 sixes, while batting with one hand. He took the game down to the final ball, but India fell short by just 5 runs. His heroic effort was widely lauded by fans, experts, and teammates.
Nathan Lyon (2023)
Lyon injured his right calf muscle while chasing a ball in the outfield. He batted alongside Mitchell Starc, and the pair added 15 crucial runs for the final wicket. Lyon even took a single while dragging his leg, earning a standing ovation from the Lord’s crowd. He limped off and was ruled out for the remainder of the series, ending his streak of 100 consecutive Tests.
