Mike Atherton
Mike Atherton made 185 not out against South Africa at Johannesburg in the second Test of 1995-96, batting for 643 minutes. England had been bowled out for 200 in the first innings and were 351 for 5 after 165 overs in the fourth when the match ended in a draw.
Sources: Wikipedia: English cricket team in South Africa in 1995-96 · Wisden: The top 15 match-saving acts in Test cricket history
Was it a ton of consequence?
Yes: saved the match. England needed 479 to win. He batted 643 minutes for 185 not out, with Jack Russell staying for more than two sessions, and England drew at Johannesburg. How a ToC is decided
Sources: Cricket Country: Atherton's finest hour · Wikipedia: Michael Atherton · Wisden: the top 15 match-saving acts in Test history · Wikipedia: English cricket team in South Africa in 1995–96
High confidence. Several match reports describe how the innings unfolded: the slump, the stands, the result and the series.
How the score is builtscore · points
Your weighting
- Match Impact30%Did it decide the course of the game?
- Clutchness22%The weight of pressure in the moment
- Narrative18%The story surrounding the innings
- Conditions & Opposition14%What and who they were up against
- Historical Weight10%How time and experts have judged it
- Perceived Greatness6%The consensus of those who watched
How divisive is it?
Universally great, 14. Almost everyone agrees. This innings transcends the debate. Across five points of view it scores between 70.4 and 78.6.
More from Mike Atherton
Christchurch · 1997 · 323rd overall69.2108 v West Indies
The Oval · 2000 · 1855th overall60.2160 v India
Nottingham · 1996 · 1943rd overall59.9151 v New Zealand
Nottingham · 1990 · 2126th overall59.4144 v West Indies
Georgetown · 1994 · 2598th overall58.0135 v West Indies
St John's · 1994 · 2776th overall57.4