Test cricket. The slow burn. The sunburn. The sudden, collective gasp when something extraordinary happens after hours (or days) of patience.

It’s not for the faint-hearted. But some Test cricket moments stay with you – the ones they still talk about on the radio. And every summer, we wonder: could this be the year we get another one of those moments?

So, in preparation for those five special days this summer, let’s revisit five of the most unforgettable Test cricket moments in history.

The duck that echoed for decades: Don Bradman, The Oval, 1948

The man who could do no wrong… eventually, did.

Don Bradman needed just four runs in his final innings to retire with a batting average of 100. He walked out to bat at The Oval in 1948 to a standing ovation from the English crowd – a rare act of grace from an opposing side.

Two balls later, he was bowled for a duck.

There was silence. Then applause. Then the slow, stunned realisation that the most astonishing sporting career Australia had ever seen had ended – with a brief, fatal misjudgement.

His final average? 99.94. Which is to say: he remained extraordinary – just with a hint of humanity. And perhaps that’s what made him truly unforgettable.

The final-ball century: Steve Waugh, SCG, 2003

It was a moment so cinematic you’d be forgiven for thinking it was scripted. It was day two of the Sydney Test, and Steve Waugh was under pressure, speculation and a very specific number of runs.

He was on 98, facing the final ball of the day. And he sent it racing to the boundary. Steve made the 100 with the crowd on their feet – even the commentary box was choking back tears.

And for a captain who made a career out of gritted teeth and impeccable timing, it was an exit line worthy of his legacy.

Botham’s Ashes: Ian Botham, Headingley, 1981

Now, we’re not in the habit of praising the English, but credit where it’s due.

After being demoted as captain, Ian Botham was in no mood to make friends. And certainly not with Australia. At Headingley in 1981, with England on the brink of defeat and running out of options, he delivered an unforgettable 149 runs.

Then Bob Willis, wild-eyed and furious, bowled 8/43, and somehow – somehow – England won by 18 runs.

It was improbable. Infuriating. Undeniably brilliant. And something we’re still slightly cross about.

The tied Test: Brisbane, 1960

If you were lucky enough to be at the Gabba in 1960, you probably didn’t realise you were about to witness history. But most of the great moments happen that way, we suppose.

Australia vs West Indies. A tightly contested match. Australia chasing 233, needing one run to tie, two to win. Then came a lightning-fast run-out and a perfect throw that hit the stumps. The crowd stood frozen as they witnessed the first-ever Test match to end in a tie.

That moment has haunted Test cricket ever since. Proof that it’s truly not over until the last wicket falls.

Warne and McGrath’s farewell: SCG, 2007

It was already a whitewash. Five Tests, five wins. But it wasn’t the scoreboard that made the final match of the 2006–07 Ashes unforgettable. It was the farewell.

Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne – two of the greatest bowlers the world has ever seen – walked off the SCG together for the final time. There were hugs, tears and grown men in blazers trying (and failing) to hold themselves together.

The match was a formality, but the moment was anything but. And goodness, weren’t we lucky to see it.

Want to witness the next great moment – not from the recliner, but from the Members Pavilion itself? With Acquaint, you can enjoy the cricket from the thick of the action. Get in touch to make it happen.