The rained-on-their-parade XI: After Watson's ton was cancelled out by a power cut, other cricket heroics which came in vain

HUW TURBERVILL scours the history books for instances of big performances which ultimately came to nought because of the weather

Shane Watson smashed the first Big Bash century of this season’s competition.

The Sydney Thunder captain hit six sixes in his 62-ball 100 against Brisbane Heat at the Gabba, becoming the first player to reah three figures in the Bash, Indian Premier League and a T20I.

Alas with Brisbane on the ropes, the match was abandoned due to floodlight failure. Watson is in good company however… here is an XI who produced brilliance… in vain.

1 - George Ulyett’s nickname was Happy Jack, and he had reason to be ecstatic when he scored England’s first ever Test century in Australia, in the fourth and final Test at the MCG in 1881/82. Presumably he was not so happy when the last day was washed out though, the draw giving the hosts a 2-0 series win.

2 - Walter Hammond had a frustrating time in New Zealand in the two-Test series of 1932/33. He made 227 at Lancaster Park, Christchurch, before a violent duststorm on the final afternoon denied England a win, with the hosts following on. He then made 336 at Eden Park, Auckland, before rain saved New Zealand again. After the preceding Bodyline series however, they were probably just relived to have a bit of quiet.

3 - Don Bradman loved Leeds. His 304 at Headingley in the Ashes series of 1934 followed on from his 334 there four years earlier. In that latter innings, rain saved England’s bacon on the last day, with them 155 behind, and six wickets down. Australia still won the series 2-1.

^{Wally Hammond walks out to bat}

4 - Viv Richards was celebrating his 50th Test in style, scoring his 14th century against India at Guyana in the 1982/83 series. He had endured an anxious night perhaps, ending day one unbeaten on 97. Two whole days were lost to rain however, and the King’s majestic knock did not deliver victory. West Indies still won the five-Test series 2-0.

5 - Walter Hadlee’s only Test century came against England at Christchurch in 1946/47. The New Zealand captain’s 116 came in a total of 345 for 9 declared. England replied with 265 for 7, but the third and fourth days were wiped out by the weather. It was a one-off Test, after the Ashes, England’s first overseas assignments after the War. They were just happy to be there.

6 - Kapil Dev was finally eyeing a Test victory in his 19th match in charge of India. It was the second Test of three in Australia in the winter of 1985/86. The tourists needed only 67 runs for victory, with eight wickets in hand, when a final-day thunderstorm stopped them in their tracks. Kapil had the consolation of passing 3,000 Test runs and 200 wickets in the Test, joining an elite club that featured only Garry Sobers and Ian Botham. India had the better of all three draws against an Aussie side rebuilding under Allan Border.

7 - Ian Botham produced an astonishing spell of 4 for 0 against India at Lord’s in 1979, his 10th five-wicket haul in Tests. The loss of nearly nine hours to rain, and centuries from Dilip Vengsarkar and Gundappa Viswanath, saw the tourists secure a draw though. They lost the four-Test series 1-0 after England had taken the first Test at Edgbaston, when Botham’s 5 for 70 that time did prove decisive.

Ian Botham during the 1979 Lord's Test against India

8 - Alan Knott was on 96 not out against Pakistan at Karachi in 1968/69, on the verge of a maiden Test century in his 11th match. A mob of several hundred pro-democracy protestors had other ideas however, storming the pitch, causing an abandonment at lunch on day three. England had made 502 for 7, with the efforts of Colin Milburn (139) and Tom Graveney (105) also in vain. The great gloveman had to wait another two years for three figures, the first of his five Test hundreds coming against New Zealand at Auckland. All three Tests in Pakistan were drawn.

9 - Derek Pringle’s spell of 3 for 8 in the 1992 World Cup at Adelaide looked as if it would be eliminating Pakistan at the group stages. They made only 74 all out, and England were coasting to victory on 24 for 1 after 8 overs. The weather rescued Pakistan though, and they famously went on to beat England in the final at the MCG.

10 - Johnny Wardle had reason to curse the Manchester weather, especially being a Yorkie. In 1953 the slow left-armer had figures of 4 for 7 with Australia on the ropes in the 1953 Ashes Test at Old Trafford, 35 for 8 and only 77 ahead. The fourth day was washed out though – the ninth successive Ashes Test at the venue to be drawn or abandoned. England did at least win the series 1-0, by virtue of that famous win at The Oval. There was no play on days two, four and five the following year as Pakistan escaped. They were 25 for 4 in their second innings, following on, still 244 behind, with Wardle having match figures of 5 for 28.

11 - Glenn McGrath’s supreme spell of 8 for 38 reduced England to 77 all out at Lord’s in 1997. It looked as if Australia would level the series immediately, after the hosts’ surprise win at Edgbaston. To be fair England made a better fist of things second time around, reaching 266 for 4, but they were still only 130 ahead. The loss of day one and most of day two saw England safe, although they lost the series 3-2 anyhow.