This is a continuation of my blog from last weekend on BEST TEST MATCHES. Here are the remaining 5 Test matches:
6 England vs Australia in England 1981, is undoubtedly one of the best Ashes Test matches to have ever been witnessed, and the credit for that goes single handedly to the magnificent all-round ability of England’s Ian Botham. England were bowled out for a modest score of 174 in the first innings in reply to Australia’s total of 401 in their first innings, thereby England conceding a lead of 227 runs. Following on England were in an equally bad rut with 135 for 7 when fast bowler Graham Dilley joined Botham at crease, and they put on a remarkable partnership of 117 runs for 8th wicket. Given the state of the match, Botham swung at every delivery and scored 149 runs from 148 balls. In the end Australia had to score 130 runs in the 4th innings, and they were cruising to the target with 56 for 1. Then Bob Willis exhibited his brilliance with career-best figures of 15.1-3-43-8 and gave England an inconceivable 19 ru victory.
7 India vs Australia in India 1986. A double century from Dean Jones, along with centuries from David Boon and skipper Allan Border, saw Australia amass an imposing total of 574 in the 1st innings. India, despite Kapil Dev’s sparkling innings of 119 from 138 balls, were disappointing in their reply as they were all out for 397, giving Australia a lead of 177 runs. Australia were eager to push on for a victory after dominating the first 3 days, decided to declare their second innings on the score of just 170//5 after batting for 49 overs, thereby giving India a total of 348 to chase in their 2nd innings. Sunil Gavaskar’s innings of 90, along with handy contributions from the rest of India’s top order at a healthy rate gave a feeling that Australia had committed a huge blunder by declaring as early as they did. But the Australian spin duo of Greg Mathews and Ray Bright saved Border from humiliation as the pair accounted for 5 wickets each in the final innings of the match, thereby bowling out India for 347 runs, and gave us just the 2nd tied Test match in Test history.
8 England vs Australia in England 2005. With Australia’s star bowler Glen McGrath getting injured himself in practice, minutes before the toss. England took full advantage his absence as they posted 407 in the first innings. Australia conceded a lead of 99 runs, which put England in comfortable posiiton, but they were bowled out a paltry 182 courtesy of brilliance of Shane Warne who took 6 for 46 from 23 overs. Now Australia needed 282 for victory, but at one stage they were tottering at 175/8 and on verge of defeat before another twist followed in the form of unlikely resistance from Shane Warne, Bret lee, and Michael Kasprowicz. But their rare guard efforts went in vain and Australia lost the match by just 2 runs. What their efforts did do was ensure that the Test match would be remembered as the most iconic Tests ever in the years to come.
9 India vs Australia in India 2001. Here is the famous Eden Garden Test, which played an instrumental role in turning around the fortunes of Indian cricket. Australia had won the first Test meant that they had won 16 Tests on the trot. After scoring 445 in first innings, Australia bundled out India for 171, and India had to follow on. Then what followed was truly remarkable. Rahul Dravid joined VVS Laxman at the crease when the score was 232/4, and they put on historic partnership of 376 for the 5th wicket, with Laxman and Dravid scoring 281 and 180 respectively. Australia got the target of 384 to score in last innings, after having had their backs to the wall, put them under pressure on the 5th and final day of the Test, and they were bowled out for 212, and gave India a memorable victory by a comprehensive margin of 171 runs, and remember India were trailing by 264 runs in the first innings.
10 Australia vs West Indies in Australia 1960/61. This Test is considered as the greatest match to have ever been played in history of Test cricket. Few years back I written a full blog on this Test match. West Indies won the toss and chose to bat and scored 453 runs, courtesy of Sobers who made 132. Australia in their reply, battered West Indies’ first innings effort. Norman O’neill and Bob Simpson made 181 and 92 respectively, Australia total was 505 and they secured a lead of 52 runs in the first innings. In the 2nd innings West Indies were bowled out for 284, with skipper Frank Worrel scoring 65, and thus giving Australia a target of 233 for victory. West Indian knew they needed a strong start to have any chance of winning, and that is exactly what they got as Hall’s initial burst has Australia on the ropes at 92/6. Australian Captain Richie Benaud staged a recovery along with Alan Davidson as they put on 134 run partnership for 7th wicket, but late flurry of wickets meant that the Test was tied with Australia being bowled out for 232, which was probably the right result as both team did not deserve to lose.
Waiting for your review on this blog.
Anil Malik
Mumbai, India
9th May 2025