4 miracles in 4 matches

By Amit S - 16 December '03
December 16 2003

In the last 4 tests played between India and Australia, Australia have been guilty of blowing the match from comfortable winning situations. This will work in favour of India for the rest of this series, and also for Australia's tour next year to India.

The tradition began with the Kolkata test in 2001, when Australia decided to bat after winning the toss. They had already beaten India comfortably in the previous match and were looking set for another big win here, and were off to a strong start at almost 200/1.

Once Hayden got out for 97, trying to go for a big hit for his 100, thats when a aussie collapse started and Aus finished day 1 at 291/8 with Harbhajan Singh triggering the collapse, taking the 1st ever Indian hat-trick in tests and the series special of 7 wickets in a session came. Day 2, Steve Waugh and Gillespie led the Aussie fightback before even McGrath chipped in with a useful contribution as Aus made 445 all out with Harbhjan Singh takeing 7 wickets. India, couldnt do much except for a lone battle by VVS Laxman in the end. The only support he got was from Venkatesh Prasad as India fell apart for 171, despite a fighting last wicket stand of 42. India, were even asked to follow-on. At this stage, no Indian player except Laxman believed that India could win. Seeing Laxmans 1st innings effort, he was sent in ahead to no.3 in the 3nd innings. After, Das and Ramesh got India off to a start, it was Laxman who took over. Although Tendulkar was out cheaply, but Laxman found support from a useful 48 from Ganguly and then by the end of Day 3, India reached 254/4, still 20 runs needed to make Aus bat again. AT this time, even the most die-hard of Indian fans would have predicted a draw, but then what happened next was one of the greatest recoveries with Laxmans 281. Dravids contribution shouldnt be underestimated as he too hit a 180 and the 2 put on a world record 5th wicket stand of 376 as India batted the whole of 4th day without losing a wicket. At the end of 4th day, India were 511/4 and with a sniff of victory which was almost impossible just 6 hours ago. Day 5, India put on some quick runs and eventually declared at 657/7, leaving Aus 375 runs to win in 75 overs @ 5 rpo. Aus, played for a win/draw earlier on, which looked very much possible until it was Harbhajan again, who did the damage taking 6 wickets. He was ably supported by Tendulkar, who took 3 wickets with his leg-spin and showed that he cannot be kept away from the things for long. Aus collapsed all out for 211 with again the series special 7 wickets in a session happening, giving India a famous victory. India became only the 3rd side to win despite being asked to follow-on.

It is said that miracles dont happen too often, but the Indian team proved it all wrong as another miracle happened in just the very next test match in Chennai in 2001, where, Aus again batted again after winning the toss. Aus, dominated whole of the 1st day, hitting 326/3. Day 2, was again the unexpected Indian recovery again triggered by Harbhajan Singh, as again the series special of 7 wickets in a session happened with Aus collapsing to 391 all out. Laxman and Das ensured Harbhajans effort didnt go waste as India made 211/1 at the end of the day. The whole test match, was then dominated as India hit 501 in their innings before bowling Aus out for 264 in their next innings. India, then needed 155 to win, which India, despite a late hiccup, won comfortably by 2 wickets. Harbhajan Singh was the hero this time, taking 15 wickets in the match.

The real thing happened in Brisbane, in 2003, when Ind, after winning the toss, put Aus in who made 262/2 at the end of Day 1, despite rain. At this time, almost noone expected India to fightback in a way they did. In Day 2, it was only rain which saved Aus as Zaheer ripped through the Aussie batting line-up taking 5 wickets. In Day 2, Aus lost 7 wickets adding just 61 runs in 16 overs and again, as nobody had expected, a miracle happened but unlike the previous 2 miracles, this one wasnt enough to ensure an Indian win thanks largely due to rain. Day 3, Aus were all out for 323 and Ind got 6 overs to bat and made 11. Day 4 and 5 were extended, but India did something which only a few had expected and that is taking the 1st innings lead scoring 409. With a 87 run 1st innings lead, India were with a remote chance of a win, but the 5th day failed to produce any miracles as Aus hit 284/3 and the test ended in a tame draw despite India being set a sporting target of 199 in 23 overs, which was always tough to get.

The biggest miracle of all the 4 happened in Adelaide in 2003, when Australia, after winning the toss batted 1st and dominated the Indian attack right from the word go hitting 400/5 in 90 overs on the 1st day. At this stage, almost no-one would have expected an Indian victory. Australia, made 556 all out with a Ponting double hundred as he hit 242, despite Kumbles late burst of taking 3 wickets in an over. India, then collapsed onto 85/4, despite a flying start by Sehwag and Chopra making 73 runs in just under 14 overs. Tendulkar and Ganguly went for 1 and 2 as India, were in dire straits at 85/4, with a startling deficit of 471 runs and just 6 wickets in hand. At this time, almost no-one would have expected India to win. This was the time, when the miracle of miracles happened and what one witnessed next, was one of the greatest recoveries in the history of the game as again the 2001 Kolkata duo of Dravid and Laxman took India out of trouble, putting on a sensational stand of 303. It was only their 2nd 300+ stand and also the 2nd against aus and also it came when India were in dire-straits. Dravid, was the more dominant of the 2 this time and Laxman did the support role as India, by the end of the 3rd day, made 477/7 which a real chance of taking a 1st innings lead, escaping from 85/4. India, were all out for 523, fighting all the way and conceded a small lead of 33 to the Aussies. However, this 523 with a 33 run deficit proved enough, as the Indian bowlers, led by Agarkar, who took a career best 6/41, destroyed the Aussie batting attack dismissing them all out for just 196. Tendulkar, who hadnt done much with the bat in this series, did it with the ball as he took 2 important wickets with his spin-bowling to send the waugh-martyn duo back to the pavilion, just when they began to look a bit threatening. Agarkar and Kumble, then cleaned up the tail taking the last 5 Aussie wickets for just 13 runs with Agarkar taking a career best 6/41 as Aus collapsed from 183/5 to 196 all out. India, were set a target of 230 in 100 overs for a historic win abroad. Sehwag and Chopra, saw out Day 4, hitting 37/0 and then on Day 5, the Indian batsman batted coolly and sensibly and chased the target easily to register a memorable 4 wicket win. This win, was memorable as it was after a long gap of 22 years that India finally won a test against Australia. This win, surely ranks amongst one of the greatest ever test wins for India and also one of the greatest overall.

These 4 matches have showed that the Indian team is very special and it has the ability and strength to perform well, when almost nobody expects them to. Also, whats more is that India always reserve their best against the best and this is what these 4 matches have shown us. The players like Laxman, Harbhajan and Agarkar, tend to reserve their best against Aus than most of the others and it has been shown in these 4 matches. Laxman, in his last 6 tests against Aus, has hit 950 runs at an average of over 85. This shows that the Indian team, has a lot of fighting spirit and also a high self-belief. And all the activities going on and off the field, seem to make no effect on the Indian players. About the Australian team, this shows that after dominating the matches earlier on, they tend to get loose a bit and lose their way and they play the match as if they have already won it. But, not many teams have been able to take advantage of this weakness that Australia have. Australia, with such a weakness, were always scheduled to lose to a strong team, if not stronger and this is what the Indian team has shown.

4 miracles in 4 matches is very rare phemomenon and these things happen very rarely, but the Indian team, has proved this wrong. Going by the performances shown by the 2 teams in these 4 matches, India are the overwhelming favourites for the series with a 2-1/3-0 win looking highly likely, which only a few had predicted before the series really began.