Step back in time to the golden era of ODI cricket with this rare footage of James Whitaker’s impressive innings of 44 runs off 53 balls against Pakistan in the 4th match of the Sharjah Cup on April 7, 1987.
Facing a fierce Pakistani bowling lineup, including the great Wasim Akram, Whitaker showed class and confidence. He struck 2 elegant fours off Akram, a memorable six, and anchored the innings with grit and determination.
This knock was part of the same tournament where England eventually lifted the Sharjah Cup. Whitaker’s contribution, though brief, stood out for its quality and control under pressure.
Whether you're a cricket historian or a fan of classic ODI moments, this video is a must-watch for anyone who loves vintage cricket.
📺 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more classic cricket moments from the archives!
#JamesWhitaker #Sharjah1987 #VintageCricket #EnglandVsPakistan #ODICricket #SharjahCup #CricketClassics #WasimAkram #CricketHistory #EnglandCricket #RareCricketVideos
Facing a fierce Pakistani bowling lineup, including the great Wasim Akram, Whitaker showed class and confidence. He struck 2 elegant fours off Akram, a memorable six, and anchored the innings with grit and determination.
This knock was part of the same tournament where England eventually lifted the Sharjah Cup. Whitaker’s contribution, though brief, stood out for its quality and control under pressure.
Whether you're a cricket historian or a fan of classic ODI moments, this video is a must-watch for anyone who loves vintage cricket.
📺 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more classic cricket moments from the archives!
#JamesWhitaker #Sharjah1987 #VintageCricket #EnglandVsPakistan #ODICricket #SharjahCup #CricketClassics #WasimAkram #CricketHistory #EnglandCricket #RareCricketVideos
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SportsTranscript
00:00In this video, relive a classic knock from James Wattikar, a gritty 44 runs of 53 deliveries
00:06laced with two crisp boundaries and a towering six against Pakistan in the fourth match at
00:11Sharjah on April 7, 1987.
00:14Watch as James Wattikar takes on the world-class bowling attack, including two superbly timed
00:19fours of the legendary Vaseem Akram.
00:21Sit back and enjoy this slice of vintage Sharjah action, a true throwback to the golden era
00:26of ODI Cricket.
00:56Give him straight past the bowler, four rounds, a fine shot by Whittaker.
01:11Two mid-wicket and that's going to be four rounds and it is.
01:23James Wattikar born on May 5, 1962, he was a former English cricketer and he played one
01:30test match and two one-day international for England between 1986 and 1986.
01:36James Wattikar was born on May 5, 1962.
01:41He was a former English cricketer and he played one test match and two one-day international
01:46for England between 1986 and 1987.
01:53He was the best English bestman in the country in 1986 when he scored 1,526 runs with an average
02:02of 66.
02:03Because of his great performance, he was named one of the wisdom cricketer of the year in
02:081987.
02:09That same year, he was chosen for the Ashes tour to Australia.
02:14He started well and even scored a century in a practice match against South Australia.
02:19He played one test match at Adelaide when Ian Botham was injured, but his form dropped after
02:25that.
02:26He also played two one-day international in 1987 when England won the Sharjah Cup.
02:31James Wattikar was one of the most successful captains for Leicestershire.
02:35In 1996, he led the teams to win the county championship for the second time and he scored
02:421,046 runs that season with an average of 58.
02:45He also made his highest score of 218 runs that year in a match against Yorkshire.
02:51In 1998, Leicestershire won the championship again.
02:55James Wattikar started the season as captain but did not play much because of an injury.
03:00Chris Lewis and Phil Simmons led the team on the field.
03:03After retiring due to a leg injury, he became a coach and later the director of cricket at
03:08Leicestershire.
03:09He left the club in 2005 after being with them for 22 years.
03:13In 2008, he joined England's selection panel, working with Jeff Miller, Peter Morse and Ashley
03:20Giles.
03:21From 2013 to 2018, he served as England's chairman of selectors.
03:25During the 1986-87 Ashes series, James Wattikar played one test match in Adelaide.
03:30He scored just 11 runs before getting out to Bruce Reed.
03:34That match was notable because England had three Leicestershire players in the team, Wattikar,
03:39David Gower and Phil De Frites.
03:41James Wattikar had been selected after an outstanding 1986 season, even though he had suffered head
03:48injuries from the fastballers' Malcolm Marshall earlier that year.
03:52As far as the first-class stats, James Wattikar played 315 first-class matches, scoring 17,198
04:00runs at an average of 38.56, including 38 centuries and 80 fifties, with the highest score of 218,
04:08and he also took two wickets at an average of 134.
04:12In Leicester cricket matches, he featured in 282 games, accumulating 7,770 runs at an average
04:21of 32.37, with 647 fifties and a top score of 155, adding another 66 catches to his fielding
04:30thali.
04:31If you like this video, please comment, share and subscribe.
04:34Thanks for watching.