The classic India vs Australia test series 1977-78: A walk down the memory lane

The Old War Horse Bob Simpson Returns To Lead Australia

India have had some memorable series since the 1970’s, some won , some lost and some drawn. The one that comes to mind to be the best was the 1977-78 series in Australia played against a totally inexperienced Australian team and many unheard of names in their ranks. Bobby Simpson was recalled to lead the side in the absence of all the reputed cricketers like the Chappel brothers, Lillee, Marsh, Gilmour, Walters, Allan Turner, Kerry Okeefe, Walker who joined the Packer Series and were banned from playing for their country.

The Australian team saw the inclusion of players like Wood, Graham Yallop, Kim Hughes, Yardley into test cricket and emerging as cricketers who would play for Australia even after the return of the named and famed cricketers once the CA lifted the embargo on the players who played in the Kerry Packer Series.

1^st Test at Brisbane-

The series started on a very good note for India with the spin wizards like Bedi, Prasanna, Venkat and Chandrasekhar playing on the minds of the top order batsman who were at their wits end to face the challenge of playing these world class spinners. The test was a see-saw battle and ultimately India lost by a margin of 16 runs. This series also saw the return of Thomson who returned to test cricket after breaking his shoulder due to a collision with Allan Turner which kept him out of cricket for 2 years.

The Indian batting did not shape very well against the new pace attack of Australia and collapsed miserably in the first innings. Although Gavaskar scored a century in the second innings it was not enough to save the test match. Bobby Simpson played a captains knock in the second innings and in the company of the lower middle order and tail enders set India a daunting task of getting 341 for victory and India just faltered in achieving the target by 16 runs.

2^nd Test at Perth -

The second test was also won by Australia and they were high in spirits after winning the second test. Bobby Simpson hit a century in the first innings and in company of Rixon, Hughes and the tail-enders helped Australia to reach a total of 394 in reply to the Indian total of 402. The Indian batsmen played well in both the innings but as is known to us after a good partnership the last six wickets collapsed for 57 runs in the second innings. This was the first time we saw a night watchman in Tony Mann hitting a century and getting the team out of jail after they had lost two wickets in the closing session of the 4th day and early on the fifth day chasing a target of 342 set by the Indians and eventually helping Australia win the test match.

At this point, the Indian think tank had to sit down and look at methods to combat this new team which they were up against led by the old war horse Bobby Simpson.

3^rd Test at Melbourne-

Test matches has always seen capacity crowds at the Melbourne Stadium and after the first two test victories the Australians were smelling a series win. It had all the ingredients to be an absorbing test match. India won the toss and elected to bat first on a good wicket. The bowlers could get some help in the first session but thereafter it was a good batting wicket. India started off badly with both openers back in the hut for ducks and the pressure was right back on the middle order for India. Thanks to gutsy batting by Amarnath, Vishwanath, Mankad and Vengsarkar they were able to score 256 runs in the 1^st innings.

Aussie Skittled by 'Chandra'

Australians had the Indians on the mat and the only way India could be on the top was to bowl them out for a score close to their own and hope to perform better in the second innings. Thankfully the Indian spinners did just that and Chandra ripped through the Australian line up by claiming 6 wickets and keeping them down to 213 all out. India had a slender lead of 43 runs. In the second innings India managed to score 343 with Gavaskar scoring a century and useful contributions from Chauhan, Kirmani, Vishwanath, Mankad and Amarnath. Set a target of 387 to win the match, Australia started of steadily, but once the opening pair was separated Chandra ripped through the Australian batting line up for a second time and had identical figures of 6 for 52 in the second innings as well to bundle out Australia for 164 to give India a well deserved victory by 222 runs.

4^th Test- Sydney.

After a good performance at Melbourne, India came to Sydney with a hope of doing well here as well and win the test match to make it 2-2 for the series, which would set up a good deciding test match to be played at Adelaide.

Bedi and His Spin Mates Wreaked Havoc!

Australia won the toss and elected to bat first. The opening partnership was steady and the mood in the dressing room looked good as they hoped to build on the sound start given to them by the openers. However Amarnath drew first blood when he got Cosier and there after it was mayhem as the wickets fell around like nine pins to the spin trio of Bedi, Chandra and Prasanna. Australia were bundled out for 131 in less than 50 overs.

Now the onus was on the Indian batsmen to give a good start and capitalize on the good work done by the Indian spinners, and that is what they did with all the batsmen contributing after a sound start of 97 given by Chauhan and Gavaskar. India managed to score 396 for 8 wickets and declared the innings closed.

Australia now had to score 265 to save an innings defeat and once again after a sedate start the Indian spinners were back in action getting wickets at regular intervals despite a patient 68 from Cosier and a fighting 85 from Peter Toohey, they were bowled out for 263 runs in the second innings giving India a win by an innings and 2 runs.

The series was now set up for an exciting finish and the last test at Adelaide was going to be one humdinger of a match. If India were to win in Australia this would be their first series win and the Indians were looking forward to this earnestly.

5^th Test- Adelaide.-

Both the teams were in with a chance of winning this test and the series. Toss was going to be vital as the Adelaide wicket was at its best for batting on the first two days and then the spinners could play a vital part on day 4 and 5 of the test match.

Australia won the toss and elected to bat. There were some new faces in the Australian team Graham Wood and Rick Darling opened the innings and gave them a rollicking start with a century opening partnership with both of them scoring half centuries. Yallop capitalized on this sound start and along with captain Simpson hit centuries which helped them get to 505 in their first innings.

Looming Large With The Bat: Graham Yallop!

India was now under pressure and they buckled under this pressure. They were bowled out for 269 runs with Vishwanath scoring 89 and useful contributions from Vengsarkar, Gaekwad and Kirmani. The Australians had a lead of 236 runs but chose not to force the follow-on and batted a second time knowing fully well that Indian spinners would make a meal of them if the Indians batted well in the second innings and set them a target.

Australia batted with gay abandon and scored quickly but lost wickets at regular intervals and were bowled out for 256 in their second innings. Darling scored his second fifty of the match and the others contributed in 30s and 40s to get to this score.

India were now set a target of 493 runs to win the test match and the series. The highest fourth innings chase and after what had been achieved in Port of Spain in 1976 by India, we could smell a chance if the batsmen played well. There was enough time for India to chase down this score. India started of steadily but lost Gavaskar at 40 and Chauhan at 79. Amarnath and Vishwanath got down to build a steady partnership and soon were on their way. They put up a partnership of 131 before Vishwanath was out for a well made 73. Amarnath was looking as solid as ever and as long as he was at the crease India had a chance with Vengsarkar, Gaekwad and Kirmani to follow. India lost the 4^th wicket at 256 when Amarnath got out for a well made 86 and lost their 5^th wicket in the form of Gaekwad at 323. The 6^th wicket followed in the form of Vengsarkar at team score of 348. It was now an uphill task for India if not win they should play to save the test match and earn a draw. Kirmani had other ideas. He along with Ghavri, Bedi and Prasanna were trying to chase this target down, but that was not to be and India was all out for 445 runs. Australia won by 47 runs and they definitely felt the pressure imposed by India in making a valiant attempt to chase down the target set.

It was a great series and ended with the game of cricket being the winner at the end. Australia won the series 3-2 but this series will always remembered as one of the best ever played between these two countries.