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The Bazball Hypothesis

No one could have predicted that the term 'Bazball' would take the game by storm when it was coined a year ago. Comparisons with the infamous Bodyline (coincidently another B word) used more than 90 years ago may feel inappropriate. But there has been no other strategy since Douglas Jardine invented the leg theory which threatens to overshadow the main Ashes contest.

The ambit of Bazball which started as just a brand of aggressive, positive cricket is constantly expanding. The umbrella field employed by Ben Stokes, his audacious declaration when Root was destroying the Aussie bowling and the left field selection of Moin Ali from test match oblivion are all now considered to be part of Bazball. Even a fairly orthodox batsman like Joe Root got caught up in this new buzz word. The bizarre reverse ramp shot attempted of the very 1st ball of day 4 from Pat Cummins and his dismissal jumping down the wicket to Nathan Lyon in the 2nd innings were completely out of character

Australia which chose a more conservative approach seemed to be playing a different game than their opponents. The fields Cummins set were over defensive and the batting was for a large part cautious right until the end of the match. The Aussie captain finally decided to take the fight to the opposition with some aggressive hitting against Root's part time spin.

Ultimately Australia's decision to stick to the basics won them the game. The old fashioned virtues of occupying the crease and grinding the bowling paid rich dividends to Khawaja, who was arguably the best batsman on either side in the match.

While Bazball has undoubtedly succeeded in generating unprecedented interest in test cricket, it still remains a hypothesis that needs to be fully tested before it becomes a blue print for other teams to follow. What better way of doing this than during an Ashes series. The question which has been on everyone’s mind is whether this new ultra aggressive style of batting will succeed against the formidable Australian bowling.

There are already rumblings from traditionalists like Geoff Boycott who think that England has got too caught up with Bazball and are in danger of reducing the Ashes to an exhibition. Unless results in the rest of the series go England's way, there will be others who jump on the bandwagon of criticizing England's new strategy. What ultimately matters is who has possession of the famous little urn at the end of the series. The jury is therefore still out on Bazball, we will soon know the verdict. Until then, we hope to see more nail-biting finishes. 2.1 million viewers tuned in to Sky Sports to watch the 1st test live, in addition to packed stands at Edgbaston. At a time when test cricket is facing an existential crisis, this is a victory in itself.

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The Ultimate Test

There is a quote displayed in bold letters in the Philippe Chatrier Court at the French Open 'Victory Belongs To The Most Tenacious'. This was amply demonstrated on Sunday when the tenacious and arguably greatest ever player Novak Djokovic won a record breaking 23rd Grand Slam title. Unfortunately there was little tenacity or fighting spirit in evidence a few hours earlier at the Oval, as India capitulated to a 209 run defeat to Australia. The match never really lived up to its billing as the 'Ultimate test'. The large Indian contingent at the ground must have felt really let down at the manner of defeat. There were a few embers of hope burning in the minds of fans when Kohli and Rahane resumed batting after a confident 71 run stand. However from the time Kohli fell to an expansive drive outside the off stump, it was clear that visions of another famous win in the manner of Brisbane 2021 were overly optimistic. Thereafter wickets feel in quick succession with no resistance displayed. Gavaskar did not hide his disappointment at India's performance, after all he was part of the team that successfully chased a 400 + target at Port of Spain in 1976. One also recalls Gavaskar's magnificent 221 in 1979 at the same Oval ground, as India fell agonising short by 9 runs chasing a mammoth 438 with the match ending in a draw. Unfortunately there were no such heroics this time. India failed to take advantage of the subcontinental weather, and a true wicket which aided both batting and bowling in equal measure. The decision to bat first appeared wrong in hindsight, especially based on how Head and Smith attacked the bowling on the 1st day. Why the world's number 1 bowler in rankings Ashwin was dropped for the 6th test in a row in England is inexplicable and extremely unfair to a modern day legend who must be wondering what more he needs to do to be picked consistently overseas. It is ironic that England have recalled Moin Ali who has not played any red ball cricket in a while for want of better spin options, whereas someone like Ashwin with 474 wickets to his credit is often left cooling his heals. Even if the match result might not have changed, there is no doubt that Ashwin's inclusion would have made the Indian attack far more potent. Ashwin would also make a great captain and we wish that like Kumble he gets a chance to lead the team prior to retirement.

Rahane transferred his IPL form to test cricket and should be given credit along with Jadeja and Shardul for keeping India in the game after everything seemed lost during the 1st innings. Australia were truly deserving winners and look in great shape for the Ashes. Boland was the stand out bowler and his style is tailor-made for English conditions. Head and Smith look set to torment the English bowlers throughout the summer. Green and Carey add great depth to the team.

As we look forward to the new ICC test cycle, the Indian selectors must blood some youngsters during the West Indies tour against relatively weak opposition. Good performances in the Ranji trophy should be rewarded and young players suited for test cricket should be identified early and given the right opportunities. The health of test cricket depends to a large extent on India doing well and therefore one hopes that the longer form of the game is given due importance by the BCCI. Whatever be the attractions of the T20 leagues, there is nothing more satisfying than watching a good test match, which will always be the pinnacle of the game.

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Triumph of the Nearly Men

The ITC test championship final lived up to its billing despite the capricious English weather playing truant. Overcoming the initial scepticism, this event is a worthy addition to the cricket calendar and provides much needed context to test matches.

Even the most devout Indian fan will agree that the better team won in the end. Full credit to India for putting up a great fight, especially the bowlers who kept them in the contest throughout the match. Alas, the batting frailties surfaced once again. Had India lasted another hour in the 2nd innings with 50 more runs in the kitty, a draw might have been achievable.

No quarter was asked for and none given in this war of attrition between two evenly matched teams. The great spirit with which the match was played without a single incident is worthy of emulation. The overhead conditions meant that the seamers were always in the game. Ashwin found some turn in the 4th innings, but did not have enough runs to play with. It was not an unplayable wicket and batsmen who were willing to grind it out did reasonably well.

The Kiwis who were so cruelly denied the title in the ODI world cup 2 years ago, finally won a major tournament. This success could not have come to a nicer bunch of guys. They finally shed the tag of eternal bridesmaids after reaching the knock out stage so many times without having anything to show for their efforts. The victory was a true team effort and proved the theory that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Conway and Jamieson showed again that they are emerging superstars and should go on to achieve greater feats in the future. Williamson, Southee, Boult and the entire team went about their business without any fuss or frills, which is the secret of their success. It was a fitting career finale for Watling, another self effacing cricketer who has achieved so much with bat and gloves.

India must be experiencing a terrible sense of deja vu after coming up short once again against the same opposition in an ICC event. Having lost in the 2000 champions trophy final and 2019 world cup semi finals, this was the 3rd occasion when a major title eluded India thanks to the doughty antipodeans.

After this disappointing result, the Indians needs to pick themselves up for the test series against England. The top order needs to click and will be key to India's fortunes. The bowling is the stronger suite for both teams, with India having a clear edge in the spin department. Ashwin and Jadeja could be the trump cards if there is dry warm weather, which everyone will be hoping for.

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A Tale of 2 Spinners

The combined haul of 59 out of 80 wickets bagged by Ashwin & Axar is a staggering statistic and a reflection of the stranglehold they had on the opposition. Axar’s bowling was a revelation and his unerring accuracy was a major factor in India’s success. England’s struggles against left arm spin continued after a torrid time against Embuldeniya in Sri Lanka. Ashwin took spin bowling to a different level and even the English commentators were in complete awe of his variations honed to perfection through assiduous preparation. 

While there was never a dull moment, fans felt a bit short-changed by the length and one-sided nature of the contests.Even after India lost the 1st test in Chennai  by 228 runs, they were expected to come back strongly, but not with such dominance. The quality of pitches in the 2nd & 3rd tests where the ball turned viciously from day one detracted from India’s victories and generated furious debates on whether these pitches were fit for international cricket. In addition to the turn, the pace of the wicket generated by the pink ball made even survival impossible for batsmen in the 3rd test at Ahmedabad.

The emphatic win by India on a perfectly good pitch in the final test however underlined the gulf between the teams and shifted the focus away from earlier debates. England’s strange rotation policy and puzzling team selection added to their woes. Moin Ali who went home after the 2nd test as part of the rotation policy was sorely missed. Jack Leach lacked support in the spin department with Bess just not looking the part at international level. Root with a surprising 5 wicket haul in the 3rd test had to turn his arm over quite often. Anderson bowled brilliantly in the few available opportunities and showed that he has not lost any of his skills after a mind boggling career of 160 tests over 18 years. Along with Broad, he is expected to play a major role during the English summer.

Apart from Joe Root’s double century in the 1st test, there was nothing much to write home about with regard to England’s batting. Their mental block while facing spin bowling will need to be overcome to succeed in the subcontinent. Don Lawrence who showed some promise in the last test produced the only other notable performance with the bat for the tourists.  

Siraj continued to impress during the few spells he bowled and Ishant Sharma’s return while reaching the coveted milestones of 100 tests and 300 test wickets augers well for future matches. India’s batting revolved around Rohit Sharma and his 161 in the 2nd test was a masterclass on how to bat on a difficult wicket. Rohit’s return to form was a great bonus, especially since the other Indian frontline batsmen struggled during the series. Their failures were glossed over thanks to the continuing brilliance of Pant, who made a match winning century in the final test. This combined with a vastly improved performance behind the stumps  drew comparisons with the Australian legend  Adam Gilchrist. The reverse sweep to the boundary against Anderson in the 4th test is a testament to Pant’s fearless and innovative batting. Washington Sundar who also made a crucial contribution along with Pant was unlucky to miss a century on two occasions and proved his showing in Australia was no flash in the pan. He clearly has the potential to play in the top order and is such an exciting prospect with both bat and ball.  Ashwin’s 106 in the 2nd test in front of his home crowd was the icing in the cake and reestablished his credentials as a genuine all rounder.

Looking forward to the world test championship final against New Zealand and the series in England, the Indian  top order definitely needs to click. It may be a good ploy to allow Shubman Gill to bat in the middle order to avoid exposing him to the swinging new ball in English conditions. Mayank Agarwal or Rahul could open instead. Blooding a young opener like Devdutt Padikkal during the tour may also not be a bad idea. The bowling department where India seems to have an embarrassment of riches has a settled look. Winning a test series in England after a gap of 14 years is a major frontier for India to conquer and will establish them as a true number one. This is not to forget the challenge of beating a spirited and talented New Zealand team in the first ever world test championship final. 

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Passage To India

It is a cause for celebration that international cricket is returning to India after more than a year. It is even more heartening that at least 50%  attendance will be allowed from the 2nd test. While a recorded artificial crowd noise is  played to create some sort of an atmosphere in the strange new world we live in, this will never come close to the real thing.

Chepauk has a rich tradition when it comes to hosting tests against England dating back to February 1934. India holds an impressive 5-3 advantage at this venue. I still recall watching my 1st ever test  in 1973 from one of the temporary stands which had been erected across a large part of the stadium. Tiger Pataudi’s 73 on his return to Indian colours and Keith Fletcher’s 97 not out are enduring memories of that exciting match which India won by 4 wickets. One of the sidelights was Gavaskar opening the bowling to get the shine off the ball before  Bedi, Chandrasekhar & Prassana spun a web around the opposition. England won by a convincing margin of 200 runs in 1977 taking an invincible 3-0 lead. A double century by GR Vishwanath in 1982 in a run fest marked the only draw between the teams at the M.A.Chidambaram stadium. Gatting & Fowler  scored double hundreds with England piling up 652 for 7 in 1985, Azharuddin’s 105 in the 2nd innings could not prevent a 9 wicket win. The teams met next after a gap of 8 years with India winning by an innings & 22 runs in a one-sided match in 1993. Tendulkar in his first Chennai appearance scored 165 runs.

India had 2 memorable wins against England in the last 2 matches played in Chennai in 2008 & 2016 which was also the last test played there. Tendulkar’s blistering century ably supported by Yuvraj, Sewag & Gambir helped India chase an unlikely 387 to win in 2008. Karun Nair who has unfortunately not been able to capitalise on a monumental 303 in 2016 along with Rahul who scored 199 helped in piling up a mammoth 759 for 7. Jadeja’s 7 wicket haul saw India romp home with an innings victory. Moin Ali’s 146 in the 1st innings was the only saving grace for the visitors. 

The Chepauk pitch despite being a spinner’s paradise is also known to aid pace on the first day. This should suit the legendary pair of Anderson & Broad, who rarely get picked together now. I cannot think of another pair who between them  have over 1100 test wickets. Archer & Wood who will feature in the latter part of the series can also be a handful on a really fast wicket. Leach, Bess and Moin Ali have their work cut out to make an impression on the strong Indian batting.

Ashwin will relish playing on his home ground and has added responsibility in leading a young spin attack the absence of Jadeja. The Indian selectors will need to pick 2 bowlers from Siraj, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav  & Shardul Thakur, which is a good problem to have. The batsmen more or less select themselves for the series, barring injury. Even if the spinners are expected to dominate, Bumrah & Ishant who is making another comeback should not be underestimated. 

The tourists have made things harder for themselves by resting Bairstow, one of their best players of spin in the team for the 1st 2 matches. Only Root playing in his 100th test, Stokes & possibly Moin Ali have the credentials to do well against the Indian spinners. The promising Ollie Pope has the potential to succeed despite a lack of experience playing in the subcontinent.  

How the wicket at the refurbished Sardar Patel stadium in Ahmedabad will behave is bit of a mystery. In the only test played between the 2 countries at this venue so far, the spinners reigned supreme. Pragyan Ojha starred in India’s victory with 9 wickets, while Swann picked up 5 wickets in the first innings. Pujara shot to fame with 206. Cook took the honours with the bat for England scoring 176 in the 2nd innings, despite which India won by 9 wickets. However the wicket at this venue has favoured pace bowling in the past, with Kapil Dev picking up 9 wickets against West Indies in the 1st ever test at this venue in 1983. Srinath bowled India to victory against South Africa with a match haul of 8 wickets in 1996.

After India’s heroics in Australia, it is natural for fans to get carried away. There can however be no room for complacency. We must remember that England won the series in 2012-13, which is no mean achievement given India’s impregnable home record

Even a neutral fan will find it difficult to bet against an Indian victory. But as we all know too well, stranger things have happened on a cricket field. Plenty of excitement is guaranteed if the contest comes even close to the recently concluded Australia series.

Test cricket is coming back back after a gap of 16 years to terrestrial television  in the UK on channel 4, which is available to most people. This should boost the viewership in a country still in lockdown, which desperately needs something to cheer about. 

There is the small matter of a place in the 1st ever world test championship final at stake, if either team needs an added incentive to do well in this marquee contest.

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A delightful denouement

As Rishab Pant scored the winnings runs with his trademark cover drive of Josh Hazlewood, the legion of Indian fans all over the globe felt a collective sense of relief and jubilation. It brought back memories of the world cup winning helicopter shot by Dhoni at Mumbai a decade back, which sparked a similar feeling of elation and hope.

This series win is arguably India’s biggest achievement in their test history, especially in the context of the unique challenges this team has had to endure.  Despite the great comeback at Melbourne & Sydney, there was a feeling of resignation to an inevitable defeat in the decider at Brisbane among Indian supporters, with such a depleted squad. Even fielding a eleven after a fresh spate of injuries seemed a huge challenge. Alas, we had underestimated the self-belief and resolve of this new breed of  Indian cricketers. The formidable record of the home team at the Gabba  and obvious mismatch in experience in the bowling department hardly mattered in the final equation. The young guns in the Indian team were unfazed by mere reputations or past history. The never say die spirit in the team is best symbolised by Mohammed Siraj who bowled like a veteran and always kept coming at the opposition, especially during his crucial 5 wicket haul in the 2nd innings. Washington Sundar and Shardul Thakur shocked the Aussies with their audacious stroke play during  the record 123 run seven wicket stand. This was truly the turning point of the match.The duo’s bowling was equally impressive and no one would have believed that they had been drafted in as replacements. Natarajan’s fairy tale continued, as he made an unexpected test debut to add to his maiden appearances in the other 2 formats. He gave 100% with the ball in both innings in the same quiet, undemonstrative manner.

Despite taking frequent knocks all over the body, Pujara with his dogged determination and unmatched powers of concentration reminded us of what true test match cricket was all about. Shubman Gill’s 91 was key in setting up the win and his batting can best be described as poetry in motion. He looks equally graceful  in defence and attack and fans will not mind going miles to watch him bat . Pant showed admirable restraint to complement his breathtaking stroke play all over the field, picking up a richly deserved man of the match award. 

While this victory was truly a team effort, one must not forget Ajinkya Rahane’s inspired and calm captaincy, which has sadly come to an end. It could not have been easy taking on the reins at such a troubled juncture after the Adelaide test.To his credit, Rahane never let these tensions reflect in his leadership style.

The Australian team would have never expected to lose the series and this result will lead to plenty of soul searching and post mortem. Our heart goes out to Pat Cummins, who showed what a class act  he is with sustained pace and unerring accuracy. Apart from being an all time great fast bowler, he is a true gentleman, which is rare combination.

As an epic series has ended, we can rejoice at the return of test cricket as the true pinnacle of the sport. The sheer drama and excitement this format provides is unmatched even in the midst of the ubiquitous T20 brand. While it is a tough act to follow, one hopes the tests against England this year both at home and away provide equally enthralling contests as the series Down Under. As Ravi Shastri mentioned in his post match talk to the team, they should enjoy this special moment.What they have achieved is truly special.

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The Great Escape

Looking back at the incredible Indian performance at Sydney, one cannot help drawing a parallel to the epic 1963 film which chronicled the escape of allied POWs from a German camp.

There are moments when sports is no longer a battle of skills but a test of character and determination. The Indian cricketers passed such a test at Sydney with flying colours. Ashwin and Vihari were an embodiment of courage and  national pride as they defied the pain barrier and physical ailments to save the match. The spirit shown by the entire team throughout the tour in coping with serious challenges on & off the field will act as an inspiration for future cricketers.

Rishab Pant displayed the fearlessness of youth with his blistering 97 in the 2nd innings and took the battle to the opponents when all seemed lost. With more luck, he could have even led India to a famous victory. Shubman Gill another great hope for the future continues to impress with his brilliance. Rohit Sharma’s strong return to international cricket after a long absence and the formation of a new opening pair with Gill bode well for India’s chances over the next few years. Although accused of batting slowly in the 1st innings, Pujara once gain proved how integral he is to India’s prospects in test cricket. The young pacers Siraj & Saini battled manfully and acted as the perfect foil to the matchless Bumrah, who never lost his smile even when catches were dropped of his bowling.  Jadeja staked another claim to be counted as one of the top all rounders in the game. His run out of Smith will be one of the enduring memories of the tour. The void created for the final test by injuries to Bumrah and Jadeja may be difficult to overcome even for such a spirited team. 

The Indian team will strain very sinew to retain the Border Gavaskar trophy, irrespective of which eleven players take the field in Brisbane. Irrespective of the result of this match, their heroics at Melbourne & Sydney will always be remembered. 

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Cometh the hour, cometh the man

Not even the most die-hard Indian fan could have predicted the remarkable transformation in fortunes over a week. Such an amazing comeback has never been witnessed in 143 years of test cricket.

Despite the odds being stacked heavily against them, the Indian team never lost belief in their abilities. While all the players can take immense pride in the victory at MCG, the stand-in captain Ajinkya Rahane deserves special praise both for his gutsy batting (112 & 27 not out) as well as astute captaincy. He led from the front and rescued the team with a display of grit and determination in both innings against what is arguably Australia’s best ever bowling attack. Rahane is the antithesis of the modern cricketer, with his quiet demeanor and self-effacing personality. But there is a steely resolve and sharp cricketing brain behind the calm exterior which makes him an ideal leader especially in such adverse circumstances.

The pedigree of Bumrah and Ashwin who does not always get his due was never in doubt, and they showed the way once again with wickets at crucial stages. Jadeja put to rest any remaining doubts about his utility to the team in all departments and proved the value of having a genuine all-rounder.

The sterling debuts of Shubman Gill & Mohammed Siraj showed that the future of Indian cricket is in safe hands.. Gill brought back memories of VVS Laxman with his wristy strokeplay and he batted with such assurance and poise in both innings. Our hearts went out to Siraj who chose to remain on tour despite the unfortunate demise of his father. The maturity and character he displayed after being drafted in to replace Shami was a key factor in the victory. His spell in the 2nd innings when India lost the services of Umesh Yadav due to injury was exceptional.

As India goes into the 3rd test starting at the SCG on 7th January on a high, it is important for them to stay grounded and continue to do the basics well. Australia who will be bolstered by the return of David Warner are expected to come back strongly. Both teams would do well to keep in mind the following words of Rudyard Kipling.

If you can meet with triumph and disaster

 And treat those two impostors just the same;

The lack of uniformity in using DRS system came into focus during the match when the Australian captain was adjudged caught when hot-spot did not reveal any edge but snicko showed a spike. However Pujara escaped during a similar sequence of events. There were also calls for the umpire’s call to be scrapped, when Starc was adjudged not out in the 2nd innings against the bowling of Ashwin, when the replay  clearly showed the ball hitting the stumps.

As India won at MCG, there was a dramatic finish at Mount Maunganui. New Zealand beat Pakistan by 101 runs with only four and a half overs to spare. This win was significant because New Zealand is now the No 1 team in the ICC test rankings for the first time in its history. This also keeps alive their chances to qualify for the world test championship final next year. There is everything to play for as Australia, India and New Zealand compete for the top 2 places.

[rajrag66]

From Hope to Despair and beyond

As I woke up to the sounds of Radio Australia on Saturday morning, hope that India would have consolidated their position in the test quickly turned to despair. Visions of repeating the victory in 2018-19 were dashed to the ground. There was an air of surrealism to hearing the Indian score of 36 for 9 and part of me hoped this was just a nightmare. Alas this was harsh reality and painful memories of the summer of 42 which fans had pushed to the dark recesses of their minds came flooding back. There is an eerie similarity to the frailty exhibited to accurate seam bowling directed outside the off stump between Lord 1974 and Adelaide 2020. Only the tormentors had changed from Arnold & Old to Cummins & Hazlewood. 

The Indian cricket fan is not known for unemotional and rational responses to the performances of their national team. This is probably true for sports fans all over the world whose moods fluctuate  with the fortunes of the teams they support. While national pride has undoubtedly been dented,  there is need for a clinical and professional approach to chart the way back from the depths plumbed recently.

The road to recovery in the series has been made almost impossible in the absence of the talismanic captain Kohli and 2 main strike bowlers Ishant & Shami. Things can however only get better from here and young batsmen like Shubman Gill and Pant who are expected to feature in the next test could provide the positivity sadly lacking especially in the 2nd innings. KL Rahul who can fit in both as an opener or in the middle order will also provide the much needed impetus to the scoring rate. This will balance the more conservative approach of Pujara and Rahane who will have the added burden of captaincy. There is a talk of an in-form Jadeja coming in to the team possibly in the place of Vihari. While this will be a bold move, Vihari definitely deserves another chance. Siraj is the most likely replacement for Shami and will have big shoes to fill. The Melbourne test will be crucial not just for this series, but could also set the tone for future series.

There is clearly a need to reorder priorities and give test cricket its due importance The disproportionate focus on white ball cricket and the IPL is clearly impacting the ability of younger batsmen to cope with the discipline and rigours of test cricket. While this may be an extreme measure, young batsmen should be shielded from T20 cricket in their formative years. The focus in the early years should be on developing a sound defensive technique. Kohli & Williamson are prime examples of success achieved in all forms based on a strong orthodox technique. 

Ensuring that all Indian cricketers play at least a few matches in domestic competitions such as the Ranji trophy to stay in touch with longer forms of the game, preparing sporting wickets for home matches and ensuring sufficient  preparation time on overseas tours are other badly needed measures  Finally having a role model like Rahul Dravid as the coach, whose determination & knowledge will rub off on the team will help immensely in bringing things back on track.

[rajrag66]

Indian Expeditions Down Under

There is a certain allure to cricket played in Australia. This could be attributed to the massive iconic venues, sunny weather when it is cold and dreary in most parts of the world, revolutionary television coverage pioneered by channel 9 and sporting wickets.

As the test series gets under way in Sydney with the 1st ever day and night match between the two countries, my mind goes back to the battles waged down under since I started following cricket in the 70s. The Aussies were practically invincible at home for most of that decade as they humiliated their bitter rivals England in 74-75 & the mighty Windies in 76-76. I still recall hearing about the exploits of Lillie, Thompson & the Chappell brothers through the crisp commentary of  Alan McGilvray & Jim Maxwell on Radio Australia short wave.

There had been only 2 previous tours by India to Australia in 1947-48 & 1967-68. On both occasions, the hosts had won 4-0. Therefore history was against the tourists, when they visited Australia at the end of 1977 after  a gap of 10 years, However India were up against a severely weakened team due to the exodus to Kerry Packer’s world series cricket. Only Thompson resisted the temptation of joining the Packer bandwagon and a 41- year old Simpson was recalled after several years of retirement to captain a young and virtually unknown team. It still turned out to be a close series with Australia winning 3-2. Simpson apart from marshalling his young troops well, also scored an epic 176 in the 2nd test at Perth and 100 in the final test in Adelaide with 539 runs in the series. Australia won the first 2 matches at Brisbane and Perth narrowly by 16 runs & 2 wickets respectively. Tony Mann became only the second batsman in test history to score a century as a night watchman at Perth.  India came back strongly with thumping wins at Melbourne & Sydney, as the Indian spin trio of Bedi (captain), Chandra & Prasanna wove their magic for the last time in their illustrious careers. Chandra picked up 12 wickets at Melbourne as he bowled India to victory. The final test at Adelaide went down to the wire with Australia romping home by 47 runs as India almost reached the massive 493 set for victory.  India felt the absence of a genuine fast bowler and in hindsight could have included Kapil Dev who was just making his mark in domestic cricket. Gavaskar scored 3 consecutive centuries and was well supported by Vishwanath and Mohinder Amarnath, all three finished with over 400 runs in the series. The Aussies uncovered a number of new talents during that series such as Peter Toohey, Rick Darling, Wayne Clarke, Graham Yallop, Gary Cozier & Craig Sarjeant.

The Packer boys had come back by the time India toured next in 1980-81. Thompson & Ian Chappell were no longer playing, but the home team had Len Pascoe, Alan Border, Kim Hughes, Graeme Wood  & Rodney Hogg to support stalwarts such as Greg Chappell, Lillie & Walters. The tourists made a shaky start losing easily in Sydney and scrapping through to a draw in Adelaide. Sandeep Patil was the hero at Adelaide with a blistering 174 after being knocked down by Len Pasco in the previous match. India defied expectations with a thrilling victory in the 3rd test at Melbourne to draw the series. Vishwanath whose place in the team was in doubt, silenced his critics with a brilliant century at the MCG. Gavaskar almost forfeited the match when he forced his partner Chetan Chauhan to walk off the field after an altercation with the opposition following a doubtful LBW decision. Luckily the manager Wing Commander Durrani intervened to cool things down. Chauhan who had a brilliant series was unlucky to miss out yet again on a well-deserved century. India successfully defended a meagre target of 142 thanks to the brilliance of Kapil Dev who braved a knee problem with pain killer injections to finish with figures of 5 for 28 as Australia was skittled out for 83. Kapil was ably supported by Dilip Doshi and Karsan Ghavri who bowled Greg Chappell round his legs in the 2nd innings. In addition to the test series, there was also a tri-series ODI competition featuring New Zealand as well. As was expected, the Indians who were still finding their feet in limited-over cricket did not fare well in this series. It was a treat to see the highlights brought by channel 9  for the first time during the 80-81 series. Even in those early days, their coverage was really innovative and brought out a different dimension to watching the game on TV.

After a gap of 5 years, India toured again in 1985-86. At the beginning of 1985, India stunned the cricketing world again in the ODIs. Following on from their shock win in the 1983 world cup, they won the world championship of cricket which was likely a mini-world cup  and held to mark the 150th anniversary of the European settlement in Victoria. The enduring image of the win was the Indian team going around the MCG ground after easily winning the final against Pakistan, in the Audi car won by Ravi Shastri who was declared the champion of champions. We were privileged to watch most of the matches in that tournament live and by then the channel 9 coverage had evolved considerably. Messers Greig, Lawry & Benaud delighted Indian fans with their magnificent commentary and insight into the game.

The 1985-86 tour was a tale of missed opportunities as India could not get over the line in at least 2 matches. They were foiled by some stoic resistance from the Aussies especially the captain Allan Border. Gavaskar scored 2 centuries and others like Amarnath & Srikkanth piled on the runs against a relatively weak attack. Craig McDermott was the only potent bowler on the Aussie side and they were still in a rebuilding phase after Kim Hughes had quit  the previous summer. Steve Waugh made his debut in the 2nd test and showed early glimpses of his talent . The other newcomers like  David Boon, Geoff Marsh and the beanpole like fast bowler Bruce Reid were to be become mainstays of the team in future years. India did very well in the ODI tri-series which also featured the Kiwis. They however could not beat the Aussies in the finals.

The next series in 1991-92 was quite a let-down for the Indian team which could not quite match a strong home side led by Allan Border with experienced cricketers like Boon, Marsh, McDermott, Merv Highes & Dean Jones. Mark Taylor who was establishing himself in the team had a brilliant series with 422 runs second only to David Boon who finished with 556 runs. Shane Warne had the most inauspicious start to his career at Sydney and his bowling was taken to the cleaners by Ravi Shastri who scored a double century. The saving grace for India was the batting of Tendulkar who displayed his prodigious talent in no small measure with 2 brilliant centuries.The other big gain for India during the tour was the emergence of Srinath as a genuine quick bowler following in the footsteps of Kapil Dev who still a force to reckon with on the tour capturing 25 wickets. Manoj Prabhakar also ended with a creditable haul of 19 wickets. In the tri-series which followed also featured the West Indies, India managed to reach the finals but were no match for the Aussies who won easily. Kris Srikkanth won 2 player of the match awards during this tournament on the last international tour of his career. The world cup which was the climax of a long Australian summer was also a disappointment, with the only bright spark for India being the victory against the eventual winners Pakistan. 

India had to wait almost 9 years for their next tour in 1999-2000. This was a very low-key series and the Indian team led by Tendulkar was no match for the Aussies. Bret Lee who was at his peak  broke the left thumb of the Indian opener Sadagopan Ramesh and along with McGrath proved lethal for the Indian battsman. India lost all 3 tests by huge margins despite Tendulkar’s determined displays. Ponting, Langer, Waugh & Gilchrist dominated the Indian bowling.The tri-series one-dayers featuring Pakistan were equally disastrous with India notching a solitary win in 8 matches.

The tour in 2003 was a watershed in India’ test history abroad. Well led by Sourav Ganguly, India proved they were no pushovers any more overseas. Ganguly set the tone for the Indian performance by scoring a brilliant 144 in the first test at Brisbane, which was drawn. Rahul Dravid’s brilliant double century to match Ricky Ponting who achieved the same feat and 6 for 41 by Ajith Agarkar helped them register a historic win in Adelaide. Australia came back strongly to win the next test at Melbourne. India almost won the final test at Sydney, which was Steve Waugh’s last match and he signed off with 80 in the 2nd innings. India had earlier posted a mammoth 705 for 7 in the 1st innings thanks to 241 from Tendulkar and 178 from Laxman.

It was mixed bag in 2007-08 and the tour was shrouded in controversy The second test in Sydney marred by poor umpiring decisions against the visitors, also saw the Monkeygate scandal when Harbhajan Singh was charged with racial abuse against Andrew Symonds. Harbhajan was suspended from the next test, which  was revoked after  a protest by India. Steve Bucknor who made some contentious decisions was stood down by the ICC from the next match at Perth, which also created a controversy. The Sydney test had a dramatic climax, with Michael Clarke getting 3 wickets in the last over of the game. India went into the Perth test  down 0-2  after losing the 1st test at Melbourne by a massive 371 runs and the 2nd test at Sydney by 122 runs despite gaining a substantial  1st innings lead. The tourists stayed alive in the series winning the Perth test  mainly due to some splendid bowling by the young Ishant Sharma. His spell in Perth against Ponting arguably the best batsman in the world at the time is still a vivid memory. Sehwag made a triumphant comeback with 151 in the last test in Adelaide, which ended in a draw. Laxman who relished batting on the hard wickets continued his dominance over the Australia bowlers. He finished 2nd in the batting averages after Tendulkar who got over 500 runs with 2 centuries. Kumble’s leadership during a difficult series was commendable and he also led the bowling averages with 20 wickets second only to Brett Lee with 24 wickets. India lost the series 1-2, but had the consolation of winning the tri-series that followed, which also featured Sri Lanka.

The tour in 2011-12 was a rather forgettable affair and capped a miserable year following India’s crushing defeat in England that summer. Two legends Dravid & Laxman retired after the Aussie series. They will be remembered as much for exemplary conduct as for their sublime batting skills. Their record match winning 376 run 5th wicket partnership in Eden Gardens against Steve Waugh’s men in 2001 is the best in Indian test history. The 2011-12 series also saw the coming of age of Virat Kohli who resurrected his career with a brilliant 116 in the last test at Adelaide. This could not prevent India reeling to a 4th loss and a series whitewash. They also finished last in the tr-series also featuring Sri Lanka.

The 2014 test series was preceded by the one of the biggest tragedies in cricketing history. The young and promising life of Philip Hughes was cruelly cut short after he died following a head injury during a Sheffield shield match. The series was slightly delayed and itinerary rearranged as this extremely unfortunate event cast a pall of gloom. India almost pulled off a sensational win in the 1st test at Adelaide chasing 364 to win falling short by only 49 runs. Credit for this goes to Virat Kohli who scored a sensational 141 to add to his 115 in the first innings. Kohli also deputised as captain for the injured Dhoni, before taking over on a permanent basis after the 3rd test at Melbourne when Dhoni announced his retirement from test cricket. Murali Vijay was another big success scoring a century in the 2nd test as well as coming close to 3 figures on two other occasions with 99 &  80. India drew the last 2 tests after  losses at Adelaide & Brisbane. India had a disappointing tri-series featuring England, losing 3 of the 4 matches. They also failed to defend the world cup held in Australia in 2015, losing convincingly to the hosts in the semis after a promising run including a quarter-final win over Pakistan.

India created history during the 2018-19 tour by finally winning a test series in Australia 2-1. The biggest hero from an Indian point of view was Cheteshwar Pujara who ended with 3 centuries including a brilliant 199 in the last test at Sydney. He was ably supported by Kohli, debutant Mayank Agarwal & the young Rishabh Pant who also got a century in the last test when India scored a mammoth 622 for 7 in the 1st innings. Bumrah was sensational with the ball and was ably supported by Shami & Kuldeep Yadav. India also won the ODI series that followed the tests 2-1 ending possibly one of their best ever overseas tours. The only slight disappointment was the absence of Warner & Smith who were serving their suspension due to the ball tampering incident in South Africa. This should not detract from the merit of India’s performance.

It has been bit of a roller coaster ride for the Indian team down under over the years. In the same vein, they had a fairly rough start in the ODI series this time, salvaging some pride in the last match after losing the series. However they made up with a brilliant 2-1 victory in the T20s, which saw a new star in the horizon in the form of the debutant T.Natarajan. Kohli who was in top form in the T20s, will be missed both as a captain and batsman when he is away on paternity leave after the 2nd test. The experience of Pujara and Rahane will be needed in the absence of Kohli. India will also be hoping that the younger batsmen like Mayank Agarwal and Shubman Gill make a substantial contribution. Ishant Sharma who has been a star against Austraia will also be sadly missed, but hopefully Bumrah and Shami  will repeat their performance from last time. Fans on both sides will be hoping that this rivalry which is the next biggest after the Ashes lives up to its billing.