“Can they take out the old footage and do a 'Snicko' on it?” - Allan Border quips about much-debated dismissal in 1986 tied Test

Former Australian captain Allan Border joked that the Snickometer could be used to try and find out whether Maninder Singh had got an inside to the delivery that he was adjudged lbw in the 1986 tied Test in Chennai (then Madras). The 69-year-old quipped that to this day Maninder tells him that he had hit the ball.

Only two matches have been tied in the history of Test cricket. The second instance was registered at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chepauk in 1986 in a Test between India and Australia. Chasing a target of 348, India were all-out for 347 as last-man Maninder (0) was given lbw to Greg Matthews, a decision which did not go down well with the Indian tailender.

In an interview with The Times of India, Border, who captained Australia in that match, revisited the iconic contest. Sharing his thoughts on Maninder's dismissal, he said in a light-hearted tone:

"Maninder still says he got a little inside edge (laughs). Can they take out the old footage and do a 'Snicko' on it? I suppose not."

The Australian legend went on to praise the efforts of the late Dean Jones, who struck a double hundred in the first innings, and off-spinner Matthews, who picked up 10 wickets. He, however, candidly admitted that the visitors did not deserve to win the contest. Border said:

"We had a couple of heroes. One was Deano with his double hundred. But a lot of people forget Greg Matthews. He got 10 wickets. We declared at 574/7 in our first innings and we still should have lost the game. It just shows how long, drawn out periods in Test cricket can still produce a fantastic game. We should have lost in the last afternoon, but we just somehow hung in there."

Incidentally, the first tied Test also featured Australia. It was played between the Aussies and the West Indies in Brisbane in December 1960.

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Revisiting the India vs Australia 1986 tied Test match

Australia won the toss and elected to bat first in the 1986 tied Test against India at Chepauk. They declared on 574-7 as Jones scored 210 off 330 balls in sapping heat, while David Boon (122) and Border (106) also crossed three figures.

India responded with 397 as skipper Kapil Dev top-scored with 119, while Kris Srikkanth, Mohammad Azharuddin, and Ravi Shastri contributed half-centuries. In the second innings, Australia declared on 170-5. Chasing a target of 348, India were all-out for 347 as Sunil Gavaskar scored 90, Mohinder Amarnath contributed 51, while Shastri was stranded on 48* off 40.