There is a certain charm of watching test cricket in Australia. Mostly the end of the year when things slow down a bit, the lush green outfields, the best ever commentary over the years- you get to choose from Bill Lawry to Richie Benaud- there is a tinge of nostalgia that fills the heart. Waking up really early on Boxing Day to catch the first ball of the test at MCG with a hot cup of coffee has always been a ritual.
Australia is a tough place to go and win- it’s been a ‘final frontier’ for most test teams. The Aussies play incredibly hard and can be abrasive at times but love to give you company with a chilled beer after the game. The bounce at WACA, the intensity of MCG or the spinning conditions in SCG- it’s difficult to adapt and win.
All the more exciting then that India has quite become the ‘Wizard of Aus’ of late- winning the last two test tours Down Under. But it’s not always been like that… Here’s a trip down memory lane.
The year was 1981- India started the last match 0-1 down at MCG. The going got tough with Australia taking a 182 run first innings lead. That’s when India started a great comeback- Gavaskar and Chetan Chauhan combined for a 165 run opening partnership in the second innings to bring India right back into the game. Sunny’s dismissal led to the now ‘infamous’ walkout when he was so frustrated with the umpire’s LBW decision that he instructed Chetan to come out with him as a sign of protest- luckily good sense prevailed and the match continued. India set Australia a target of 143 which should have been a walk in the park but a half-fit Kapil had other ideas- bowling on a tricky 5th day pitch, Kaps did the unthinkable- a 5fer to land India a 59 run win and tie the series.
Fast forward to 1991/92- Australia really steamrolled India that time- a 4-0 series win. But what I remember from that tour is the SCG test- the amazing partnership between Shastri and Sachin- a double ton for Shaz and 148 for ‘God’. They took the Aussie bowlers to the cleaners include a certain leg spinner who had figures of 45-7-150-1. Any guesses who that was? Well, the greatest ever spinner- Shane Warne. India almost won that test, Aussies only managing to draw with a stubborn Allan Border batting out the last session with the tail.
The series in 20023/04 started with a ‘captain’s innings’ from Ganguly in Gabba for a draw. Then Dravid and Agarkar helped us do the impossible- a test win at Adelaide after conceding 500+. Those were heady days, getting up really early to book the spot in the common room, bunking classes to watch the match in the hostel. ‘The Wall’ was stupendous- double century followed by an unbeaten 72 in the tense chase to give India a memorable win. The teams went in to the last test tied 1-1 and Sachin decided to shut down his offside play to get back his form- well, a double ton followed that set us up for the win. The ‘Very Very Special’- VVS Laxman was always there- to support Dravid in Adelaide or Sachin in Sydney. If not for Steve Bucknor’s dodgy umpiring calls (there were no DRS those days), we would have won that test and series. Steve Waugh made a decent contribution in his last test- the series win stayed elusive, but we were getting close.
The 2007-08 series was controversial- India lost the 2nd test in Sydney- dodgy umpiring decisions, Harbhajan banned for the so called racist remarks to Symonds- the India team were in a corner. So, when we went to the third test at WACA- no one gave us a chance. But under Kumble’s inspiring captaincy, we fought. We set Australia a 400+ target, but Ponting was still there- and till he was there, there was always a chance. That was when a tall lanky Ishant bowled possibly the best over of his life– troubling Ponting every ball and snaring his wicket at the end- caught at slips. It was unbelievable- India bossing Aussies through pacers. A 73 run win was the end result. Australia won the series 2-1, but India won hearts.
Next to 2014-15- India were tigers at home, but till then they hardly won away- especially when it came to SENA opposition (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia). This is the time Kohli took over the captaincy. In the first test at Adelaide, India were set 364 on the last day- most teams would shut shop and play for the draw- not Kohli’s India. The ‘King’ went for it- India were 240/2 and with a couple of hours left, the win was suddenly possible. Lyon had other ideas and turned it around with a 7-fer, but Kohli’s 141 on a 5th day pitch was a master-class- signalling the start of the aggression and positive attitude that would get India many memorable test away wins in the future. Australia won the series 2-0.
The 2018-19 series was different- Australia were a tad weakened with the bans for Smith and Warner for Sandpaper Gate. Pujara camped whenever he went to bat and Pant brought fresh aggression in the lower order. India and Australia split tests in Adelaide and Perth but then India inched ahead in MCG with the win thanks to a certain Bumrah. So when the last test at SCG ended in a tame draw- India had conquered Down Under for the first time ever.
To the 2020/21 series- well it started with a 36 all out in the Pink Ball Test in Adelaide. No one gave India a chance when they went to MCG under Rahane as captain and levelled the series. A tight match at SCG followed where Ashwin and Hanuma Vihari batted out of their skins to get a draw. To the last match at ‘GABBA’toir- Australia’s stronghold. India were ravaged by injuries went with a bowling attack of Siraj, Natarajan, Shardul, Saini, Sundar- a combined experienced of just over 10 test wickets. But the young India team had something else- belief! Set 328 to win on Day 5, most teams would have played for the draw- but with a super Gill and the even more super Pant, the Indians went for it. Almost a run a ball needed in the last 10 overs, and the Indians were playing scoops and reverse sweeps- such audacity! When Pant hit the winning runs, no one could believe it- a win against all odds.
The start of the 2024-25 series has not been bad either- no one gave India a chance after the debacle at home vs NewZealand. Also, when they folded for 150 in the first innings, the worst was expected. But with Bumrah the bowler (and captain also this time), the impossible is I’m possible! Indians folded Australia for a little over 100, and then thanks to Jaiswal and Kohli tons- turned it around for an easy win. Four more tests will follow and it’s exciting to see what the result will be- hoping that the ‘Team in Blue’ completes the Hat-trick.
The page has been dormant for a while- glad Bumrah’s spell at Perth stirred back the writer in me.
Kapil, Sachin, Dravid, Ishant, Kohli, Pant, Bumrah- so which one is your favourite moment from Down Under?
Silly Point 
Gabu, your beautiful writing has been greatly enjoyed.
Bhajukaka
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Loved the piece esp the title. U should have been in advertising. Very well written, as always. U do have a phenomenal memory.
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Thank you 😊
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