After a hot series down under earlier this year, Australia will face tough task ahead to retain the Border-Gavaskar trophy. This time Australia came to India with new faces and out of which only four players have played here in India before. R.Ponting, M.hayden, S.Katich and M.Clarke have played test match here in India. Australia will heavily rely on their pace bowling attack which is lead by Brett Lee who will be also playing for the first time against India on Indian soil. However with so much experience behind them they will take that and it will be going to one of the intresting series of this season. Sachin Tendulkar who needs another 77 runs to became the highest run getter in the history of test cricket. He also try to forgot the previous series in which he manage just 95 runs in his six test innings against the Sri Lankan’s. Over the last seven years, India have played 15 test matches against mighty Australians. In which 11 test matches had results, Australia winning six while India manage to win five. In between India have also managed to break the jinx of winning the test matches in Australia. Lot’s of people including Australians will miss A.Symonds absence from the Australian squad and it will be interesting to see the Australian team tactics on this tour. Since Ricky Ponting will lead a relatively inexperienced team - none of his bowlers have played a Test in India. So far out of four Border-Gavaskar trophy played in India, India manage to won the trophy on three occasions and Australia manage to win one on their last tour of India in 2004/05. Here are the summary of the Border-Gavaskar trophy played on Indian Soil: Border-Gavaskar Trophy, 1996/97 Results: India won the one match series by 1-0 Australia’s who never won a test series here in India came here with much expectation but lost the only test match which was played at Delhi. Mark Taylor wins the toss and decided to bat first but Australia bowled out for just 182 on day1, from India Anil Kumble picks up 4 for 63. India replied with 361 with brilliant century by Nayan Mongia. India restricted Australia to 234 (A.Kumble picks up another five wickets haul during Australian second inning). Border-Gavaskar Trophy, 1997/98 Results: India won the 3-match series by 2-1 Player of the series: S.R.Tendulkar On this tour Australian new bowling attack struggle without their premium bowler G.McGrath. This series was best known as Tendulkar vs Warne Series. It was one of the famous series from Tendulkar and India perspective as Sachin hits Warne all over the park in each of his knock except the first inning of first test match where he was cheaply dismissed for four by S.Warne. India won the first two test match quite comfortably however brilliant century by M.Waugh (153 not out) at Bangalore and M.Kasprowiz 5 for 28 helped Australia to receive a consolation victory in the last test match. Border-Gavaskar Trophy, 2000/01 Results: India won the 3-match series by 2-1 Player of the series: Harbhajan Singh This was one of the most famous test series between these two countries. Australia wrapped the first test match at Mumbai in just three days with the help of superb century by M.Hayden and A.Gilchrist. After loosing the first test match and following on in 2nd test match at Kolkata Indians were looking out of the match and series then entered a man known as V.V.S.Laxman who no-doubt played an inning of his life of 281 runs and put on crucial 376 run stand with Rahul Dravid (180 runs) to gave India an outside chance to bounce back into the test match. That what Harbhajan and Sachin did with the ball during Austral 2nd Inning to registered one of the most unbelievable victory. After winning the 2nd test match and leveling the series India manage to win hard-fought contest at Chennai to shatter the Australian dream of winning the test series against India after 31 years. Border-Gavaskar Trophy, 2004/05 Results: Australia won the 4-match series by 2-1 Player of the series: DR Martyn In 2004/05 tour finally Australian dream came true as they able to win the test series on Indian soil after 35 years. Australia won the first Test at Bangalore by 217 runs thanks to debutant Michael Clarke's 151 and Gilchrist's murderous 104 and some tight bowling. Harbhajan excelled with 11 wickets in the match but India could not force a win. Second test match was well poised in India favour but overnight Rain didn’t allowed India to chase down 210 runs for victory with nine wickets in hand. Australia did manage to win the next won by brilliant century by M.Clark and D.Martyn to take unbeaten series lead of 2-0 with one to play. The final Test match which was played at Wankhede Stadium will be remembered for low scoring thrilling encounter as no team manage to get going. Both team struggled with the bat. Australia needing 107 runs for victory bundled out for 93 runs to give India 13 runs consolation win. |
