Nasser Hussain - Last but not least

On this day, in 2004, Nasser Hussain signed off from his International cricketing career with a century against New Zealand at Lords, during the first test match of the tour. Born in 1968, at Chennai ( then Madras ), to an Indian Tamil speaking Muslim family and were brought up at England. He started playing for Essex in 1987, but got chance to feature in the International Team at 1996. Similar to Alec Stewart, he started his career at the age of almost 28. A tall, right handed, top order batsman, who is regarded for his firebrand cricket and his down the ground boundaries. His technique is way bit similar to Jacques Kallis. He succeeded Alec Stewart as the captain at 1999, and he was one of the phenomenal captains England had ever had. Under his captaincy, England played 45 test matches and four consecutive series win made England to rise above in their rankings, but he retired in 2003 after lots of pressure and also the debut of Andrew Strauss. He retired from One Day International cricket format at 2003 while this content is about the last test match he played against New Zealand at Lords in 2004.

New Zealand won the toss and decided to bat first against the strong pace lineup of England in a swinging conditions. New Zealand played day one fully with three of them, the opener Mark Richardson leading from the front,  followed by Nathan Astle and Jacob Oram scoring fifties. After breaking the partnership between Richardson and Astle, England came back strongly, with dismissing quick 3 wickets before Jacob Oram joining hands with Mark Richardson and scored fifty, before both were dismissed, which saw New Zealand will get bowled out before Chris Cairns, playing a late lower order surge, scoring 82 off just 47 balls, smacking the bowlers for quick runs, helped them to score 386 at 102.4 overs. England's seam bowlers Steve Harmison and Simon Jones were spectacular with the ball picking 4 wickets and 3 wickets respectively.

England came into bat at day 2. A great opening partnership posted by the captain Marcus Trescothick and the debutant Andrew Strauss, making the Kiwi bowlers inactive. 190 runs were posted for the first wicket, before the captain were dismissed by Jacob Oram. Day 2 was dominated completely by England. Almost each and every batsman contributed in some form, including some important runs scored in lower order by Andrew Flintoff and Geraintt Jones, helping them to score 441 runs at 124.3 overs. A 55 run lead marked some tough chance and the ease batting wicket in day 2 and 3. For Kiwis, Chris Martin topped the bowling chart with picking up 3 wickets. New Zealand batted their second innings, with again the opener Mark Richardson, scoring and at last innings he scored 93 but this innings he ensured to score the century, and did it. But due to change in batting order, prior to the first innings, New Zealand were bowled out for 336 runs, setting a target of 282 for England. Again, it was Steve Harmison, picking another four wicket haul respectively.

In this chase, England lost two wickets quickly for just 18 runs. Andrew Strauss and Nasser Hussain, joined hands together and stitched a complete partnership, which outplayed the Kiwis. New Zealand team were planning to set a trap by placing two slips and silly point for Nasser Hussain with making Daniel Vettori to bowl over the wicket in good length. But he, oversmarting them by playing nice cover drives in the gaps, and waited for the opportunity to come in. He rightly scored a fifty along with Andrew Strauss, and their partnership was broke due to miscommunication while running losing Andrew Strauss. But, as the senior player and the guardian angel of the team, he never failed and ensured the team's victory with smacking two boundaries, one down the long on while the other through the third man. Also, he scored the century, with unbeaten off 204 balls, hitting 15 boundaries. Andrew Strauss was awarded the player of the match for the century in first innings and fifty in the second innings,

Two days later, Nasser Hussain announced his retirement, shockingly to the media and also for the cricket fans. Right now, he has been actively involved in the commentary panel and sports broadcaster for years.