The hugely anticipated India Australia test series is set to begin on 17th December at Adelaide. India will be playing the pink ball test match against the Aussies to kick start the test series. For the first in the history of Indian cricket, the bowling looks solid as compared to batting.
The lethal duo of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Shami are as good as any. While in Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Kuldeep Yadav, India have a fine spin attack too. If the batting line-up manages to hold its own against the Aussies, we surely have a series to look forward to. India and Australia have always had an intriguing test match rivalry. We at Stumpsandbails, bring you 5 such high profile India Australia encounters which are now part of cricketing folklore.
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1: The tied test match, Chennai
In what is now remembered as the late Dean Jones test match. Both India and Australia played out of their skins to put up a grand show at Madras (now Chennai). It is only the 2nd tied test match in the history of test cricket which makes this game even more special. In the hot and humid conditions of Madras, cricket saw the class of highest order.
Dean Jones cracked 210 in Australia’s first innings. His knock helped the Aussies to score a mammoth total. India kept fighting back to stay in the game and were set a score of 348 to chase on the last day. India started positively and at one stage saw themselves sitting pretty at 204-2.
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But wickets started to fall quickly and pressure started to mount on both teams. India required 4 to win off the last over with Ravi Shastri on strike. Maninder Singh was partnering with him. While spinner Greg Matthews was the bowler. He trapped Maninder Singh on the penultimate ball of the test match. This sealed only the second tied test in the history of test cricket.
2: The miracle at Eden, 2001
India were 0-1 down leading into this test match. Despite Harbhajan Singh’s hattrick in the first innings, India were asked to follow on by the Aussies with a lead of 273 runs. India went in to bat on the 4th day having already lost 4 wickets in the 2nd innings. But what transpired later was the stuff of legend. VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid remained unbeaten the whole day. Their partnership of 376 set the tone for India’s memorable victory. It probably was a turning point in Indian Cricket too.
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3: Historic series win in Chennai, 2001
Steve Waugh’s final frontier saw them squaring up against an upbeat Indian side at Chennai for the series decider. After having made a dominant start to the game, Australia lost their way. They lost their last 7 wickets for 51 runs. India came roaring back in the test match and they were left to chase 155 in the last innings. India seemed to be cruising at one stage but pressure started getting to them too. They lost 8 wickets with a win still in sight. The pair of Sameer Dighe and Harbhajan Singh ensured India get to the target and register an outstanding series win.
4: The victory of pride in Perth, 2007
After having lost the first two tests with their morale severely dented after the infamous Sydney test. A match that saw umpiring howlers against the Indian team, a racist allegation against their spinner. India threatened to walk out of the series. Thanks to Anil Kumble’s statesmanship that the team rallied together and notched up a famous win at the world’s fastest pitch WACA, Perth. This match saw Indian seam bowlers out bowling their Australian counterparts. It was a comeback for the ages. It sowed the seeds of an emerging young India. A country that knew how to fight back against all odds.
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5: A stunning heist in Mohali, 2010
There was something about Australia that brought out the best in VVS Laxman. Steve Waugh had once famously quipped that “If you get Dravid, great. If you get Sachin, brilliant. If you get Laxman, it’s a miracle.” He single-handedly shepherded a chase in the company of Ishant Sharma and Pragyan Ojha to register a thrilling come from behind win. India needed more than 90 runs to win and were left with just 2 wickets in hand. To make matters worse, VVS Laxman was half fit. But he bought none of that and with this steely determination he saw off the Aussies. This game even witnessed an angry Laxman who was fuming at Pragyan Ojha for not responding to a call. It was cricket at its very best. It had all ingredients of a great India-Australia test match.
Special mentions:
Australia vs India, Adelaide 2003
India vs Australia, Mumbai 2004
Australia vs India, Adelaide, 2014
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