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Posted: 2024-11-20 01:38:59

Australia and India are arguably international cricket's biggest and best teams and share a history that has simmered (and sometimes boiled over) throughout the years.

From the vastly different playing conditions to legends of the game on both sides, the cricket itself has always been of a sublime quality that few sides can match.

Throughout the summer, we'll look back at some of the best stories and share our own favourite moments.

Join us to continue the conversation on our live blogs and on the radio over the summer, with the first Test starting Friday, November 22, before the readers' top 10 is revealed ahead of the fifth Test at the SCG from January 3.

1. Mankad becomes more than a name (1947)

A black and white image of an Indian cricketer
Vinoo Mankad wrote himself in the cricketing lexicon with a move in the 1947 Test at the SCG.  ()

It's the mode of dismissal that provokes desperate, heated argument whenever it's (rarely) deployed — the running out of the non-striker by the bowler as he runs in to bowl.

The Mankad dismissal is named after Indian player Vinoo Mankad, a stylish opening bat and orthodox left-arm spinner, who dismissed Australian batter Bill Brown twice during India's tour of Australia in 1947.

During a practice match at the SCG, Brown was taking liberties as the non-striker to gain a yard as Mankad ran in to bowl. First, Mankad warned Brown and beckoned the Queenslander back into his crease. But the second time, as he was perfectly entitled to do under the laws of the game, he removed the bails.

It wasn't the first time it had been done — records showed the tactic existing as far back as the early 1800s.

But when Mankad did the same thing, to the same batter, at the same ground a few days later in an official Test match, the move got international attention.

Bill O'Reilly and Don Bradman both said Brown was at fault for trying to steal a yard and, for years there was remarkably little controversy. How things change.

2. India and Australia's women sit school Test (1977)

Cric1
The Test was an historic moment for both the Australian and the Indian players.

Some 58 women's Test matches had taken place before Australia met India for the first time, at the inauspicious surrounds of the Hale School in Perth's west.

Australia made 266 in their first innings after winning the toss, with number six batter Elaine Bray top scoring with 86. 

India was then rolled for just 122, and the Aussies piled on the pressure, declaring their second innings at 1-152 after half centuries to openers Margaret Jennings (57) and Lorraine Hill (74).

Chasing 297 to win, a half century from skipper Shantha Rangaswamy was not enough as Raelee Thompson took 4-41 as India was bowled out for just 149.

3. Simpson leads Aussies decimated by World Series (1977)

Sipmsons

It's fair to say that 1977 was a seismic year for Australian cricket. 

The World Series Cricket grenade had cause the cricket war to explode, ripping all of Australia's biggest names bar Jeff Thompson out of contention for official Tests as they defected to play in Kerry Packer's Super Tests.

While the Australians and the West Indians met at a sparsely populated VFL Park, Australia and India played the first Test at the Gabba, led by the recalled 41-year-old Bob Simpson.

Simpson top scored in the second innings in Brisbane as the Aussies won a tense encounter by 16 runs.

A win at the WACA saw Australia leap out to a 2-0 series lead before India hit back with big wins at the MCG and SCG.

However, Captain Bob stood up in the final Test at Adelaide Oval, scoring 100 and 51 as the Aussies claimed a 47-run victory to seal a 3–2 series win. 

4. Dean Jones's miracle 210 (1986)

Players gather around Dean Jones (second from right) as he vomits during a Test innings in Chennai in 1986.
Dean Jones vomit and urinated in his clothes while suffering horrendously from dehydration during his double century in Chennai in 1986.()

It's the sort of innings that establishes a batter into sporting folklore — and does untold damage to their body in the process.

So much has been written about Dean Jones's innings, where he toiled and broiled through the impossible heat in Chennai, chided by his skipper as being a "soft Victorian" for wanting to quit and, reportedly, remembering nothing much after he passed his century.

It wasn't Jones's only remarkable moment for Australia, but inarguably the most dramatic as he became the first Australian to score 200 in India, all while battling full-body cramping, vomiting and, when he reached the 170s, unable to stop himself urinating in his playing kit.

"He would hit me for a boundary, go to mid-wicket, vomit, come back, do that again. It was amazing," India spinner Maninder Singh said of Jones, who lost 7 kilograms during the Test.

Jones eventually collapsed in the sheds and needed to be put on a drip in hospital to recover as the two sides, in his absence, played out one of the most extraordinary of Test matches to a thrilling conclusion.

5. The (other) tied Test (1986)

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This was only the second time that a Test has ever finished in a tie.

Australia made a monster 7-574 in the first innings, thanks to that double hundred from Dean Jones and tons to David Boon and skipper Allan Border.

India captain Kapil Dev added a hundred of his own but saw his side concede a 177-run first-innings lead, and would be set a target of 348 to win the Test.

And they were looking pretty good, Sunil Gavaskar scoring 90 to put India on 2-204.

But then India faltered, falling from 6-331 to be all out for 347, as Greg Matthews completed his five-wicket haul by trapping Maninder Singh LBW, with spinner Ray Bright taking the other five.

6. Teen Tendulkar arrives in Australia (1992)

India cricketer Sachin Tendulkar stands in a hallway at an airport while carrying his bags.
Sachin Tendulkar made his Test debut at 16 and first toured Australia at 18.()

He was just 18 years old, but Sachin Tendulkar was already 11 games and two years into his Test career when he arrived for his first tour of Australia in the summer of 1991.

With a match-saving unbeaten ton in England to his name, he was shaping as a masterful batter with potential almost unmatched among his peers, and that was all on show in his third-Test performance.

Opener Ravi Shastri scored 206 — his highest Test score — but it was Tendulkar that shone brightest in their 196-run fifth-wicket stand at the SCG, withstanding the Australian bowlers to remain not out on 148 as India established a first-innings lead.

It was the first of his six centuries in Australia during an unrivalled 21-year span.

That SCG Test was memorable for one other young player, who made his bow for the hosts, but it was far from auspicious.

7. Warne 'smashed' in SCG debut (1992)

Shane Warne completes his bowling action in his first Test against India at the SCG.
Shane Warne didn't start as he meant to go on.()

Shane Warne's start to his international career in the third Test at the SCG in 1992 was less glamorous than his legendary Test career would suggest.

Australia's bowling attack was diminished when lanky left-arm opening bowler Bruce Reid was cut down by a side strain after just four overs, leaving Craig McDermott, Merv Hughes and the 21-year-old Warne as the only frontline bowling options against a rampant Ravi Shastri and Sachin Tendulkar.

"I got smashed to every single part of the Sydney Cricket Ground," Warne said almost 20 years after that day.

Warne bowled 45 overs and finished with 1-150, but he did nab the wicket of India legend Shastri, caught at deep cover by Victorian teammate Dean Jones.

"Well, I'll never play again, but at least they can't take that away from me," Warne said of his feelings after that day.

Fifty per cent right, Warnie.

8. Tendulkar takes down Warne (1998)

India batter Sachin Tendulkar hits a hooks shot during a Test against Australia in Chennai.
In a battle of cricket titans, Tendulkar laughed longest.()

The best batter in the world taking on the best spinner in the world led to one of the most anticipated battles within a battle during the first Test of Australia's 1998 Tour of India at Chennai.

First blood decidedly went to Warne, having Tendulkar caught by Mark Taylor at slip for just 4 as India was bowled out for 257. Warne took 4-85.

Australia established a 71-run lead after its first dig (Tendulkar caught Warne off the bowling of Anil Kumble during that innings, as an aside) before the Indians erased that to be 2-115 as Tendulkar came to the crease.

Warne was immediately called upon to bowl as Tendulkar came out — and Tendulkar blew him away.

Adopting an open stance to counter Warne's turn from the rough, and playing the ball devilishly late, Tendulkar toyed with Warne to score 155 not out off 191 balls — his strike rate of 81.15 was best of any batter bar Sourav Ganguly, whose 36-ball cameo preceded a declaration of 4-418.

Warne ended with innings figures of 1-122 from his 30 overs.

Australia was then bowled out for 168, handing India a commanding victory. 

9. Desert Storm (1998)

Tendulks1

A nondescript ODI has to be pretty special to make a list like this, but this round-robin clash in the Sharjah Cup probably counts.

Australia managed 7-284 in the day night match in Sharjah thanks to an unbeaten 101 from Michael Bevan.

India needed to win or only lose narrowly qualify for the final, which was set to be played on ANZAC Day just a couple of days later. Otherwise, it would be New Zealand who would meet the Aussies.

Soon after India began its chase, a sandstorm stopped play, reducing India's target from 285 to 276 in 46 overs.

After the resumption, Sachin Tendulkar stepped up to the task, blasting 143 from 131 to put India within touching distance.

Although they ultimately fell short, Tendulkar used that innings as a springboard in the final at the same venue, hitting 134 in 131 balls to hand India a six-wicket victory with nine balls to spare.

10. Ten-duck-ar (1999)

Glenn McGrath celebrates in front of Sachin Tendulkar
Glenn McGrath trapped a bemused Sachin Tendulkar LBW, after the little master was hit on the shoulder.()

There wouldn't be a list of memorable moments between these two nations without at least one debatable umpiring decision.

In the fourth innings of the Adelaide Oval Test of 1999, with India 3-27 chasing 396 to win, India captain Sachin Tendulkar was facing Glenn McGrath, who intimated that he would pepper the little master with a smattering of short bowling.

McGrath came steaming in and pitched the ball short, so Tendulkar ducked, but the ball didn't get up as much as expected and struck him on the back of his shoulder.

Sachin Tendulkar ducks into a ball and is out LBW while playing a Test for India against Australia.
Would DRS have saved The Little Master?()

After deliberating, umpire Daryl Harper raised his finger to dismiss Tendulkar for a five-ball duck.

India was all out for 110, giving Australia a 285-run victory and an open can of worms about the use of home umpires in Test matches.

So, was it out? Decades before ball tracking, it's hard to tell, but on closer view you could be convinced that the ball would have clipped the stumps.

11. Brett Lee's five on debut (1999)

Brett Lee celebrates
Brett Lee had a debut to remember at the MCG.()

It's the stuff of dreams. 

Boxing Day. The MCG. A fresh baggy green in your possession. And five Test wickets on debut.

Brett Lee, replacing Michael Kasprowicz in the side, burst into the Test match arena with a sparkling 5-47 in Melbourne in 1999, including the wicket of opener Sadagoppan Ramesh with just the fourth ball of his 76-Test career.

It was his first of 10 five-wicket hauls and set him on the path to 310 scalps at Test level.

Sadly, intermittently poor weather meant that just 23,127 spectators came through the gates on what was day three of the Test to see Lee's exploits.

12. Harbhajan's hat-trick (2001)

Harbhajan Singh celebrates
Harbhajan Singh took a memorable hat-trick at Eden Gardens.()

Australia was looking in pretty good shape in the second Test of the 2001 series at Kolkata's Eden Gardens.

The Aussies were, in fact, cruising along very nicely at 4-252 with Ricky Ponting and Steve Waugh in the middle.

But Harbhajan Singh was in no mood to let the Aussies streak away.

He had Ponting LBW for just 6, before repeating the dose to Adam Gilchrist (0) the very next ball — although an inside edge should perhaps have ended the sequence in its tracks. 

In came Shane Warne but he was caught by Sadagoppan Ramesh at forward short leg for another duck to give India its first Test hat-trick.

13. Laxman and Dravid's Kolkata heroics (2001)

VVS Laxman and Raul Dravid stand next to each other
VVS Laxman (left) and Rahul Dravid put Australia's attack to the sword.()

Despite Harbhajan's hat-trick, things were not looking great for India in the second Test of the 2001 series at Eden Gardens.

Australia had scored 445 in its first innings and then bowled out India for just 171 in reply.

Given India was still trailing by 274 runs, Australia skipper Steve Waugh enforced the follow-on.

Enter VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid.

The pair came together with India still trailing by 42 runs, but piled on a whopping 376-run partnership, with Laxman scoring a magical 281 and Dravid 180 as they batted all the way through day four.

India eventually declared on 7-657 and, thanks to young offie Harbhajan Singh's 6-73 and Sachin Tendulkar's leg spin, ripped through the Aussies to claim a memorable 171-run victory, taking seven wickets in the final session to end Australia's record winning streak at 16 Tests.

14. Hayden sweeps India aside (2001)

Matthew Hayden sweeps
Matthew Hayden played the series of his career to make himself an undroppable part of Australia's Test side.()

It might seem crazy to think now, but there was a time when big country Queenslander Matthew Hayden was not an automatic selection at the top of the Australian batting line up around the turn of the century.

Before Australia toured India in 2001, Hayden averaged just 24.36 from his 13 Tests and had scored just one century.

However, on that tour of India, Hayden scored 549 runs at an average of 109.80, an Australian record for a three-Test series.

Hayden became a master of the conditions, sweeping his way to mammoth scores and establishing himself as the go-to opener for years to come.

15. Ponting conquers India and the world (2003)

Ricky Ponting hits a shot
Ricky Ponting's batting was unparalleled during the 2003 Cricket World Cup.()

Sourav Ganguly must still think about his decision to make Australia bat first although in truth, he'd rather his bowlers had just been better on a pitch that was doing enough.

Instead, their faulty radars allowed Adam Gilchrist (57 from 48) and Matthew Hayden (37 from 54) to put on 105 runs in just 14 overs.

With a platform like that, Ricky Ponting didn't need a second invitation.

Whacking 140 from 121 balls, the Australian skipper put on a then-ODI record 234 run partnership with Damien Martyn (88 from 84), who was batting with a broken thumb.

Australia's 2-359 was its highest ever ODI score at the time — and India wilted under the pressure of the chase, bowled out for 234 and handing Australia a record 125-run victory and their second consecutive Cricket World Cup win.

16. Ricky Ponting's twin double tons (2003)

Ricky Ponting blows a kiss
Ricky Ponting was in sublime form in 2003.()

When you're on, you're on, and during the 2003 home series against India, Ricky Ponting was very much on.

After plundering 242 in the first innings in Adelaide, Ponting backed up by smashing what would remain his highest ever Test score of 257 in the following Test in Melbourne.

Both those innings come with contrasting memories.

The first ended in defeat, a second innings, 17-ball duck from Ponting part of a dismal collapse that saw Australia fall to 196 all out.

But at the Boxing Day Test, Ponting returned to form, leading Australia to a 192-run first-innings lead and a series-levelling nine-wicket win.

Ponting's innings was very much needed in Melbourne, after Virender Sehwag hit a wonderful opening day 195 from just 233 balls.

Had it not been for a second-morning collapse from the tourists, it was an innings that could — and perhaps should — have put India in a position to win the second Test and take a 2-0 series lead.

17. Steve Waugh bows out with 80 in his final Test innings (2004)

Steve Waugh with an Australia flag around his shoulders
Steve Waugh bowed out of Test cricket at the SCG on January 6, 2004.()

A battler until the very end, Steve Waugh had to show all of his grittiness to help Australia salvage a draw in his final Test innings.

Chasing a nominal 443 to win at the SCG, Australia was wobbling at 3-170 when the skipper came to the crease during the afternoon session on the final day, a wobble exacerbated when Ricky Ponting was out to leave Australia at 4-196.

But Steve Waugh was not one to let nerves get the better of him, not in his 168th and final Test match.

Waugh batted for almost three hours for a 159-ball 80 to settle the Aussies and give the 27,056 fans in attendance one final, fitting memory of one of Australia's greatest.

18. Pup bursts onto the scene (2004)

Michael Clarke smiles as he lifts his bat and cap during a Test match.
Test careers don't start much better than Michael Clarke's.()

A young New South Welshman becoming Australia's golden child is a well-worn cliché, and Michael Clarke fit the mould perfectly — frosted tips, soul patch, diamond stud and all.

But the 23-year-old immediately proved even the most ardent critics wrong and warned the world Australia's golden era might continue with his debut in the first Test of Australia's 2004 tour of India.

Stepping into the massive shoes of the injured Ricky Ponting, Clarke walked to the crease with Australia teetering at 4-149 and went about putting his country on top with a majestic 151 in trying circumstances.

First he shared a 106-run partnership with future antagonist Simon Katich, then paired with skipper and fellow centurion Adam Gilchrist for 167 runs to lay the platform from which Australia launched itself to victory.

He was named player of the match in the opening win and went on to score 400 runs across the four Tests at a series-topping average of 57.14.

As an appetiser for his future exploits, Clarke also took 6-9 in 32 balls with his left-arm finger spin to bowl India out for 205 and give Australia a chance in the final Test at Wankhede, although a final-innings collapse saw them fall 14 runs short of their 107-run target.

19. Gilchrist leads Australia to series win in India (2004)

Adam Glichrist screams and punches the air
Adam Gilchrist led Australia to an unassailable 2-0 series lead over India in his three Tests as stand-in skipper.()

Winning a Test series in India is hard. Really hard.

But Australia, under the captaincy of Adam Gilchrist — standing in for Ricky Ponting — managed to do just that in 2004, claiming a 2-1 series victory.

It all started with debutant Michael Clarke's 151 in Bengaluru as Australia romped to a 2017-run victory.

Then, Damien Martyn's brilliant 210-ball 104 across over four-and-a-half hours in the third innings of the match in Chennai helped salvage a draw heading into the aforementioned third Test in Nagpur.

India salvaged some pride in a low-scoring victory by 13 runs at the Wankhede in the Mumbai fourth Test, as Australia claimed a magnificent series win — one of just two teams that have managed to do so on Indian soil over the past two decades.

20. Karen Rolton rolls India in their first World Cup final (2005)

GettyImages-52673349
Karen Rolton was dominant for Australia in their clash with India.

It may have been India's first appearance in a Women's Cricket World Cup final, but it was far from being Australia's first rodeo — and it showed.

Belinda Clark won the toss and opted to bat, but before long the Aussies were 2-31 and then 3-71.

Karen Rolton though, steadied the ship, scoring a brilliant unbeaten 107, putting on 139 for the fourth wicket with Lisa Sthalekar.

Set 216 to win, India crumbled to be all out for 117 as Australia completed a 98-run victory.

It could have been so different for India though. Rolton had been dropped by Amita Sharma when she was on 60.

21. Michael Clarke's three late wickets at the SCG (2008)

Australia celebrates with Michael Clarke
Australia came back from the dead to win the 2008 SCG Test.()

When Ricky Ponting threw Michael Clarke the ball late on the final day at the SCG, the Australian skipper admitted it was "the last roll of the dice".

Five balls later, Clarke had 3-5 and Australia had claimed a record-equalling 16th Test win in a row.

"Michael Clarke's got the golden touch," Ponting said of his young Pup, while man of the match Andrew Symonds described Clarke as "comfortably one of the luckiest blokes I know".

Clarke picked up the last three wickets from only five balls as Australia sneaked home to take a 2-0 series led with just minutes remaining in the match.

India will point to some horrible umpiring decisions that went against them — including Rahul Dravid being given out caught off his pad and a contentious catch by Clarke himself to remove captain Sourav Ganguly.

Clarke said there was "not a chance in hell" that he thought Australia could win the game — "I think that's why Punter threw me the ball" he said.

"India, though, did really well to fight as they did."

Scant consolation, unfortunately, in a match that would forever be remembered for other reasons than the phenomenal finish.

22. Monkeygate (2008)

Harbhajan Singh walks past Andrew Symonds
Harbhajan Singh's comments to Andrew Symonds were initially deemed racist before being downgraded to simply offensive.()

The lowest point of India-Australian relations on the cricket pitch.

A bad-tempered clash at the SCG was embroiled in further controversy when Harbhajan Singh was alleged to have called Andrew Symonds a monkey.

With Singh slapped with a three-game ban by match referee Mike Procter, the BCCI spat the dummy and threatened to pull out of the tour.

Sachin Tendulkar, who was batting with Singh at the time, said his teammate had used an offensive Hindi term, but not a racist one.

Australia's players said that had not been the case.

An appeal against the ban found that Singh had not racially abused Symonds and would be permitted to play, to the fury of Australia's players, who felt let down by Cricket Australia.

After his retirement, Symonds said the events had an enormous impact on him, shortening his international career.

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