So as we head up to Boxing Day, let us recap some of India’s finest wins Down Under.

Also read Part 1.

The epic turnaround

Adelaide 2003

The 135 year old cricketing archive has seldom seen a team lose after scoring 500 runs in the first innings of a test. Still, Australia holds this dubious distinction and has been a victim of losing tests from such positions on three occasions. The first was against England when they made 586 in the Ashes opener in 1984-85, enforced the follow on, and fell 11 short of the 177 needed to win. They also lost to South Africa after making 520 in their first innings during the 1952-53 series. The third occasion was against India, during the Border Gavaskar Trophy, in a memorable test match at Adelaide during the 2003-04 series.

A buoyant Indian team arrived at Adelaide, lifted by a gutsy 144 runs knock by skipper Sourav Ganguly at Brisbane, which also helped India salvage a draw in the first test.

But, India’s search for their first test win on Australian soil in 23 years began on a disastrous note as Australia, who won the toss elected to bat first on a placid wicket, piled on 400 runs on the first day, a record for any day at Adelaide, with Ricky Ponting contributing 176 of those. On the next morning, Ponting reached a brilliantly compiled double hundred and put Australia on course for 600. But Anil Kumble’s persistent efforts from one end reaped rewards for India as they restricted Australia for 556 in their first innings.

Andy Bichel struck three vital blows as India slumped to 85 for four in their first innings with Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman at the crease. From then on, it was Kolkata reloaded for Australia. Both of them batted for 94 overs and put on an astonishing 303 run stand while becoming only the third pair in cricket history to do so after Bradman-Ponsford and Smith-Gibbs. Laxman, who scored the most glorious of 148 runs, departed on the stroke of tea on the third day with India at 388, but Dravid was unshakable as he scored a masterful double hundred and added 135 more with the tail before he was last out. Dravid ended up with 233 as India made 523, trailing Australia by just 33.

Ajit Agarkar turned the tables on Australia by bowling the best spell of the series, and probably his career, and script a sensational Australian collapse. With Tendulkar also chipping in with couple of wickets, Australia were bundled out for 196 in their second innings giving India a target of 230 to register a historic win.

Although India had some minor hiccups during their chase, it was that man again, Rahul Dravid, who batted with utmost precision and guided India to a historic test win. Dravid redeemed a pledge to himself by being there to score the winning runs and he did that by cutting MacGill to the cover boundary and sealing the win. Waugh chased the ball all the way, retrieved it from the gutter, handed it over to Dravid and said “Well played.” Indeed.

It was India’s first test win on Australian soil in 23 years and one, which will be etched in the memory of the fans for a long time.

Whacking them at Waca

Perth 2008

This was a special test match primarily for two reasons. First of all, it was the build up to this match with the infamous monkey-gate incident taking place at Sydney and question marks being raised over Australia’s integrity on the field. And secondly, it was the hoopla surrounding Shaun Tait, who was talked about as a bowler who would tear apart the Indian batting line-up on the fearsome Perth wicket even before the match started.

Australia hadn’t lost a match at WACA since 1996-97, and Ponting’s men were in search for a 17th consecutive Test victory, to beat their own world record of 16, which was also derailed by India at Kolkata in 2000-01.

On a true WACA wicket which offered bounce and carry, skipper Anil Kumble won the opted to bat first. Openers Virender Sehwag and Wasim Jaffer started off sedately but once they were gone, Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar batted in a dignified manner and put up a solid third wicket stand of 138 runs. While, Tendulkar’s classy knock of 71 runs was ended by a poor decision, Dravid played a false shot and ended up just nine short of a fluent century.

Although Australia did well to restrict India to 330, their first innings started poorly with Irfan Pathan removing both the openers in quick succession. India’s two left-armers Pathan and RP Singh constantly troubled the Australian batsmen with their swing and kept picking wickets at constant intervals. Australia were bundled out for 212 in their first innings with RP Singh taking four for 68 while Pathan, Kumble and Ishant Sharma took two wickets each.

Some fine bowling Michel Johnson and Brett Lee pegged Australia back into the contest, but night watchmen Pathan batted resolutely to keep the advantage in favor of India. India once looked in trouble with the score at 160 for six, but VVS Laxman, well supported by MS Dhoni and RP Singh, took India’s lead from 278 to 413, and effectively took the game out of Australia’s reach.

Chasing 413 for win, Australia again lost both openers to Pathan’s new-ball spell. A big innings from Ponting was essential to his side’s hopes, but Sharma, in a magnificent spell on the fourth morning, had him caught at first slip. Australia kept losing wickets at constant intervals and once Clarke was gone after scoring a valiant half century, the outcome was inevitable. Johnson did entertain the crowd with his maiden half century, but when RP Singh clean bowled Shaun Tait with a yorker, India registered a famous victory.

The Australians’ disappointment at missing out on that record 17th win in a row was compounded by a 10% match-fee fine for an abysmal over-rate. It was the first time ever that any subcontinent team had defeated Australia at the WACA and one which would go down the memory lane as one of India’s finest wins.

0 votes