India's previous Test victories in Australia by Arshad Chughtai

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Event:

India in Australia 2007/08

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DateLine: 7th January 2008

 

A brief review of India's previous Test victroies in Australia is presented as under:

 

1st-1977-78,Melbourne
Kerry Packer's orld series cricket had weakened the Aussies and circumstances had forced them to call back aged Bobby Simpson to lead after he had left test cricket about adecade back. Bishen Singh Bedi was leading the touists. India scored 256 and 343 and Australia were dismissed for 213 and 164 respectively in the two innings BS Chandrasekhar chiefarchitect of Indian victory claimed 6for52 in each innings. Sunil Gavaskar scored a magnificent hundred (118)and G Viswanath fifty in each innings (59and54), Lala Amarnath's son Mohinder Amarnath scored 72. WM clark captured 8 wickets for138 CJ Serjeant scored 85 and CJ Cosier made 67. India comfortably won by 222 runs.

 

2nd-1977-78, Sydney
The Melbourne Victory was followed by another Just in the next test at Sydney. BS Chandrasekhar (6 for 52) in the first and EAS Prasanna (4 for 51) in the second innings bowled india to an innings victory. Australia Scored 131 and 263 in the two innings and india in their only innings compiled 396 for 8 decleared Gundapa is Viswanath (79) and Karsan Gharvi (64) scored fifties. Peter Toohey one of the most consistent Aussies batsman in the series scored 85 and GJCosier Made 68. Fiery paceman Jeff Thomson captured 4 for 83.

 

3rd-1980-81, Melbourne
In a high scoring series Australia needed only 143 runs to take the series 2-0 but india shocked them and skittled the home team out for Paltry 83 to tie the series. Earlier Dennis Lillee and Len Pascoe had bowled well and all the indian batsmen had failed except Gundappa Viswanath,the Man of the Match,who made a valuable 114 out of tourists first innings total of 237.In reply Australia made 419 and gained 182 runs lead. AllenBorder (124) added (108) with Greg Chappel (76)and (107) with DWalters (78). India fought back spiritedly. Sunil Gavaskar (70) and Chetan Chauhan put on 165 for the first wicket but then the match was partially marred by a cantroversial inacidence. After being adjudged lbw by umpire Rox whitehead skipper Gavaskar angirly indicated that the ball had hit his bat and persuaded ChetanChauhan also to leave the field perhapes aiming to forefiet the match.The Indian manager intervened and Chuhan returned to the crease.India went on to make 324 in the innings. Chasing 143 to win semmed a mere formality but three quick wickets fell and when stumps were drawn at the end of the fourth day Australia were 24 for 3. Inspired by this situation Kapil Dev on the next day produced an amazing perfomance and bowled truely magnificently for 5-28 off 16.4 overs and Indian won by 59 runs.

 

4th-2003-04, Adelaide
Steve Waugh won the toss and Australia amassed 556 with a double century (242) by Ricky Pointing. Present Indian Skipper Anil Kumble claimed 5 for 154 off 43 overs. India in reply had collapsed at one stage being 85 for 4 but latter Rahul Dravid (233) and Vangipurrapu Laxman (148) not only retrieved the situation but lead India a strong fight back enabling them to reach 523. The two shared record 303 runs partnership. Inspired by Dravid's performance the Indian seamer Ajit Agarkar captured career best test figures of 6 for 41 as Australia collapsed to 196 all out in the second innings on fourth day. Set 230 for victory the Indians reached the target after tea on the final day. Man of the match Rahul Dravid once again batted solidly with an unbeaten 72. India won by 6 wickets.

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