Ind-Aus Cricket Rivalry: An account of events.

When the legacy and the glory of Ashes series were incomparable, a great cricketing rivalry between India and Pakistan came into being and it was enjoyed by the entire cricketing world. In recent years the cricketing enmity between India and Australia had caught the fire. These series were very hot because of all on-and-off field happenings, sporting rivalries, controversies, involvement of media as fuel-provider and above all spectacular cricketing performances.

In this article I am trying to give an account of events in order of the time that marked the cricketing rivalry between India and Australia; it had just begun.

I believe the conception took place in 2000-01 when Australia was a real champion side; the new demolisher of the other cricketing sides. They came to India in 1996 and in 1998; however they lost test series in India. In 2000-01, the formidable Australian side with 15 straight wins was determined to conquer India on the Indian soil, in fact, they won 1st test by ten wickets in Mumbai; however thanks to record partnership stand between Laxman and Dravid and thirteen wickets by Harbhajan Singh, India won Kolkata test. In the Chennai test, despite Hayden's double century in the first innings, Australian side could not capitalize further. The real damager for Australia was again Harbhajan, he scalped fifteen wickets in the match and helped India win the test and the series. Aussies were hurt. Aussies introduced mind games in the series yet Ganguly played better of them. Steve Waugh writes in his book, "You had to give him an 'A' for effort in his attempt to annoy us; and in particular me".


India toured Australia in 2003-04. The four match series was drawn 1-1. However, India again disturbed winning streak of Australia by winning the Adelaide test. It was a great test win for India to believe that they could upset Australian side in Australia. Though third and fourth test resulted in draw, it was a tough contest between the sides and they tested each other. Indian batting side performed marvelously except the Melbourne test, which they lost. Ganguly, Dravid, Sachin played handsomely, however batting class of Laxman was excellent and he earned name and fame in Australia. Both sides annoyed each other on and off the field. The entire cricketing world believed that India was a side to give tough competition to Australia other than the South Africa.

In the World Cup 2003, both sides met twice and both the times, Australia comprehensively beat India. The first of them was a disastrous for Indian team at Centurian. You may remember, after the loss to Australia, the furious Indian fans pelted stones on the residences of Zaheer and Mohammod Caif. The loss hurt Indian side. It reorganized itself and came back very strongly in the remaining matches. Both the sides met yet again in the final. There were again verbal attacks and counter attacks from both the sides before the final. Finally, had Zaheer Khan not shown needless aggression (plan?) to Hayden in the first over, the result of the match could have been different? From the very first over, Hayden started demolishing work and later Ponting and Damien Martyn tore Indian bowling. India never came back in the match. Australia won the world cup final by 125 runs in Johannesburg. The loss hurt Indian team.

Australia toured India in 2004-05. This time Australian side accomplished a test series win in India since after 1969-70; it was 2-1 win for Australia. This was a great performance by Australian side in India, and they just outclassed Indian team in all departments of the game by winning two tests (Banglore and Nagpur) with huge margin. India won last test only by 13 runs in Mumbai. During a test, some spectators mocked at Andrew Symonds. Later in the series care was taken by securities not to allow repetition of such insulting act to visitors. But Symonds was hurt.

In the shorter version of the game- the 20-20 world cup, India beat Australia by 16 runs to reach in the final.

No test series ever was so much controversial between India and Australia, but India's Australian tour 2007-08. Not only two sides, but also entire cricketing world divided in two sides including media and cricket boards. Certainly, under the new captaincy of Anil Kumble, favorite was not the Indian side to win the test series.

It was Australian side to open the account of mind game against Indian side. Australia outplayed India in the first test at Melbourne and won it by 337 runs. The second test played in Sydney was the most controversial. The seeds of 'hostility' were sown earlier; they just reaped during Sydney test. The bad umpiring decisions and a trap plotted by Australian side to catch Harbhajan under racism charges worked splendidly for Australian side, but with this and following events the spirit of the game was badly damaged. Australian team targeted Harbhajan for calling 'Monkey' to Symonds, which it believed a racist comment. The same comment, Symonds was made fun of in India by some spectators during the India tour. Australia won the infamous test. Indian side opened protests against bad umpiring and racism charges leveled against Harbhajan. Indian team also demanded Brad Hogg to be booked under violation of code of conduct, later it withdrew. The media got involved in the process. The BCCI backed Indian team and pressurized ICC to drop erring umpires. Eventually the racism episode led to ICC court hearing. There was no apparent evidence against Harbhajan. Indian side relieved but it was hurt badly. Symonds was highly upset with the verdict of the ICC hearing.

It was believed, the Perth pitch could turn nightmare for Indian side, however the Indian team demonstrated a spirited performance and won the test by 72 runs. The forth test was drawn.

Australia won the series 2-1, but the win in the Sydney test would always be remembered as infamous win for Australia. The stage was then set for one-day series. Both teams were highly preoccupied with the previous grudge for the other. They met six times including two finals and India won three of them including the two finals. The young Indian team led by superb captaincy of Dhoni, beat Australia in both the finals. Australian team was pushed onto the back foot; they showed least resistance. Indian team vented out the fury during winning celebration. It was 'advantage India' at the end of India's Australian Tour.


Before Australian team prepares for India tour, Bangladesh toured Australia. A dramatic incident took place in Darwin. Symonds was sent home from the series against Bangladesh and was declared dropped for the tour of India. The reason cited was a disciplinary action against Symonds for his off-field attitude. Many including I did not believe that could be the real reason behind dropping Symonds from squad for India tour. There was something else than our eyes met.

Australian side minus Symonds came for a test series in India. It was a good but very defensive start Australia made in the first innings of the first test. The overall run rate was just 2.86; they never scored that slowly in the first innings. The team India neither played for the result. The team India won the second test at Mohali by 320 runs. Australia in reply to India's first inning's total of 469 scored just 268 at the run rate of 2.63, which was shockingly slowly. The team India smelled victory and put on 314 in second innings. Brett Lee could only take two wickets. India bundled out Australia below 200. The Australian media criticized Australian team heavily for its defensive tactics. Ishant Sharma by dismissing Ponting twice proved that he has certainly got a wood on Ricky Ponting.

Australian team started mind games. Adam Gilchrist during the publicity of his autobiography questioned Sachin Tendulkar's honesty. He referred to the stand took by Sachin Tendulkar during the hearing of racism episode back in Australia. Nobody, in fact, Sachin himself pay no heed to Gilchrist's comments.

Before the start of fourth test at Nagpur, Ricky Pointing pointed again at a senior member of Indian team. He claimed the senior Indian player had called him one of the nights during Sydney test and urged him to withdraw complaints made against Harbhajan Singh. Further, Ponting claimed that the Indian player feared case proceedings. Indian team paid no attention to Ponting's remarks. They had well understood the mind games being played by Australian team.

India beat Australia by 172 runs in last test at Nagpur and clinchéd series 2-0.
There is much more to write about failure of Australian team in the series. The ace bowlers like Mitchell Johnson, and Brett Lee took only 21 wickets at the poor average of 40.07 and 61.62 respectively. Shane Watson was better than them by taking 13 wickets at the average of 32.10. Jason Krejza made debut in last test and he scalped 12 wickets at the average of 29.83. Why Krejza was not made to the side for first three tests is a million dollar question. Only Michael Hussy and Simon Katich bettered in scoring runs than other teammates. Hussy scored 394 and Katcih 349 with average of 56.28 and 49.85 respectively. The batting average of Ponting was 38. The series was completely dominated by the Indian team.

Next day, I took newspaper early in the morning with excitement and read out the hot analysis with a hot cup of tea. The headline was "Aussie loose mind game, India won the test series". I really hope that both sides give up the grudges and play spectacular cricket only. I wish the grudges had been finished. After all, the mind games are part and parcel of any sports. The games are won by excelling in the mind games against the opposition side, but we wish it happened not at the cost of the game itself.

The new and very exciting cricketing rivalry between India and Australia had just begun.