Stopping the Australian juggernaut: When India broke Australia’s streaks
India bringing an end to Australia’s unbeaten streak in Test cricket at Brisbane’s Gabba was historical. However, it was just another instance of them stopping the Australians from achieving bigger things while they were on a spree. These sort of things began way back in the famous 2001 Test series in India where the Indian team broke Australia’s record winning streak at the Eden Gardens, that too after following-on. Here are some of Australia’s streaks which India broke in international cricket:
The unbeaten streak at a venue in Test cricket:
Australia were proud of their unbeaten streak at the Gabba ahead of the 4th Test and there was a reason for that. Australia were not beaten once at this venue in the past 33 years where they played 31 Tests. The Aussies won 24 of those while another 7 games ended in a draw. India’s 3-wicket win ended Australia’s 31-match unbeaten streak at the Gabba which is the 2nd longest unbeaten streak in Test cricket for any team at a venue. Pakistan spent 34 successive Test matches without a defeat at the National Stadium in Karachi.
A moment to savour for India! #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/vSogSJdqIw
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 19, 2021
The joint-longest series winning streak in Test cricket:
Australia, in 2008, toured India having won each of their last nine Test series and equalled the record of winning the most consecutive series set by England way back in 1884-1891 with 9 wins in a row. India got away with a draw in the first Test but registered thumping wins in Mohali (2nd Test) and Nagpur (4th Test) to win the series by 2-0 margin and put an end to Australia’s streak. Till date, no team has won ten successive Test series but India came close between 2015 and 2017 where they won nine in succession like England and Australia.
The longest unbeaten streak at home in ODI cricket:
Between 2015 and 2016, Australia were going strong at home in ODI cricket as they clinched the World Cup for the record 5th time. During this time, they completed 19 successive ODI matches on Australian soil without a defeat. Winning the first four games of the 5-match ODI series against India in 2016 helped Australia to set a new record for the longest unbeaten streak in home ODIs. The streak eventually broke in the final ODI at the Sydney Cricket ground where India chased down 331 with help of contributions from Manish Pandey (104*) and Rohit Sharma (99).
A thriller! Manish Pandey hits his maiden ODI century to guide India to victory by 6 wickets in the 5th ODI #AusvInd pic.twitter.com/CCpgzZFhZk
— ICC (@ICC) January 23, 2016
The longest winning streak in Test cricket (Twice):
Having earlier mentioned, the India-Australia battle spiced up after the Indian team broke Australia’s world record streak of 16 successive wins. In 2001, India won the Test after conceding the follow-on and broke the Australian run. They replicated this result in the 2007-08 tour after India’s losses in Melbourne and Sydney extended Australia’s streak to 16 Test matches. At this stage, India came up with a dominating performance keeping the on and off the field disturbances aside at the WACA ground. It was incidentally India’s maiden Test win in Perth.
#OnThisDay in 2001, VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid helped India stage a magnificent comeback by putting on 376 runs together after the team was asked to follow-on. India went on to win the Test match by 171 runs.
India ended Australia’s streak of 16 straight wins. pic.twitter.com/WbF8yw6wd7
— CricketFTS (@CricketFTS) March 14, 2020
