Last time India And as Australia locked horns for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, they unleashed magic. How do you describe a side’s astonishing comeback from a historic low, the loss of several key players to various injuries, perceived racism to dissolve what was previously referred to as Australia’s Fort Gabba and return home with the trophy? Had been?
Such was the impact that a survey conducted by the International Cricket As a result of the council crowning the 2020–21 Border Gavaskar Trophy as the ‘Ultimate Test Series’.
Border-Gavaskar Trophy: A brief history of the India vs Australia epic Test rivalry
Ahead of another installment of the famous rivalry, we take a look at what happened the last time these two adversaries met in a White Test.
Take Adelaide
The series opener was a day-night Test. And a first of its kind between India and Australia. tourists led by superstars Virat Kohli Decided to bat first. And then Mitchell Starc bowled Prithvi Shaw on the second ball of the series. No one would have thought that Australia would celebrate a resounding victory within three days. Why? Because after Shaw’s exit, India were comfortably at 188/3, even though the ball was bowling under the light, when a mix-up resulted in Kohli being run out for 64.
India would be bowled out for 244 but they took a first innings lead after Australia were bowled out for 191. The match was still in the balance and India had chances to take control. And then disaster. He was blown out for 36 – his lowest ever score in Test history. Australia easily passed the target of 90 to take a 1-0 lead in the four-match series.
the exodus begins
It was already known that Kohli would only be part of the series opener as he had to return home for the birth of his child. His only absence was not attributable to India. Veteran Ishant Sharma was already ruled out of the tour due to injury and Mohammed Shami broke his hand while batting in the second innings of the first match of the series.
the magic begins
Ajinkya Rahane took over the captaincy and under his watchful eye, some stars of the future made their debuts – Shubman Gill and Mohammed Siraj. Australia, however, won the toss and elected to bat first at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Jasprit Bumrah and Ravichandran Ashwin shared seven wickets among them as the hosts were bundled out for 195 including a duck for Steve Smith. Rahane then scored a memorable century to give his team a comfortable lead of 131. What followed was a combined bowling performance and the Australians were bowled out for 200, leaving India 70 runs to win. The target was achieved for the loss of two wickets and the tourists bounced back with a one-all draw.
…But The Fallout
Well, India’s injury issues kept mounting. Umesh Yadav was ruled out of the remaining two matches due to a calf injury.
a fight for the ages
A draw in any competition rarely produces so much thrill and awe. The third match in Sydney would go down as a drawn Test but it was a dull affair. Worried by his poor performance at the MCG, Smith scored a century as Australia were all out for 338 in their first innings. And then despite half-centuries from Gill and Cheteshwar Pujara, India were bowled out for 244 thus taking a 94-run lead.
Australia’s solid performance with the bat continued in the second innings as they declared at 312/6, setting a target of 406. All three outcomes are a real possibility. And then two opposite innings.
Pujara, the veteran warrior, began a blockathon during which he took several blows to his body, many of them painful. On the other hand, young Rishabh Pant started to counterattack. And by the time Pant was in the middle, the Australians were nursing a defeat, considering the Indian had smashed 97 off just 118 balls during a 148-run partnership with Pujara. Once Pant and Pujara were out, Australia saw openings.
But on that opening, the pair of Hanuma Vihari and Ravichandran Ashwin were guarding heavily. Both were battling fitness issues. Ashwin was struggling with a back problem, Vihari had a hamstring problem. Both fought. and fought. There were 289 deliveries between them. Forced a draw in what looked like a well earned win.
injuries pile up
That draw effort in Sydney cost India dearly. They lost more players. Vihari, Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah and KL Rahul were ruled out of the fourth and final Test in Brisbane – a venue where Australia had not lost in 32 years. The odds were heavily stacked against India.
Waiting for whom?
The Indian bowling attack was weak in terms of experience. Their most experienced bowler was Siraj who had a total of 2 Tests to his name. He had Navdeep Saini and Shardul Thakur for company in the pace department – both playing their second Test of their international careers. And there were also some debutants – Washington Sundar and T Natarajan.
GABA dissolves
Batting first, Australia posted 369-all with a century from Marnus Labuschagne. In response, India was reduced to 186/6. Sundar and Thakur both scored half-centuries. He was dismissed for 336 runs. Siraj then took his first five-for as Australia set India 328 for victory on the final day. Rohit got out cheaply on 7, but Gill played a solid knock of 91 off 146 balls. Pujara batted in the way he is known for saving innings from collapse. In the final session of the day’s play, India needed 145 runs with seven wickets remaining.
With the second new ball, Australia started moving in the right direction. India lost Pujara and Mayank Agarwal. Pant was not giving up.
He started the charge by taking the tailenders along. Sundar hit Pat Cummins for a six before being bowled by Nathan Lyon – a shot that any batsman would be proud of. Pant remained unbeaten on 89 as he sealed a thrilling three-wicket win with one four. The 2–1 series win was sealed by breaching Fort Gabba.
get the latest cricket news Here