Australia and India Test series is set to begin on December 17. The first Test will be the Day-Night Test and would be played with a pink ball. Australia and India have over the years developed a great cricketing rivalry and that shows on the cricketing field across all formats. It is most visible in the longer version of the game where both the teams leave no stone unturned to snatch a win. Cricwizz takes a look at a few thrilling Test matches Australia and India have played in their great cricketing rivalry.
Tied Test in Chennai 1986
This was just the second tied Test in the history of the game. Australia posted a big total of 574/7 declared, with a double-ton (210) from Dean Jones, and a century each from David Boon (122) and Allan Border (106). In reply, India was staring at follow on at 330/8, with Kapil Dev and tailenders for company. Kapil then stitched a 57-run partnership for the ninth wicket to avoid the follow on. India were all out for 397, with Kapil making 119.
Australia then declared their second innings at 170/5 to set a target of 348 runs to India. Kapil's Devils then fought on bravely to have a go after the target, with Sunil Gavaskar leading the charge with 90. But this time, it was Ravi Shastri who was fighting to save the match and win it.
It boiled down to India needing 1 run to win with just a wicket left, and Shastri was at the non-striker's end at 48 not out. But Maninder Singh, the on-strike batsman, fell LBW to Greg Mathews for the match to end in a tie.
2001 Eden Gardens Test
India had already lost the first Test in Mumbai. And Australia was looking to wrap up the series in the second Test at Eden Gardens in Kolkata itself. They made 445 in the first innings, with Steve Waugh making 110. In reply, India was bowled out for 171 to concede a 274-run lead.
India was asked to follow on and was reduced to 232 for four and staring at the fourth-day defeat. But the fifth-wicket pair of Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman remained unbeaten on the fourth day to defy Australia. India declared on the fifth day, setting a target of 384 runs. Dravid made 180, while Laxman made 281.
With the momentum behind India, Ganguly and his men bowled out Australia for 212 in just over 2 sessions to win a memorable match and level the series.
Adelaide Test in 2003
Australia batted first on a batting beauty, and on the back of Ricky Ponting's 242 made a tall score of 556. The reliable India duo of Rahul Dravid (233) and VVS Laxman (148) combined to help India post 523, and concede a small lead of 33 runs. With momentum behind them, Indian bowlers, led by Ajit Agarkar's career-best 6/41 bowled out Australia for 196. On a fifth-day pitch, Dravid played another masterclass knock of 72 not out to steer India to a memorable 4-wicket win over Australia Down Under.
Adelaide Test in 2014
It was Virat Kohli's first Test as skipper after MS Dhoni had to pull out due to injury. And Kohli led from the front. After Australia made 517/7 declared in the first innings, with tons from David Warner (145), Michael Clarke (128), and Steve Smith (162*), Kohli played a counter-attacking inning of 115 to help India post 444 and made Aussies bat again.
Warner cracked another ton (102) in the second innings as Australia declared at 290/5, and set up a target of 364 runs. With Kohli at the helm, India decided to go for the target, with the skipper leading from the front.
At 304/6, Kohli was leading the chase with 141, but fell to Nathan Lyon to all but end India's hopes. India was bundled out for 315 to lose a thriller by 48 runs.
Cover image courtesy: CricketCircle
