AUS vs IND: Five most memorable Test matches between India and Australia
The rivalry between India and Australia on the match field has always served the viewers with the utmost entertainment. Though the two teams have been involved in some thrilling encounters in all the three formats of the game, their clash in the longest format of the game is highly-anticipated. Let’s take a look at 5 memorable Tests between India and Australia
5. India beat Australia by 171 runs in Kolkata, 2000-01:
The world-beating Australian team, led by Steve Waugh were deemed as favourites to win the Test series against India. However, after losing the first game by 10 wickets, India bounced back stronger as they won the second match by a whopping 171 runs at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Batting first, Australia racked up 445 runs on the board while India could manage just 171 runs.
Australia were eyeing their 17th consecutive Test win.
At 232/4, India were still trailing by 42 runs in the 2nd inngs.
VVS Laxman-Rahul Dravid added 376 for the 5th wkt & India won the Test.
Watch Laxman & Dravid reminiscing about the famous Kolkata Test at 9PM on Star Sports. pic.twitter.com/8GN2nwNOm2— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang) May 15, 2020
Asked to follow on, the Indian team presented a brilliant batting show in the second innings as they smashed 657 runs on the back of 281 runs by VVS Laxman. He was aptly supported by Rahul Dravid who scored 180 runs. In Australia’s second innings, Harbhajan Singh thrashed the batting line-up as he took 6 wickets to restrict the Kangaroos at 212 runs.
4. Tied Test in Chennai, 1986-87:
The first match of the four-match Test series between India and Australia in Chennai was a high-scoring thriller as both the teams managed to score 744 runs in their two innings. The visiting captain Allan Border won the toss and elected to bat first. As Dean Jones smashed 210 runs while captain and David Boon scored a ton each, Australia declared their innings at 574.
In reply, India scored 397 as only Kapil Dev scored runs (119 runs). In the second innings, Australia declared their innings at 170, setting India a target of 348 runs. The hosts had almost clinched the match but the lower batting-order collapsed and Australia claimed the 10th wicket before India could hit the winning run. The match ended in a tie.
3. India beat Australia by 1 wicket in Mohali, 2010-11:
This was another gem of a game in the history of India-Australia Test rivalry. Australian captain Ricky Ponting won the toss and elected to bat. Owing to a stunning 126 by Shane Watson, 92 by Tim Paine and 71 by the captain, the visitors posted a total of 428 on the board. In reply, India under MS Dhoni gave a tough fight and scored 405 runs. In the second innings, the bowlers dominated the match as Australia were all out on 192. Chasing 216, India slumped to 127/8 but VVS Laxman batting with the tail clinched a thrilling victory.
A Thriller at Mohali!#OnThisDay in 2010 chasing 216 at Mohali, India beat Australia by 1 wicket with help of @VVSLaxman281 (73*), @ImIshant (31) & @pragyanojha (5*).
This was India’s narrowest Test win in terms of wickets.pic.twitter.com/7AuRUqzjqh
— Cricketopia (@CricketopiaCom) October 5, 2020
2. India beat Australia by 13 runs in Mumbai, 2004-05
Australia had registered victory in the four-match Test series on the Indian soil and the two sides met for a dead rubber in Mumbai. India, led by Rahul Dravid, elected to bat first, however, the decision didn’t reap good results as the batting line-up collapsed at 104. It was a low-scoring fixture as bowlers dominated the show. In reply to India’s 104, Aussies were all out on 203 as Anil Kumble took a five-wicket haul while Murali Kartik named 4 wickets. In the second innings too, India could manage only 205 runs on the board and the visitors needed just 106 runs to win. However, Indian bowlers scripted the first victory of the series of the team as they restricted the Kangaroos at 93 runs.
1. Australia beat India by 48 runs in Adelaide, 2014
The first Test of the four-match Test series in 2014 at Adelaide Oval witnessed a thrilling encounter between India and Australia. Batting first, Australia declared their innings at a mammoth total of 517. David Warner, Steve Smith and Mitchell March smashed a ton each.
In reply, India could manage only 444 runs as no batsman other than captain Virat Kohli (115 runs) took the responsibility. In the second innings, David Warner again launched an assault against the Indian bowling attack as he scored a stunning century and they declared their innings at 290. For India, Kohli emerged as a lone warrior as he smashed another century (141 runs) but failed to take the team towards the finishing line and the visitors lost the game by 48 runs.
