Revision as of 17:29, 20 January 2019

India versus Australia in the World Cup, Graphic courtesy: The Times of India

1969

Test match in Delhi

SUNIL GAVASKAR, On Day 4, fears of Kotla, 1969 when pitch started behaving, January 28, 2018: The Times of India

The last time one heard of a dramatic improvement in the condition of a pitch was way back in 1969, when Australia toured India under Bill Lawry. That was the Test match at the Ferozeshah Kotla in Delhi and India, after having bowled Australia for a low score in the second innings, were left to chase 190-odd in the fourth innings.

The Indian spinners had turned the ball considerably and with the guile — added to their natural talent — had made Australia’s batsmen look pretty ordinary. Australia had Ashley Mallet and John Gleason in their ranks and so had the spin component along with the pace of Graham Mc-Kenzie, Alan Connolly to make India’s run chase tough if not impossible.

What happened was quite incredible as India coasted to an easy win, losing only three wickets in the bargain. Mallet hardly got to turn the ball and India’s batsmen being good players of spin were not going to fail if the ball wasn’t turning. The morning session on the fourth day at the Wanderers reminded of that Delhi game as the pitch, which had been the subject of much discussion the previous day, had seemingly gone to sleep.

The ball hardly jumped up awkwardly and while it went past the outside edge quite regularly, India failed to get a single wicket in the pre-lunch session. Both Amla and Elgar batted with great gumption and determination and ran very well between the wickets to keep the strike moving, making it difficult for the bowlers to bowl to the right and left-hand combination.

Amla got a half century in each innings on this pitch, which is a terrific achievement and tells you how underrated a player he is. Elgar has always been a fighter and a gritty player batting well within his limitations. The wickets of de Villiers and Amla, however, was just the tonic that India needed and it paved the way for a famous win. PMG/ESP

India’s Test Wins In Australia: 1977 onwards

India’s high-five down under: 1977-2008

[ From the archives of the Times of India]

Fast and bouncy wickets, quality opposition and general tendency to underperform abroad have been key factors for India having never won a series in Australia since 1947-48, their first tour Down Under. However, they have recorded five Test wins which rank among their best triumphs. We take a look at those cherished wins...

MCG, 1977-78

Playing against an Australian team missing all the top stars due to the ‘Packer revolution’, India were staring down the barrel after being 0-2 down, having lost the Tests in Adelaide and Perth. The Aussies were being led by Bobby Simpson, who had been dragged out of retirement. The visitors, however, turned it all around magnificently at the MCG, recording their first Test win Down Under. The stars for India were legendary opener Sunil Gavaskar, who scored 118 in the second innings, and leggie Bhagwat Chandrashekhar, who took six wickets in each innings to leave the Aussies bamboozled.

Sydney, Jan 1978

SCG, 1977-78: Having smelt blood, India were on a roll and decimated Australia by an innings and two runs in the game at Sydney, a venue which favoured their traditional strength — spin. Chandrashekhar, Bishan Bedi and Erapalli Prasanna left the Aussies in a ‘spin’. Australia could manage just 131 in the first innings. India replied with 396 for eight declared and sealed the game. Gavaskar, who hit three hundreds in that series, added 97 for the first wicket with Chetan Chauhan. Gundappa Viswanath top-scored with 79, Dilip Vengsarkar got 48, but the real surprise package was seamer Karsan Ghavri, who went on to make 64. Australia fought hard in the second essay, but the Indian spinners were not to be denied their glory.

India levelled the series with a victory by an innings and two runs. While the spinners — Chandrasekhar, Erapalli Prasanna and Bishan Bedi — spun a web around the Aussies, Gundappa Viswanath’s 79 played a pivotal role in India getting 265-run lead in the first innings.

MCG, 1981

This can safely be labelled as ‘Kapil’s Test’. Bowling with a torn hamstring, Kapil took five for 28 to earn India a 59-run victory. This game had plenty of memorable action. Gavaskar, after a spat with Dennis Lille, threatened to take fellow opener Chetan Chauhan off the field and concede the Test. It would have been a diplomatic disaster had it not been for the timely intervention of wing commander Durrani, who was the manager on that tour. Interestingly, Ghavri got Greg Chappell in both the innings, the second time for a blob.

ADELAIDE, 2003-04

Thanks to a fighting hundred by Sourav Ganguly at Brisbane, India had begun with a bang. At Adelaide, Australia scored 398 for five on Day 1. The Kangaroos finished at 556, with Ricky Ponting getting 242. Buoyed by Rahul Dravid’s 233 and VVS Laxman’s 148, India replied strongly with 523. Dravid and Laxman again tormented the Aussies by batting together a whole day. Australia suffered a shocking collapse in the second innings, with seamer Ajit Agarkar taking 6-41. Dravid anchored a tense chase beautifully with an unbeaten 72 as India recorded a welldeserved win.

PERTH, 2007-08

Arguably India’s greatest overseas triumph. On the bounciest wicket in the world, India went into the game in the worst possible frame of mind. They had lost two Tests already, and worse, were hounded by the ‘Monkeygate’ scandal that threatened the tour altogether. Pleasantly surprising everyone, India put all controversies behind to beat Australia. Ishant Sharma got Ponting out after delivering a spell the Aussie great himself later termed as the “best” he had faced all his life. Irfan Pathan took five wickets and scored 46 to win the Man of the Match award while Rahul Dravid scored a crucial 93. Australia were left stunned after the loss and many former players demanded an inquest into why the home team’s pacers didn’t swing the ball much. The Aussies were also accused of lacking aggression after the happenings in Sydney. For India, a win seemed like poetic justice.

Adelaide, 2018

The 31-run victory here on Monday was India’s third narrowest in terms of runs. Never before in the 70-year history of Indo-Australian Test cricket had an Indian team won the series opener Down Under.

1986: Tied test, Maninder’s questionable dismissal

Manuja Veerappa, TIED TEST: 30 YEARS ON - Maninder was out, I stand by my decision: Vikramraju, Sep 20 2016 : The Times of India

1986: Tied test vs. Australia, Maninder’s questionable dismissal

On September 22, Thursday, it will be 30 years since the second-ever tied Test match ended at the MA Chidambaram stadium. The leg-before dismissal of Maninder Singh off Australian spinner Greg Matthews in the second last ball of the final over, to date, haunts many Indians.

But the man who delivered the verdict -umpire V Vikramraju -prefers to remember the game for the quality of cricket rather than the controversy which erupted following his decision which many players thought was contentious.

On Monday, as the affable 82year-old regaled fellow umpires with stories from the `good old days', the Chennai Test was the highlight. He was even felicitated by umpires in Hubballi to mark the 30th anniversary of the epic Test. Later, speaking to TOI, Vikramraju said, “It was a great match and one I will remember forever.

“It was a landmark match for many players. Sunil Gavaskar was playing his 100th Test, Dean Jones scored a double century and there were three other centurions. If you are asking me about the last-wicket decision, then like I have always said through these three decades, I stand by it. Maninder's bat did not come in contact with the ball. It was a clear LBW. Everybody including my fellow umpire Dara N Dotiwalla agreed that the decision was right.“

The Bengaluru umpire also dismissed claims by former players, who played the match, that they had a chat with him after the game ended.

“None of the players came up to me or told me anything after the match. The first time I heard murmurs of displeasure from the Indian players was when Ravi Shastri spoke about it a few days later. It didn't matter because the match was over.“

The match was also Vikramraju's second and last as a Test umpire. Does he think that decision changed the course of his career?

“I don't know. I never dwelled too much on it. I was 52 then and had three more years according to the age norms for international umpiring. A Test never came my way but I continued to do domestic matches including Ranji Trophy final and ODIs. I have no regrets in my career„“ he said.

1991-92 tour

India's performance during the 1991-92 tour of Australia: Test series, tri- series and World Cup,The Times of India

2001

India wins at Eden Gardens

Mar 15, 2017: The Times of India

On this day: Test cricket turns 140 & India seal an epic victory at Eden Gardens in 2001

NEW DELHI: This match is the stuff of legend and the outcome could not have come on a better day than March 15, the 124th anniversary of the first ever official Test match. India down 0-1 in 2000-01 three-match Test series, bowled out for 171 in reply to Australia's 445 in the second Test, forced to follow on ... and then it all turned very, very special. The hero for India was VVS Laxman, whose 83-ball 59 from No. 6 inspired the move to send him in at No. 3 when India batted a second time on the third day.

Laxman finished the day not out on 109 and with Rahul Dravid (180) batted the entire fourth day while adding 335; the eventual stand of 376 broke a series of records and took India to 589 for 4.

Laxman batted his way to a marathon 281, the highest Test score by an Indian and one that changed the tone of the match. Sourav Ganguly's declaration with a lead of 383 set Australia 75 overs to bat out a draw; Harbhajan Singh n whose first-innings 7 for 123 on day one included the first hat-trick by an Indian in Tests had other ideas and took six wickets to bowl India to an epic win. 16 years on, the victory is still afresh in minds of those who witnessed the Eden miracle and cricket lovers across the globe.

Today also marks the 140th anniversary of the first ever official Test match that was played between England and Australia at the MCG in 1877. Google dedicated a Doodle to celebrate anniversary. The first official cricket Test match in history began on this day in 1877 between an established English team and a newly-formed Australian squad at the Melbourne Cricket ground. It finished in a 45-run win for Australia.

"Today's Doodle hits the deck with a light-hearted rendering that captures the spirit of sportsmanship and the inaugural Test match," Google said. "Mustachioed and muscle-bound, the batsmen, bowlers and opposition fielders spring into action, never losing sight of the red ball," it said.

TIMES IN AUSTRALIA - DOWN AND OUT

Jan 10 2015,

Partha Bhaduri, The Times of India

700+ runs in a test series against India

It took willful intent from both sides to bring this game momentarily alive. After three and a half days of meandering cricket on the flattest of surfaces, including the rare offering of a wagging Indian tail, there finally followed a contest brief between bat and ball at the SCG. Then Joe Burns arrived and smashed India's hopes out of sight, allowing Australia to gallop to a 348-run lead at stumps. It was a mad scramble for ascension and Australia came out on top on the day. Unlike the dark clouds and prospect of thundershowers looming over the city, the entertainment in the middle was a welcome change after the tedium of the past few days.

Sixes rained, wickets fell, and Ravichandran Ashwin (50 runs; 4105) had his say. It was not enough, however, to make any significant difference to his side, even though the pitch mercifully deigned to offer disconcerting turn and variable bounce.

The series won, the Aussies, already 97 ahead after India closed shop at 475, were in attacking mode, looking to dangle the carrot of a 300-plus target for India on the last day . Kohli, all passion and positive energy and seeking a way for India to claw back into the game after his early dismissal in the morning, believed there yet could be a twist in the tale.

But Australia scored at 6.27 per over throughout their 40 overs, the last 10 of those going for more than eight runs each as Burns blazed to a 33-ball half-century . Amid the carnage were the old constants: Smith and Rogers again scored half centuries, and Umesh Yadav obligingly sprayed the ball.

Dramatic scenes followed as Virat Kohli decided to throw the new ball to Ashwin in the second over of Australia's innings. Warner fell edging to first slip, playing back to a length ball and the spin and bounce doing the rest. Watson under-edged one on to his stumps.

Five Australian wickets fell before bad light dominated, three of them to Ashwin, but it was Australia which ticked all the boxes: Smith scored 70 from 71 balls, going past Don Bradman as the highest scorer in all India-Australia series. Anything overpitched or marginally short was punished, a lot of runs coming behind square.Ashwin was reverse swept and tonked over cover for maximum.Yadav , either short or wide or stray ing down leg, was pulled and swatted away on the on-side as four boundaries came off the seamer's first over. Only the late inswing from Shami prevented further damage. Rogers too flung his bat around and brought up his sixth consecutive half-century .

A chastened Kohli spread the field, and it was not until he had the courage to crowd men around the bat again that Shaun Marsh fell. The Indians, however, had not accounted for Burns, who batted on this turning pitch as if it was the Gabba of his teenaged days, adding 86 with Haddin to probably take it beyond India's means: The highest successful chase at the SCG is only 288.

Burns took on India's best bowler, Ashwin, tonking him for three sixes, and hit four consecutive fours off Yadav late in the day, gliding to third man, flicking and pulling and generally making a mockery of the attack. Kohli could only give three overs to Yadav, but those yielded 45 runs.Now-regular wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha was twice a victim of nerves, botching up a run-out chance and missing a stumping to give Burns a reprieve.

Earlier, Ashwin and a resolute Bhuvneshwar Kumar helped the last four wickets add 123 runs as India hung around batting as much time as they could, but with the pitch playing tricks, will it be enough to see them through? Kohli, for one, will be looking to give the Aussies at least some anxious moments.

2014- 15: Individual performances

The Times of India

Jan 12 2015

2014-15: Individual performances

While the likes of Kohli, Vijay and Rahane came out with flying colours during the Test series against Australia, a few other batsmen, and almost all the bowlers, were found wanting. Gaurav Gupta rates the performance of India's Test team.

2018: India’s tour of Australia

T20Is

Brisbane: India loses by 4 runs

Virat & Co Start Oz Tour With Close Loss In Rain-Marred T20I, November 22, 2018: The Times of India

Scoreboard- India’s tour of Australia- T20Is- Brisbane, 2018
From: Virat & Co Start Oz Tour With Close Loss In Rain-Marred T20I, November 22, 2018: The Times of India

A sloppy India failed to get an ideal start to the Australia tour, losing the rain-hit opening T20I by four runs at the Gabba. India first faltered in the field, letting Australia score 158 for four after rain shortened the contest to 17 overs a side. Glenn Maxwell was the star batsman for Australia, hammering 46 runs off 24 balls.

The 45 minute rain stoppage meant India were set a revised target of 174 runs in 17 overs. Opener Shikhar Dhawan smashed a sublime 76 off 42 balls in the run chase before Dinesh Karthik came up with a pulsating 30 off 13 balls towards the end but India still finished agonisingly short on 169 for seven. It was a morale boosting win for Australia, who have endured a dismal run of late in limited overs cricket. The second match of the three-match series will be played in Melbourne.

Dhawan got India off to a quick start, putting on 35 off 25 balls for the opening stand with Rohit Sharma (7). The latter was caught at long on off Jason Behrendorff (1-43) in a bid to accelerate his strike-rate. In keeping with the strategy used during the T20I series in England, KL Rahul (13) came out to bat at number three.

Dhawan and Rahul put on 46 runs for the second wicket, but it was mostly down to the left-hander’s belligerence. He hit ten fours and two sixes overall, and reached his ninth T20I half-century off only 28 balls. Rahul though was patchy at best and struggled for timing. He was stumped off Adam Zampa (2-22) in the ninth over, with the leg spinner also accounting for skipper Virat Kohli (4) who never really got going coming down at number four.

Zampa should have had a third wicket but he dropped a return chance from Dhawan (on 65). The batsman enjoyed another life at 74, when substitute Nathan Coulter-Nile put him down at square leg off Billy Stanlake (1-27).

The asking rate was climbing up and it took a toll on Dhawan, who finally holed out of Stanlake, leaving Rishabh Pant (20 off 15 balls) and Karthik with a mountain to climb.

They nearly achieved the impossible, putting on 51 off a mere 24 balls, toying around with the Australian bowling. But what is becoming increasingly frustrating with Pant, he played yet another loose and unnecessary stroke, throwing his wicket away. It left Karthik to finish off things, but he found the going tough without enough support from the other end. With 13 needed off 6 balls, Krunal Pandya (2) and Karthik holed out off consecutive deliveries off Marcus Stoinis (2-27).

This was after Maxwell hit four sixes in a whirlwind knock before rain came, after Chris Lynn scored 37 runs off 20 balls to help Australia recover from a slow start.

Maxwell stole the show with his belligerent hitting as Australia crossed 150 in the 16th over.

Melbourne: Rain denies India chance to draw level

November 24, 2018: The Times of India

Scoreboard- India’s tour of Australia- T20Is- Melbourne, 2018
From: November 24, 2018: The Times of India

The second T20 International between India and Australia was called off due to intermittent rain, undoing the visitors’ good work with the ball and denying them an opportunity to level the threematch series.

India were naturally disappointed at not getting a go at the target, which was revised thrice due to rain. Australia had scored 137/7 in 19 overs when the first spell of rain arrived at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. India’s target was initially revised to 137 runs in 19 overs before more rain made it 90 runs from 11 overs and then 46 from five overs. Nearly 90 minutes were lost due to the fickle weather before the game was eventually called off at 10.02 pm local time.

Rain playing hide and seek was not just frustrating for the players but also for the 60,000-plus crowd gathered at the iconic venue. With the match not producing a result, India now can only level the series in the final game in Sydney on Friday. Virat Kohli and his team had come into the T20 series after winning six bilateral contests in a row.

India put up a much-improved show with the ball on Friday, following the disappointment of the series opener at the Gabba on Wednesday.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar (2-20) and Khaleel Ahmed (2-39) shared four wickets to reduce the Australians to 41/4 at one stage. This was after India won the toss and opted to bowl. The visitors went in with an unchanged side while Australia made one change, bringing in Nathan Coulter-Nile for Billy Stanlake.

But Rishabh Pant spilled a difficult diving catch behind the wickets with D’Arcy Short (14) getting a life on 7. Two balls later, Chris Lynn, on nought, should have been caught at fine leg, only for Jasprit Bumrah (1-20) to spill it over the rope.

Sydney: India wins, draws the series

Kohli special flattens Australia, November 26, 2018: The Times of India

Scoreboard- India’s tour of Australia- T20Is- Sydney, 2018
From: Kohli special flattens Australia, November 26, 2018: The Times of India

Skipper’s Unbeaten 61 Helps India Win 3rd T20I, Level Series

Virat Kohli fired the opening salvo on the Australia tour with a match-winning 61, helping India win the third T20 International by six wickets and draw the three-match series 1-1 here Sunday.

Kohli’s sublime 41-ball knock and his 60-run unbeaten stand with Dinesh Karthik (22 not out off 18) gave India the much needed series levelling win ahead of the all important Test series beginning December 6 at Adelaide.

The captain’s perfectly executed chase in 19.4 overs came after Shikhar Dhawan (41 off 22 balls) and Rohit Sharma (23 off 16 balls) provided a flying start to the innings. Earlier, Krunal Pandya took career-best figures of 4-36 as Australia were restricted to 164-6.

Australia won the opening T20 by four runs while the second game was a washout, putting additional pressure on India who came here at the back of winning six T20 series in a row. Chasing 165, Dhawan and Sharma put on 50 runs off just 28 balls. Both batsmen took the aerial route with aplomb and hit seven fours and four sixes between them to leave the Australian bowlers clueless. Overall, India scored 67-1 in the powerplay overs.

Mitchell Starc (1-26) had got the breakthrough in the sixth over, trapping Dhawan lbw via DRS referral. It put a momentary break on scoring as no runs were scored off the next eight balls, resulting in Sharma’s dismissal, who played on off Adam Zampa (1-22).

KL Rahul (14) started off by scoring a monster six, and added 41 runs for the third wicket with Kohli. India crossed 100 in the 12th over, but the former started struggling for timing and holed out shortly afterwards. It became a double blow as Rishabh Pant was out for a first-ball duck, gloving behind off a slower short ball from Andrew Tye (1-32).

India were in bit of a bother at that stage, but Kohli and Dinesh Karthik (22 not out off 18 balls) brought out their shots. The latter played a perfect foil to Kohli as he struck a four and a six to bring down the asking rate.

Test matches

Adelaide: India wins

Sumit Mukherjee, December 11, 2018: The Times of India

5 reasons why India on Adelaide Test;
Four records of captain Virat Kohli
From: December 11, 2018: The Times of India

Scoreboard- Test match- Adelaide, 2018 (Australia vs India, cricket)
From: Sumit Mukherjee, December 11, 2018: The Times of India

See graphics:

5 reasons why India on Adelaide Test;
Four records of captain Virat Kohli

Scoreboard- Test match- Adelaide, 2018 (Australia vs India, cricket)

India Win Test Series Opener For First Time In Australia As Bowlers Manage To Overcome Tailenders’ Resistance

The sweet smell of victory was in the air all morning but it was only at the stroke of tea that the last Australian wicket capitulated to signal the end of the home team’s resistance, and mark the beginning of a new era in Indian cricket.

The 31-run victory here on Monday was India’s third narrowest in terms of runs but was worth its weight in gold. For, never before in the 70-year history of Indo-Australian Test cricket had an Indian team won the series opener Down Under.

Overall, it was only India’s sixth Test victory on Australian soil and came after nearly 11 years since Anil Kumble’s team had pushed Ricky Ponting and Co. off their perch in Perth in January 2008.

The loss here stretched Australia’s winless streak to six matches — the longest since 2013.

Up 1-0 in the four-match series, India are now the odds-on favourite to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after having got the better of the Aussies 2-1 at home in 2017. India will also be buoyed by the fact that no team in the last 50 years has lost the first Test in Australia and gone on to win the Test series.

Captain Virat Kohli’s clenchedfist celebration after Josh Hazlewood nicked a low catch off R Ashwin to KL Rahul at slip summed up the mood in the Indian camp. The margin was narrow and the Aussies stretched the game deep into the final day, but in the final analysis India were marginally better than the hosts, especially when it mattered most.

Kohli and his bravehearts will also take heart from the fact that but for the first session of the game — when the Australian pacers ruled the roost — they were always ahead of the opposition before assuming full control on the last two days.

There was no looking beyond Cheteshwar Pujara for the Man-ofthe-Match award. The unassuming No. 3 may not possess the class or flair of Rahul ‘The Wall’ Dravid, but his tight technique and unending reserves of patience make him a very effective ‘fence’ against any rival incursions.

After resurrecting India’s first innings with a fine 123, Pujara contributed a valuable 71 in the second and it was his fourth-wicket partnership with Ajinkya Rahane in the second innings that took the game away from Australia.

Australia, however, pushed India hard all the way in pursuit of a 323-run victory target. Resuming on 104 for 4, the home team battled hard and their last six wickets contributed 187 runs over five hours as they looked to pull off an unlikely win. It was not to be as India kept chipping away with wickets at regular intervals and Australia were finally bowled out for 291 in 119.5 overs.

Ishant Sharma dealt Australia an early blow by removing the dangerous Travis Head with a snorter that took the batsman by surprise and he managed to glove it to Rahane at gully after adding only three runs to his overnight tally of 11.

Shaun Marsh, who made up for his first-innings failure with a classy 60 off 166 balls, was Australia’s last hope. When Jasprit Bumrah induced a faint edge with a delivery that was angled into Marsh’s body, an hour before lunch, Australia slumped to 156 for 6.

Skipper Tim Paine, who had led by example in Dubai in October to force an honourable draw against Pakistan after batting out the entire last day, was again in his element. He put his head down and contributed a 73-ball 41, but when he miscued a pull against a short ball from Bumrah and got out, the end looked near.

6/149 Ashwin’s match figures, his best in a Test in Australia

86.5 Overs bowled by Ashwin in Adelaide, the most delivered by him in a Test, surpassing the 74.5 overs vs Aus in Mohali in March 2013

1 Cheteshwar Pujara has been adjudged MoM outside the subcontinent for the first time. Overall, he has received five such awards

Melbourne: India wins, gets 2-1 lead

Sumit Mukherjee, After Humbling Oz By 137 Runs At MCG, Kohli Targets Series Win, December 31, 2018: The Times of India

Highlights of the Boxing Day Melbourne test, Dec. 2018
From: December 31, 2018: The Times of India

Scoreboard- Test match- Melbourne, 2018 (Australia vs India, cricket)
From: Sumit Mukherjee, After Humbling Oz By 137 Runs At MCG, Kohli Targets Series Win, December 31, 2018: The Times of India

See graphics:

Highlights of the Boxing Day Melbourne test, Dec. 2018

Scoreboard- Test match- Melbourne, 2018, Australia vs India, cricket

Even inclement weather could not prevent the inevitable, though several spells of light rain delayed India’s victory in the Boxing Day Test at the MCG on Sunday. But when play finally started after the umpires decided on an early lunch, Indian bowlers needed less than five overs to wrap up the Australian innings.

Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon managed to add just three runs to their overnight tally of 258 for 8 before Jasprit Bumrah induced a nick from the former that Cheteshwar Pujara held low down at first slip. Lyon then tried to pull a short ball from Ishant Sharma and got a top edge for Rishabh Pant to accept and bring the curtain down on a fascinating Test that India won by 137 runs.

Bumrah, who finished with career-best match figures of 9 for 86, was adjudged Man of the Match.

The victory is significant for many reasons. First and foremost, it was India’s 150th in Test matches, and third at the MCG. It handed India a 2-1 lead going into the Sydney Test which they only need to draw in order to register their maiden series win in Australia. The result also ensured that India would keep the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, irrespective of what happens in the final Test at the SCG.

India skipper Virat Kohli, though, made it clear that his team will go all out for victory in Sydney where the pitch traditionally helps the spinners.

India, who have thrice shared series honours in Australia — in 1980-81 (1-1), 1985-86 (0-0) and 2003-04 (1-1) — will be looking to press home the advantage they hold and make it a memorable new year in Sydney.

“We always knew that we could do this. Although we are very happy, we are not shocked or surprised about what has happened.”

Kohli, who wears his emotions on his sleeves, jumped for joy at the fall of Australia’s last wicket and embraced his teammates before acknowledging a sparse gathering of Indian supporters who had braved the weather and made it to the MCG despite the possibility of very little action.

Asked whether he had been a bit nervous about the inclement weather, Kohli said: “Not really. Some people in the (team) management group were having a look at that (forecast). We knew we had enough time.”

The Indian skipper, who was flayed by many experts for not enforcing the follow-on on Day 3, explained the rationale behind it. “We didn’t enforce the follow-on because when our bowlers bowled, it was really warm out there. We just wanted to give them enough break and a good night’s sleep so that they could come out fresh and have another go at the (rival) batsmen,” Kohli added.

2 For only the second time, India have registered two wins in a Test series in Australia. The first such instance was under BS Bedi in 1977-78 (India lost the rubber 2-3)

20 No of dismissals (all caught) by Rishabh Pant to become the first Indian WK to accomplish the feat in a Test series, going past Naren Tamahane (19 in 5 Tests, 1954-55) and Syed Kirmani (19 in 6 Tests in 1979-80) - both against Pakistan.

42 Pant with his tally of dismissals (40 catches+2 stumpings) in eight Tests has equalled the record for most dismissals by a WK in his debut year. Australia’s Brad Haddin had 42 dismissals in 11 Tests in 2008.

WE ARE NOT GOING TO STOP HERE. THIS HAS GIVEN US MORE CONFIDENCE TO PLAY MORE POSITIVE CRICKET IN SYDNEY. WE’VE DONE WELL IN ALL THREE DEPARTMENTS, WHICH IS WHY WE’VE RETAINED THE TROPHY. BUT WE WANT TO CONTINUE. THE BOYS HAVE WORKED SO HARD. NOW THERE IS NO LOOKING BACK.” —Virat Kohli

26 No of Test wins for Kohli as captain (in 45 Tests), just one short of the Indian record of 27 by Dhoni (60 Tests). Also, this was his 11th overseas win as captain (24 Tests), tying the Indian record of Sourav Ganguly - 11 in 28 Tests Stats: Rajesh Kumar

Sydney: Draw (rain affected)

Highlights

The Sydney test- highlights
From: January 8, 2019: The Times of India

Scoreboard- Test match- Sydney: Australia vs India, cricket
From: January 7, 2019: The Times of India

See graphics:

The Sydney test- highlights

Scoreboard- Test match- Sydney, 2018, Australia vs India, cricket

India win first-ever Test series in Australia

India vs Australia: India make history, win first-ever cricket Test series in Australia, January 7, 2019: The Times of India

India record maiden test series win in Australia- 2018-19; A timeline- 1947-48- 2018-19
From: India vs Australia: India make history, win first-ever cricket Test series in Australia, January 7, 2019: The Times of India

Indian cricket got its new seminal moment after talismanic Virat Kohli led the country to a maiden series victory on Australian soil, ending a 71-year wait to script a golden chapter in the game's history.

The fourth and final Test match at the SCG petered to a barren draw due to inclement weather but not before providing India with a 2-1 series win and the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

It is a rare first Down Under for India since Lala Amarnath's side visited the country back in 1947-48 months after independence to face Sir Don Bradman's 'Invincibles'.

"Firstly, I want to say I've never been more proud of being part of a team, than this one right here. The culture we've built... our transition began right here, where I took over as captain, and I can't believe that after four years we've won here. Just one word to say, 'proud', to lead this team and it's an honour and privilege. The boys make the captain look good," an elated skipper Virat Kohli said after the mission was accomplished.

Things turned out to be a bit of anti-climactic in the end as India had a fair chance of adding insult to the injury with a 3-1 victory margin as they got the home team to follow-on in their den for the first time in 30 years after scoring 622 in their only innings.

It was a 'freeze the frame' as the Indian team took a 'Lap of Honour' of the SCG with the both Indian and Australian fans cheering them.

"This is history and a terrific moment for Indian cricket," said country's greatest opener Sunil Gavaskar.

Top-performers

Such was the fragility of the Australian batting, a full day's play possibly could have been enough to win a record three Test matches in a single series in Australia had the heavens not opened up.

While Australian batting was severely handicapped due to the suspensions of their premier batsmen Steve Smith and David Warner but it can take nothing away from the heady achievement of Kohli's men, who have conquered an unchartered frontier with a lion-hearted display.

If this victory is put into perspective with some of Indian cricket's famous away series wins, it will be right up there both in terms of novelty as well as quality.

Alongside Ajit Wadekar's side's twin triumph in the West Indies and England in 1971, Kapil's Devils or Rahul Dravid's sides' winning the 1986 or 2007 series in England, the members of the current side have now successfully etched their names in record books.

Skipper Kohli, who has always focussed on the endeavour to make his team the best travelling side, has been finally able to walk the talk after the disappointments in South Africa and England where poor batting let the team down during some of the defining sessions.

In Australia however, it was a near flawless team effort from India, especially the bowling unit which has set it up for its batsmen for the better part of last year.

While skipper Kohli hit the best hundred of the series in terms of sheer class on a difficult Perth Stadium track, the unflappable Cheteshwar Pujara (521) and the unconventional Jasprit Bumrah (21 wickets) were the heroes of the memorable 'first'.

With their full focus on how to decode Kohli's genius, Australian team led by an out of depth Tim Paine realised late that Pujara has struck from the 'blind side' with his near perfect defensive technique and three hundreds.

However it was their batting that let them down and a one piece of statistic will scare the die-hard Aussie fans.

The highest score by an Australian batsman in the just-concluded four-match series is 79 by rookie opener Marcus Harris.

Leave alone a three-figure score, none of the Australian batsman could even cross the 80-run barrier, something that legends like Ricky Ponting, Shane Warne, Mike Hussey, Ian Chappell found difficult to fathom.

Whether it was the awkward angles along created by Bumrah along with some incisive movements, Mohammed Shami getting it to rip on occasions, Ishant Sharma hitting the right length over after over, India never had it so good in terms of consistency in overseas conditions.

Ravichandran Ashwin before he got injured and Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav also played their part to perfection as Indian bowlers put up relentless pressure on the home team batsmen.

While young Prithvi Shaw missed out due to an ankle injury, Mayank Agarwal made most of his chances after an eternal wait for the India cap with two half centuries.

Rishabh Pant with 350 runs and a sparkling hundred at the SCG with a record number of dismissals in an away series has now established himself as India's No 1 wicketkeeper in the Test format.

For Kohli, this series was more about his leadership choices rather than his insane batting efforts which was comparatively muted by his lofty standards.

His bowling changes were spot on and while team selection in Perth came under scanner, no one can question the intent of the Indian skipper, who has shown that he only plays to win a Test match.

No other Asian captain leave alone Indian captain has won four away Test matches in South Africa, England and Australia in a single calender year.

While India now gear up to switch format, Kohli's biggest takeaway will be the confidence before they start their preparations for the ODI World Cup.

How India won a historic Test series in Australia

Amit Kumar, January 7, 2019: The Times of India

Continuous rain in Sydney denied India a 3-1 series victory, but it couldn’t stop captain Virat Kohli from becoming the first ever Indian captain to guide India to a Test series victory on Australian soil. Customary hand-shakes were followed by leaps, fist pumps, hugs and high-fives – all this was captured in one frame after the Border-Gavaskar trophy was handed to Kohli and his boys. India ending a 71-year-old wait to win their first Test series in Australia. India played their maiden Test series against Australia in 1947 and were handed a 4-0 drubbing in the five-match series. In total, India have toured Australia 12 times (including the 2018-19 tour) and finally managed to lift the Test series trophy under Kohli’s captaincy.

India were dominant in all three departments – batting, bowling and fielding. India’s slip cordon, which always becomes a hot topic of discussion after almost every overseas tour also played a pivotal role in the team’s historic win.

Kohli in England, Pujara in Australia

If Kohli was the batsman to watch out for in the England tour last year, Pujara didn’t leave a single stone unturned to send the Australians on a leather hunt. The Saurashtra batsman was the highest run-getter in the four-match series with 521 runs in 7 innings at an average of 74.42, including three centuries to his name. With a highest-score of 193, Pujara signed off the series, reclaiming the tag of ‘The Indian Wall’. Pujara was awarded the Man of the Match and Man of the Series trophies.

Fantastic Bumrah

India's bowling coach Bharat Arun said Jasprit Bumrah's unconventional bowling action makes him one of the most difficult bowlers to read in the world and the unorthodox pacer proved that with an impressive show on Australian soil. Once touted as an injury-prone bowler, due to his unorthodox bowling action, Bumrah claimed 21 wickets in the 4 Tests at an average of 17.00, including one five-wicket haul.

With his second overseas century (after his first vs England), the Delhi lad has cemented his place in the Indian side in a short period of time. After Dhoni’s sudden retirement from Tests, the Indian team experimented with many options but nothing worked in their favour. Wriddhiman Saha, Parthiv Patel and Dinesh Karthik were tried, but they couldn’t do much for the team. When the opportunity knocked on the door of young Pant, the wicket-keeper batsman grabbed it with both hands. The 21-year-old finished the Test series as the second-highest run-getter, scoring 350 runs in 7 innings at an average of 58.33, including a brilliant unbeaten 159 in the Sydney Test.

Time for a new opener?

Mayank Agarwal’s long wait to don the Indian Test jersey finally came to end when he was called-up for the Boxing Day Test against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Agarwal was thrust into the squad following the failures of KL Rahul and Murali Vijay and the youngster had an impressive maiden outing. The Karnataka batsman scored a brilliant 76 runs off 161 balls, sorting out India's opening woes to some extent and gave India a solid platform in the Melbourne Test. The 27-year-old kept his sublime touch intact in the SCG Test as well when he scored a magnificent 77 at the SCG. In two Tests, Agarwal scored 195 runs at an average of 65.00.

The Top Indian players

Pujara, Bumrah performance headline India's epic triumph in Australia, January 7, 2019: The Times of India

The Top Indian players
From: January 8, 2019: The Times of India

Cheteshwar Pujara's finest hour of glory in overseas conditions was complemented by Jasprit Bumrah's superb skill-set, the duo standing taller than the rest in India's maiden Test series win on Australian soil.

What made their performance more special was that they were able to overshadow even Virat Kohli, who has always stood head and shoulders above his peers in adverse conditions.

Pujara, who didn't have a lot of noteworthy performances outside the sub-continent, finished with 521 runs in four Tests, which included three hundreds with a top score of 193 and an average of 74.42.

No one deserved the 'Man of the Series' award more than the dependable No. 3 from Saurashtra, whose dogged hundreds at Adelaide and Melbourne made it easy for the likes of Bumrah (21 wickets) and Mohammed Shami (16 wickets) to press home the advantage against a below-par Australian batting line-up.

Such has been Pujara's dominance, that skipper Kohli's aggregate of 282 runs paled in comparison.

Top performers who led India to historic series win-Infographic-TOI

However, if a threadbare analysis is done on the quality of the five hundreds that Indian batsmen struck during the series, Kohli's century on a virgin Optus Stadium track, rated "average" by the International Cricket Council, was the best.

Rishabh Pant, with his 159 not out did his case no harm, emerging as the second highest run-getter with 350 runs to his credit.

One of the biggest takeaways from the series was rookie opener Mayank Agarwal (195 runs) holding his own at the biggest stage with half-centuries at the MCG and SCG.

On the bowling front, Bumrah's emergence as a force to reckon with in red-ball cricket has been one of the reasons that India starts on even keel in any Test series across SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia) countries.

Bowling from a eight-step run-up with a slinging action, Bumrah was lethal as he rocked the Aussies in their own den with raw pace and incisive movement off the pitch, creating all sorts of confusion in the minds of the batsmen.

With a workhorse like Ishant Sharma (11) and Mohammed Shami, who can every now and then produce a wicket-taking delivery, the Indian pacers accounted for 50 out of the 70 Australian wickets during the series.

Ravindra Jadeja came back for the last two Test matches of the series, picking seven wickets and scoring a half-century, again giving proof of his all-round utility.

Wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav shrugged off the disappointment of his inauspicious performance at the Lord's during the England series, with a maiden five-for outside India, prompting coach Ravi Shastri to call him a serious option for Test matches in all conditions.

Mayank and Kuldeep's emergence as potent Test weapons could certainly be ominous signs for the Tamil Nadu duo of Murali Vijay and Ravichandran Ashwin.

While skipper Kohli made it clear that Ashwin's regular fitness breakdowns in foreign conditions is a cause for concern but the burly off-spinner will still be a handful when India start playing in familiar terrains at the end of this year.

But it could well be the end of the road for Vijay, a veteran of 61 Tests and nearing 35 years of age.

After a nightmarish series in England, Australia was no better for the right-hander, who till 2017 was India's most technically accomplished opener.

With only 49 runs in four innings, Mayank playing a stellar hand and Prithvi Shaw waiting in the wings, it is bad news for Vijay.

KL Rahul, with 57 runs from five innings, has also had an extended run of bad patch but age is on his side and the talent is unquestionable.

One of the batsmen who have had modest returns is vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane, who scored 217 runs in four games at an average of 31, with two half-centuries.

While his place may not be under imminent threat, Hanuma Vihari's gritty show and ability to bowl occasional off-breaks would force the Mumbaikar to keep his guard up.

What worked for India

January 8, 2019: The Times of India

1 INDIA’S SRI LANKAN IMPORT

The temporary hiring of former Sri Lankan first-class cricketer Nuwan Seneviratne as a left-arm throwdown specialist — the opposite number of right-arm throwdown specialist Raghu — proved to be a shot in the arm for the team. Initially hired to help the One-day team to counter the Pakistan attack at the Asia Cup, Seneviratne travelled to Australia with a one-point responsibility — help India prepare against Mitchell Starc who finished his series without a single fifer.

2 ‘CHE’ GETS HIS SPACE

Ahead of the series, as India prepared to get their batting order right, a team meeting was called to take stock of the options at hand. Prithvi Shaw had been ruled out and India found themselves one step forward, two steps back. Skipper Kohli and coach Shastri then handed the task of seeing off the shine to Cheteshwar Pujara. “Just go out there and meditate. You’ll have to be the last batsman getting out. Runs are secondary. Play time,” is what Shastri said and Pujara did what he does best — facing a total of 1258 deliveries for his 521 runs, a good 52.4 overs per Test.

3 MAYANK’S LONG-AWAITED DEBUT

Following India’s win, Ravi Shastri ‘thanked the media for its support’ and no one could miss the sarcasm in his tone.

But if it was not for the media questioning Mayank Agarwal’s non-inclusion at every step, it could have been a different story. Agarwal finally got his moment under the sun when India had no choice after KL Rahul and Murali Vijay kept flopping. Agarwal became the first Indian opener to get a half-century on debut in Australia.

4 BHARAT ARUN, 12TH MAN!

The bowling coach, who has worked behind the scenes for a full year now, hardly sat in the dressing room during the last two Tests. Constantly talking to the pacers fielding in the deep, Arun ensured the bowlers got enough feedback on how the spells were going. Chats to pump up the adrenaline, a ringside view of the wicket and a lowdown of the Aussie batting order came in handy as India’s pace attack — for the first time — looked more threatening than Australia’s on Australian soil.

5 JADEJA, THE ‘CAPABLE’ ALL-ROUNDER

The thinktank didn’t quite trust his services on a juicy Perth deck, on which Nathan Lyon picked a bagful of wickets. But come the next Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the ever-capable Ravindra Jadeja sprang into action, from picking up crucial wickets to scoring utility half-centuries, throwing in from the deep and bringing a great amount of positive energy to the side. A five-wicket haul in Melbourne and a half-century in Sydney – the all-rounder was back in his elements. The sword dance in Sydney after completing his half-century seemed well-deserved.

Slow scoring

Perth, 2018

Perth, 2018: India’s slowest 1st innings score in three decades
From: December 28, 2018: The Times of India

See graphic:

Perth, 2018: India’s slowest 1st innings score in three decades.

2019

ODIs

Adelaide: India won

January 16, 2019: The Times of India

Scoreboard, ODIs- Adelaide, India vs Australia, 2019
From: January 16, 2019: The Times of India

Just like old times, MS Dhoni pulled off a tight finish for India to silence his critics after captain Virat Kohli laid the foundation for a series-levelling six-wicket win against Australia with his 39th ODI hundred here on Tuesday. Chase master Kohli could not take his team to the finishing line this time but Dhoni (55 off 54) and Dinesh Karthik (25 off 14) rose to the occasion with an unbeaten 57-run stand off 34 balls, taking India home with four balls to spare. Australia scored 298-8 after opting to bat.

Man of the match Kohli was dismissed in the 44th over after making 104 off 112 balls with five fours and two sixes. Dhoni, who has been coping a lot of criticism for his waning finishing skills, turned back the clock and took India past the finish line with a final over six.

The third and final ODI will be played in Melbourne.

India got off to a frenetic start with Shikhar Dhawan hitting five boundaries in his 28-ball 32. He put on 47 runs for the opening wicket with Rohit Sharma (43). The latter had another strong outing, adding 54 runs with Kohli for the second wicket as India crossed 100 in the 18th over. But just when things were going smoothly, he mishit a pull off Marcus Stoinis (1-46) to be caught in the deep.

Ambati Rayudu (24) then came to the crease, and while he added 59 runs with Kohli for the third wicket, it was obvious that the number four batsman struggled for timing.

Kohli, meanwhile, was in cruise mode, rotating strike and picking the odd boundary with ease as he reached fifty in 66 balls. The star batsman stayed in the same mode as the asking rate climbed. But it was Rayudu who tried attacking the bowling and perished instead, caught in the deep off Glenn Maxwell (1-16) in the 31st over.

Dhoni then joined Kohli, and the duo put on 82 runs for the fourth wicket, with clever rotation of strike as India crossed 200 in the 37th over to keep pace with the asking rate. Kohli changed gears as he hit two immaculate sixes through pure timing, and reached his hundred off 108 balls. It was his sixth ODI hundred against Australia.

The turning point came in the 44th over though, when Australia masterminded Kohli’s dismissal through some clever field placement in the deep. He holed out to Maxwell off Jhye Richardson (1-59).

Dhoni then took over and put on a match-winning partnership with Karthik. In doing so, he turned back the clock to lead India to a tense finish, and completed his second consecutive halfcentury in as many matches, 69th overall, off 53 balls.

The veteran’s running between the wickets, laced with two sixes as the only boundaries, finished things off in style for India. Earlier, Shaun Marsh scored his seventh ODI hundred to take Australia to a challenging total. Marsh arrived at the crease at 26-2 and scored 131 runs and added 94 runs off 65 balls with Glenn Maxwell (48 off 37 balls).

India brought in debutant Mohammed Siraj in place of Khaleel Ahmed. Bhuvneshwar Kumar (4-45) and Mohammed Shami (3-58) exerted themselves on proceedings with the new ball, and didn’t let the Australian openers get away quickly.

299/4

India’s total is the second highest successful ODI chase by a team in Adelaide, behind the 303/9 by Sri Lanka vs England on Jan 23, 1999.

4/45

Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s figures, his best ODI bowling performance vs Australia. This is his first four-wicket haul in SENA countries (SA, Eng, NZ and Aus) in ODIs.

Melbourne: India wins ODI and ODI series

Melbourne: India won the ODI (and ODI series) against Australia
From: January 19, 2019: The Times of India

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Melbourne- India won the ODI (and ODI series) against Australia