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IND vs AUS: Five most memorable bowling spells from Border-Gavaskar Trophy
For years the India-Australia rivalry has given the fans many memories.
For years the India-Australia rivalry has given the fans many memories. The Border-Gavaskar Trophy always bring out the best side of the players, be it India’s iconic comeback in the 2001 Kolkata Test or Australaia’s lethal bowling display in Adelaide Test in 2020. The stage is set for another of these iconic rivalries that start on the 9th of February. In the meantime, let us rewind the clock and look at some of the most memorable bowling spells from the Border-Gavaskar trophy.
#1 Kapil Dev- 8/106 in Adelaide, 1985-86
Kapil Dev (source: Twitter)
Former India captain Kapil Dev’s 8/106 is the best Test bowling figure in an inning in Australia to date. It was the first Test of the 1985-86 Border Gavaskar Trophy in Adelaide, and India was playing Australia on their home turf for the first time in 5 years.
Kapil used a combination of bouncers and swinging deliveries to take eight wickets, including those of his Australian counterpart Allan Border. On the back of Kapil’s performance, India limited the hosts to 381 runs in the first innings and scored 520 runs in response. The match, however, eventually ended in a draw.
#2 Mike Whitney- 7/27 at Perth, 1992-93
Mike Whitney (source: Twitter)
It was the fifth and final Test of the 1992-93 Border Gavaskar Trophy, and India was hoping to squeeze out at least one victory after failing to do so in the matches before. Mike Whitney, on the other hand, made certain that the visitors’ fortunes did not change.
The pacer took 4/68 in the first innings and then seven wickets in the second innings while conceding only 27 runs to dismantle India, who failed to chase a 442-run target and lost the match by 300 runs. India lost the five-match series 4-0.
#3 Josh Hazlewood- 5/8 at Adelaide. 2020-21
Josh Hazlewood (source: Twitter)
One of India’s most humiliating defeats came in the first match of their 2020-21 tour of Australia. Batting in the second innings of the match, India was dismissed for their lowest score of 36, handing the home team a target of just 90 runs.
Pacer Josh Hazlewood was the wrecker-in-chief for the Australians as he ended with figures of 5/8 in just five overs that he bowled. He was given perfect support from Pat Cummins, who took a four-wicket haul in the match. India eventually lost the match by eight wickets.
#4 Anil Kumble- 8/141 at SCG 2003-04
Anil Kumble (source: Twitter)
Former India spinner Anil Kumble demonstrated his class during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2003/04, bagging an eight-wicket haul at the SCG to almost put India on the verge of a historic series win Down Under. The visitors’ first innings total of 705/7 (declared) was powered by Sachin Tendulkar (241*) and VVS Laxman (178).
Following that, Kumble ran through the Australian batting order, bundling them out for 474 runs. The leggie’s 8/141, his best overseas performance, gave India a commanding 231-run lead. Australia, on the other hand, escaped with a draw thanks to Steve Waugh’s 80 and Simon Katich’s 77.
#5 Ajit Agarkar- 6/41 at Adelaide, 2003-04
Ajit Agarkar (source: Twitter)
The Adelaide Test is most famous for Rahul Dravid’s brilliant 233 in the 2003/04 series. Ajit Agarkar (6/41), on the other hand, wreaked havoc in the bowling department and was instrumental in India drawing first blood in a Test series in Australia in the 21st century.
The Mumbai pacer made an early breakthrough, trapping opener Justin Langer LBW and then dismissing Ricky Ponting, who had scored a double century in the first innings, to put Australia ahead. He returned to take four quick wickets of Australia’s lower order. Agarkar’s six-wicket haul ensured that the hosts were dismissed for less than 200, giving India a winnable 230. The Test was eventually won by India by four wickets.
