3 Famous Test wins for Team India in Australia

3. Perth 2008

Irfan Pathan came good both with the bat and the ball at Perth

The Perth Test match happened immediately after the 'monkeygate' episode at Sydney. Australia won the first Test at Melbourne by 337 runs. India were fighting hard to save the second Test at Sydney when on-field umpires Steve Bucknor and Mark Benson decided to take things in their own hands. The TV umpire Bruce Oxenford too joined the party later.

The crucial mistake was made by Steve Bucknor when he reprieved Andrew Symonds on 31 when he was clearly caught behind. Symonds went on to make 162 runs. In the Sydney Test, there were as many as 7 decisions which went against India. At the end of the match, the Indian captain Anil Kumble borrowed the famous 'Body-line' series quote and commented, “Only one team played in the true spirit of the game.”

Against this hostile background, India met Australia in the third Test at Perth. India had to win this Test to prove to the world that they lost the second Test at Sydney only due to umpiring howlers. Kumble won the toss and decided to bat first. India reached a decent first innings score of 330 through contributions from Dravid (93) and Sachin (71). For Australia, Mitchell Johnson took 4 wickets and Brett Lee 3.

In reply, Irfan Pathan, bowling with the new ball, took the wickets of both the Australian openers. Ishant Sharma took the wicket of Ricky Ponting. R.P. Singh ran through the Australian middle-order with 4 wickets. Australia were all out for 212 and conceded a massive first-innings lead of 118. India finished the second day on 52 for 1 with Sehwag on 29 and night watchman Irfan Pathan on 2.

On the third morning, India lost Sehwag for 43 and Dravid for 3. But Irfan Pathan made 46 with 6 fours while wickets were falling at the other end. India lost Pathan, Sachin (13) and Ganguly (0) in quick succession. They were at one stage on 125 for 5 with an overall lead of 243.

Luckily India had their second innings specialist VVS Laxman at the crease. The beauty about Laxman was that he always scored runs when the other batsmen failed to do so. Laxman and Dhoni (38) put on 75 runs for the 7th wicket which took India’s lead past 350.

After Dhoni and Kumble’s dismissal, R.P. Singh gave company to Laxman and scored 30. Laxman was the last man out for 79. The target for Australia was 413.

As in the first innings, Irfan Pathan took care of both the Australian openers and Australia were hopelessly placed at 65 for 2 at the close of play on Day 3. On the fourth morning, Ponting and Mike Hussey took the Australian score to 117 before Ponting once again lost his wicket to Ishant Sharma.

Australia lost Hussey and Andrew Symonds in quick succession before Gilchrist and Michael Clarke put on a half-century partnership. In a desperate attempt to break the partnership, the Indian captain brought on a part-time off-spinner to bowl to left-hander Gilchrist.

That move by Kumble proved to be a masterstroke as Sehwag ended up claiming the wickets of Gilchrist and Brett Lee off successive overs. With Clarke gone for a well-made 81, India were almost there. But Mitchell Johnson and Stuart Clark delayed the inevitable and in the end, Australia were all out for 340. India won the match by 72 runs. Irfan Pathan was the Player of the Match for his all-around efforts.

The fourth Test match of the series at Adelaide ended in a draw. In the end, Australia won the series 2-1.

Looking back, all the above 3 wins were of different categories. The Adelaide win was against all odds when Australia finished at 400 for 5 at the end of the first day. India came back to win that Test miraculously. But that win was without Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne.

The Perth win was incredible after the ‘monkeygate' episode. But India were in total control of the match right from the beginning. Hence the Melbourne win, achieved by Sunil Gavaskar’s team, was the best of the lot. This win was achieved against the strongest Australian team of the 80s against all odds. At that point in time, Gavaskar’s team was the only team which managed to draw a series against Australia in Australia. Hence that victory was that much sweeter.

Looking ahead, history is against Virat Kohli and Co. But they can take heart from the fact that Australia are without David Warner and Steve Smith. But, in the past, India always allowed lesser-known players like a Sam Curran to come good against them. Besides, with the presence of Mitchell Starc, Jose Hazlewood, Pat Cummins and Nathan Lynn, Australia are at its full strength in bowling.

Kohli’s men can create history if the batsmen in the team stand up to the challenge. An absorbing Test series is on the cards.