5 exciting cricket matches that were ruined by rain

#4 India vs Australia, Melbourne, 1985

Allan Border relished the Indian bowling attack in the 80’s

Another India-Australia match in the list but this time in a different era and in different conditions. The match that is now looked back as the Test debut of ex-Aussie skipper Steve Waugh saw India come agonizingly close to claiming a victory before almost throwing the match away, thanks to the rain gods as well as some baffling decisions by the team management. The match started on a bright note for the Indians, who after electing to field brought the Aussies down to their knees with the help of spin on the first day. It was a valiant unbeaten century by Greg Matthews that lifted the team from 127-6 to a respectable first innings total.

Indians piled on the misery with the bat when, except Sunil Gavaskar, the top and middle order clicked to help India amass 445 in their first innings. The Australians at one point looked on course to succumb to an innings defeat but skipper Allan Border’s 163 took the team to 308. India had more than 2 sessions to chase down 126 but surprisingly never showed the intent to. Opener Gavaskar crawled to a 54 ball 8 as skies over him darkened. India still needed 67 runs with 9 wickets in hand when rain came down pouring to deny the crowd what could have been a cracking last session of cricket. Both the teams played out another draw in the next Test and the series finished at 0-0.