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Cricket isn’t always about the top order. Sometimes, when all hope is lost, the lower-order batsmen emerge as the most unlikely heroes. From stunning counterattacks to gritty stands with the tail, these players have delivered some of the most dramatic turnarounds in cricket history. Let’s dive into the top 10 lower-order batsmen who turned matches with the bat — and etched their names in folklore.
1. Ashton Agar – 98 on Debut at No. 11
🇦🇺 Team: Australia
Opponent: England (2013 Ashes)
Debuting as a spinner, Agar smashed a jaw-dropping 98 batting at number 11, the highest score by a No. 11 in Test history. His 163-run partnership with Phil Hughes turned a likely collapse into a competitive total.
Game-Changer Moment: From 117/9 to 280+ — his knock shifted the momentum entirely.
2. VVS Laxman – 73 vs Australia at Mohali (2010)*
🇮🇳 Team: India
Opponent: Australia
Batting with the tail while injured, Laxman guided India home from the jaws of defeat. His 73* with support from Ishant Sharma and Pragyan Ojha became one of India’s greatest wins.
Game-Changer Moment: India chased 216 with only 1 wicket left, thanks to his brilliance.
3. Ben Stokes – 135 at Headingley (2019)*
🇬🇧 Team: England
Opponent: Australia (Ashes)
Though not a tailender himself, Stokes had to bat with No. 10 and 11 to pull off one of the most sensational wins in Ashes history. Jack Leach stood firm with just 1 run, while Stokes scored all around him.
Game-Changer Moment: From 286/9 chasing 359, Stokes turned mission impossible into victory.
4. Michael Kasprowicz – 20 vs England (2005)
🇦🇺 Team: Australia
Opponent: England (Edgbaston)
Kasprowicz, a lower-order bowler, nearly pulled off a miraculous chase with Brett Lee. His 59-run partnership for the last wicket had the world on edge — until he was controversially caught behind.
Game-Changer Moment: From 175/8 to 279 chasing 282 — inches away from history.
5. Mohammad Amir – 73 vs New Zealand (2009)
🇵🇰 Team: Pakistan
Opponent: New Zealand
Amir surprised everyone with a blazing 73 off just 81 balls, helping Pakistan recover from 85/6 to post a respectable total with a 103-run stand for the 10th wicket.
Game-Changer Moment: Proved that lower-order batsmen can swing games with the bat too.
6. James Anderson – 81 vs India (2014)
🇬🇧 Team: England
Opponent: India
Known for his bowling, Anderson shocked India with the bat, scoring 81 in a record 198-run stand with Joe Root for the 10th wicket — the highest in Test history.
Game-Changer Moment: Turned England’s 298 into 496, breaking Indian spirits early.
7. Pat Cummins – 64 vs Pakistan (2022)*
🇦🇺 Team: Australia
Opponent: Pakistan (Lahore)
In a tense chase, Cummins held his nerve and guided Australia to safety with a gritty 64*, showing his evolution from a strike bowler to a reliable lower-order batsman.
Game-Changer Moment: Protected the tail and took Australia to a series win.
8. Harbhajan Singh – 115 vs New Zealand (2010)
🇮🇳 Team: India
Opponent: New Zealand
Bhajji, better known for spin, slammed a century batting at number 8 — his first and only Test hundred. His knock was fearless, attacking, and match-altering.
Game-Changer Moment: Took India from 65/6 to 472, saving the Test match.
9. Graeme Swann – 85 vs India (2009)
🇬🇧 Team: England
Opponent: India
Coming in when England was in trouble, Swann counterattacked with a solid 85 that changed the tone of the innings and gave England a strong lead.
Game-Changer Moment: Made sure England wasn’t bundled cheaply — saving their second innings.
10. Shardul Thakur – 67 vs Australia (Gabba, 2021)
🇮🇳 Team: India
Opponent: Australia
With a depleted Indian side, Shardul stepped up with the bat and stitched a game-defining partnership with Washington Sundar, setting up a legendary win at the Gabba.
Game-Changer Moment: Helped India break Australia’s 32-year unbeaten streak at the Gabba.
These lower-order batsmen weren’t expected to rescue their teams — but they did. From last-wicket miracles to gritty comebacks, each of these players proved that sometimes, the real game changers arrive from the shadows of the batting order.