The Australia tour of India is not too far away. The Border – Gavaskar Trophy is scheduled to start from February 23 to 29 March, 2017. So, here is the chance for the fans to relive those tough moments of India Vs Australia test matches.
Due to poor performance in overseas tours India is described as Tigers at home, but Lambs abroad. But now it’s true with every team. See Australia’s performance in the sub-continent. The Aussies have not won a single match in Asia since 2004.
There some Interesting and exciting moments between these two top test sides. These will be remembered for long time.
1. Down the Memory Lane, let’s go back to the year December 1959 in Kanpur. This was India’s first match against Australia. And it was Australia’s first tour to India.
Winning against The Aussies isn’t easy. It took 10 tests for India to achieve their first test victory against the mighty Australian team. Having lost the first Test by an innings, India bounced back extremely well in Kanpur test. Batting first India scored just 152 runs in their 1st innings. It was Alan Davidson superb figures of 5/31 that restricted Indians to such a score. Thanks to Jasubhai Patel, he brought the hosts back into the match. His figures of 9/69 gave India a lead of 67 runs. Nari Contractor, Ramnath Kenny and Bapu Nadkarni made some useful contributions to help India to score 291 runs in their 2nd innings. For Australia it was Alan Davidson again as he took 7/93 and bagged a 12-wicket haul in that match.
Target was 225 for the Australians. It was the two off-break bowlers, Jasubhai Patel and Polly Umrigar, who helped India to break that 10 test jinx. Australia was eventually bundled out for only 105 runs. In the end it was India who won this test by 115 runs.
2. On October 1964 in Mumbai, the Australian team went short of one player. It was Norm O' Neill, who went down with stomach pain after the match started. That forced the Australians to go with 10-member squad led by skipper Bobby Simpson.
This one was a high scoring game. Australia was all out for 320 in their 1st innings, which gave India a 21-run lead. Australia again piled up 270 runs in their 2nd innings. Bishen Singh Bedi’s 4 wickets restricted them to that score.
The Australians set the target of 254 runs for India to chase it. It was all Australia’s match till the score of 122/6. But Nawab of Pataudi Jr rose to the occasion like he did in the 1st innings. His partnership with lower order batsmen, Vijay Manjrekar and Chandu Borde helped the visitors to chase the target. India won the match with 2 wickets.
3. The tied match between India and Australia was played at Chennai on September 1986. This match was only a second tie in cricketing history.
Dean Jones splendid knock of 210 and contributions from Allan Border and David Boon helped the hosts to reach 574/7. With Indian batsmen couldn’t get going, it seemed like Australia will win this easily. Reeling at 245 for 7, it was Kapil Dev’s 119 that took India took to a respectable score of 397 all out, but the hosts were still trailing by 177 runs. Due to less time in match, Australia declared their second innings at 170/5, setting a target of mammoth 348 in just 87 overs.
Sunil Gavaskar’s fine 90 and the contribution from rest of the batsmen, India threatened to chase down this target. At one stage India needed 18 runs from 5 overs, but quick wickets of Chetan Sharma and Kiran More in consecutive deliveries didn’t help India’s cause. But Ravi Shastri had other ideas on this mind. He took India to closer to the target single-handedly. He tied the scores with 3 balls remaining, However, Greg Matthews trapped Maninder Singh in front and the match had finished in a tie.
4. The first Border Gavaskar trophy was played in Delhi in 1996.
It was one-off Test played at the Ferozeshah Kotla Stadium. India were in complete control in that match. Anil Kumble took 4 wickets to bowl out Australia for 182 runs. Nayan Mongia’s 152 gave India the 179-run lead after their first innings. Kumble continued to trouble the Aussies in their 2nd innings that helped India to wipe out Australia for just 234 runs. Steve Waugh was only Australian player who showed some fight but that was not enough as India chased the small target of 56 with ease. Sachin Tendulkar captained India for the first time and recorded his first win as captain.
5. The Sachin Vs Warne match: Chennai was the venue for epic battle. All though India won that match but this match is remembered as Sachin Vs Warne match.
The Indian master prepared for the series by asking Laxman Sivaramakrishnan to help him out by bowling in the rough outside the leg-stump to a right-handed batsman. He then went on to score a double hundred in Australia's practice match against Ranji champions, Mumbai.
Even though Sachin got out early in the 1st innings, He came well prepared to launch an attacking mode against the leg spinner. He repeatedly drove him through cover and point region, and when Warne switched into a negative line of attack, took him apart with some towering sixes over mid wicket. Tendulkar had set the mark early in the series and Warne never looked the same bowler again, at least against the Indians.
6. March 2001, Kolkata: The rise of Very Very Special Laxman and The Wall Rahul Dravid.
This match that India looks upon as a inspiration. Laxman’s dominance against Australia started from here. A historic match played ever in India. VVS Laxman contribution was immense in that match. His innings of 281 is still in the hearts of people. This match is also remembered for hat trick by Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh. He became only Indian after Irfan Pathan to achieve this feat.
This is India’s most famous wins in the history.
7. India in Australia, December 2003, Adelaide
The most dramatic match India played ever in Australia. The combo of The Wall and Very Very Special Laxman continued in this match also.
Batting first, Australia was indebted to Ricky Ponting's superb 242 as they piled up a massive 556 on the board. India batting were in trouble againas they were reduced to 85/4. A that point Dravid and Laxman came up with splendid partnership of 303 runs. Due to this rescue stand, India posted 523 runs, trailing by 33 runs.
Ajit Agarkar bowled his heart out. His 6 wickets for 41 runs allowed India to restrict India for only 196 runs.
Dravid again came in when India needed him to. His controlled 70 runs won the match for his team.
8. India under Anil Kumble went to Perth on January 2008. With losing tests in Melbourne and Sydney, the visitors went to Perth to stay alive in the series.
Michel Clarke’s three wickets didn’t matter as the contributions from Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar made India to score 330 in their 1st innings. Australia’s second innings didn’t last too long. Their innings was folded up for 212 runs, giving India a lead of 118 runs.
India’s scored 294 in their second innings. Laxman’s gritty innings helped India to get a massive lead of 413 runs.
Chasing the 413 runs target for victory, the hosts were bundled for 340 to give India a famous win.
9. Sydney 2008 - Monkey Gate
Popularly known for the monkey gate incident between Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh and Australian all rounder Andrew Symonds, this test is also referred as bad umpiring from Steve Bucknor and Mark Bensen. Anil Kumble said that there is only one team playing with the right sprit. Sunil Gavaskar also slammed the umpires for their bad decisions in the commentary box. This test had worst umpiring ever with nine wrong decisions
