It is one of the most decorated rivalries in world cricket. India and Australia’s fight for bragging rights started at the turn of this century. The evolution of IPL also added a new flavour to the two cricketing powerhouses. There is a new chapter waiting to be written when the two sides go up against each other in the 2023 Border-Gavaskar trophy.
We look at the numbers game in the Border-Gavaskar trophy this century:
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#1 The series where it all started:
Steve Waugh’s Australia had the aura of a world-beating side. They were on a 15 successive Tests winning run. Waugh termed India as the final frontier as Australia had last won a Test series in 1969. They started the series with a bang swatting India aside in just 3 days in Mumbai in the first Test. Their record extended to 16 wins.
Australia had India on the mat in the second Test in Kolkata. India following on staged a comeback of epic proportions. They won the Test in the final hour to level the series 1-1. India held their nerves in the decider to win a brilliant series 2-1. Australia left India with unfinished business.
#2 The tour down under in 2003-04:
It was one of the most memorable phases of Indian Test cricket overseas. India won a brilliant game in Adelaide going 1-0 up in the 4-match series with 2 Tests to play. Australia though levelled the series in Melbourne while Sydney saw a high-scoring draw. In hindsight, India however did miss an opportunity to win their maiden series in Australia.
#3 The final frontier was conquered in 2004:
Australia returned to India in 2004 to register a series win. Ricky Ponting’s Australia was a couple of notches stronger than the previous visiting team. Adam Gilchrist led the side as Ponting was out injured in the first 3 Tests. Australia was clearly the better side as they won the first and third Test convincingly to take an unassailable 2-0 lead.
India was in with a chance to win the 2nd Test only for rain to play spoilsport on the final day. They won a low-scoring thriller in the fourth Test to help themselves to a consolation win. India lost the series 1-2. Their pride was pricked.
#4 The darkest chapter in the rivalry:
Anil Kumble-led India toured down under in 2007-08 with possibly its best bunch of players. India was served a rude shock in the opening Test in MCG as they suffered a hammering. The team though dominated most passages of play in the 2nd Test in Sydney. But umpiring errors, dubious claims, and mudslinging cost them a possible win. India went down in the second last over of the Test. The talk of just one team playing in the spirit of the game evoked strong reactions.
India was ready to abandon the tour over the monkey gate scandal. Kumble rallied his troops around in the world’s fastest wicket in Perth to outplay the Aussies. A batting-friendly wicket in Adelaide paved the way for a dull draw. The series scoreline read 2-1 but India showed their mettle in the cauldron.
