As the gripping Test series between two cricket powerhouses, India and England, draws to its dramatic conclusion, all eyes are set on the picturesque Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala. The stage is set for the fifth and final Test of the series, which carries more than just bragging rights. While England’s much talked-about “Bazball” tactic stumbled against a stalwart Indian side, resulting in the host’s formidable 3-1 lead, there’s still a significant contest at play.
In the realm of Test cricket, the pursuit of higher World Test Championship rankings ensures no match is devoid of excitement or stakes. The upcoming Test won’t simply be another fixture but a stage where two eminent players—India’s Ravichandran Ashwin and England’s Jonny Bairstow—will etch their names in cricketing annals. Both will make their 100th appearance, a milestone achieved by 76 other players to date. However, the occurrence of them reaching this landmark in the same match adds a sheen of rarity to the five-day spectacle.
This intriguing scenario marks only the third occasion in the vintage history of Test cricket, spanning 147 years, where foes on the field share such a momentous personal accomplishment. Rewinding to the first occurrence, it was not just two but three cricketing legends—Jacques Kallis, Shaun Pollock, and Stephen Fleming—who celebrated their centennial match during the South Africa vs. New Zealand game at Centurion in 2006.
Several years later, in 2013, another pair of cricket luminaries—Michael Clarke and Alastair Cook—donned their nation’s caps for the hundredth time, coincidentally in the same Ashes match Down Under. Should Ashwin and Bairstow walk out to the middle in Dharamsala, they will replicate this distinctive feat. It is worth noting, the occurrence of such a milestone isn’t restricted to opponents; England’s Mike Atherton and Alec Stewart once shared their hundredth Test match as teammates against the West Indies.
While cricket enthusiasts around the globe revel in the anticipation of potential history-making at Dharamsala, a parallel narrative unfolds approximately 12,000 kilometers away. New Zealand cricket stalwarts Tim Southee and Kane Williamson will also be participating in their 100th Test together. Their setting is against arch-rivals Australia, in the second and final match of their own ongoing series.
The upcoming match in Dharamsala carries a variety of subplots beyond personal milestones. For both Ashwin and Bairstow, their individual journeys to this juncture have been paved with formidable performances and quintessential contributions to their respective teams. Masquerading behind the statistics that capture the essence of their careers lies the years of resilience, hard work, and an undying love for the game.
India’s Ashwin has built his legacy as a spinner par excellence, a tactician on the field, and an intellectual off it—holding a stronghold on batting line-ups around the world with his deceptive deliveries. Meanwhile, Bairstow’s evolution as a cricketer has seen him transitioning from being perceived solely as a wicketkeeper-batsman to becoming a mainstay of England’s batting order, delivering in times of need with aplomb.
As aficionados of the sport wait with bated breath for the duel in Dharamsala, the impending encounter is not merely a test of strategy and skill but a celebration of enduring excellence. Two players, hailing from different cultures and cricketing philosophies, stand on the brink of a shared cricketing epitaph, commemorating their parallel stories of success. The venue might be grounded in Indian soil, but the narrative is unequivocally global—a testament to the unifying power of this beloved sport.
As the final Test unfolds in the enthralling landscape of Himachal Pradesh, the pages of history will warmly welcome two of its newest centurions. Whether it is the end of an enthralling series or the start of a celebratory chapter for Ravichandran Ashwin and Jonny Bairstow, this imminent Test promises to be a storied event in the annals of cricket.
