5 Greatest Adelaide Tests between India and Australia

#4 1981 (Match drawn)

Kapil Dev proved to be a formidable force with both bat and ball

With the World Series Cricket wrapped up, Australia was a very different prospect for India in 1981. India had changed too. No longer were Bedi and Chandrasekhar in the side, but they did now have the formidable presence of Kapil Dev.

The first game in the series saw Australia's old stars guide them to victory. Greg Chappell scored a double century, and Dennis Lille took seven wickets as Australia won by an innings and four runs.

Things didn't appear to be improving in Adelaide either. A double-century by Kim Hughes, and a century by Graeme Wood led Australia to a first innings total of 528.

But as they had shown four years early, India had the ability to bounce back.

India made a spirited reply, making 419 in their first innings. Chetandra Chauhan ensured India started strongly. He fell painfully short of a hundred, scoring 97. It would prove to be the closest he would get to making a century in Test cricket.

But Chauhan's efforts in blunting Australia's pace attack certainly proved beneficial when Sandeep Patil came in and smashed 174. This too was his career best, as he led Greg Chappell to use a total of eight different bowlers to try and stop his onslaught.

Australia were still ahead in the game, but were unable to push their advantage as the wished due to some disciplined bowling by the Indians.

Dilip Doshi did particularly well, using the crumbling Adelaide wicket to taunt the Australian batsmen. He may only have taken three wickets in this innings, but the fact he only conceded 49 runs in 33 overs when Australia were pushing for a declaration, highlights the quality of his performance.

With time wearing on, Australia would declare with a lead of 331.

India may have had some aspirations of going for the win, but it quickly became apparent that a draw was the best they would manage as Len Pascoe ran through their top order.

India lost wickets periodically throughout their 75 over innings, but it was only thanks to Yashpal Sharma that they survived.

The scorecard shows that Sharma only made 13, but he faced 157 deliveries on what had become a difficult wicket, before he was eventually dismissed by Bruce Yardley.

India would end up salvaging a draw at 8/135, enabling them to level the series in the following match at Melbourne.