SK Flashback: When Harbhajan Singh ripped the heart out of Australia’s batting at the Eden Gardens

#1 End of a glorious streak

Australia’s stupendous run finally came to a halt

After Dravid and Laxman’s heroics, Australia was set a target of 384 on the last day of the Test. With Australia’s performance in overseas Tests and with the kind of form their batsmen were in, the target wasn’t one that you would put beyond the realms of reality for the Kangaroos to chase down.

The start for the Aussies was a promising one as Matthew Hayden and Michael Slater stitched together yet another half-century stand after which Justin Langer played a quick-fire cameo of 28 runs from 21 balls. And even after Ponting was sent home cheaply, Steve Waugh’s assured hands combined with Hayden as Australia looked to be cruising at 166/3. A draw was on the horizon and with that, Australia would also have ensured the retention of the Border-Gavaskar trophy.

Thunder, however, struck at the wrong time for the Aussies and their next six wickets were wounded up for just 25 runs, leaving them at 191/9. 212 runs is what all they could muster as they fell by 171 runs short, therefore halting their record-breaking winning streak of 16 Tests.

Harbhajan returned up to the occasion again with a six-wicket haul, ripping through the visitors' batting line-up in a hurry. Meanwhile, Sachin Tendulkar- the man with the golden arm- rolled his arms over for three priceless wickets.