The One That Got Away

Nasser Hussain: 2002 NatWest Series Final

Lord's, 2002. England skipper Nasser Hussain wins the toss, and - on a fantastic pitch - his side get off to a flyer. The captain contributes a hundred himself: his first and only in one-day cricket. India have an enormous chase to pull off, especially once their 'Fab Five' are out, and two relatively unknown batsmen enter the fray at 146/5. But, in one of the finest ODI games ever seen, Yuvraj Singh and Mohammad Kaif orchestrate a miracle: it is Sourav Ganguly, not Nasser Hussain, who lifts the trophy. In the company of Ian Ward, Hussain discusses the fixture, his performance that day, and the importance of captaining on instinct.

We often hear stories of victory, but what about those who came up short when it mattered most? Some of sport’s biggest names explain what it’s like to give everything for the win, but ultimately taste defeat.