Ricky Ponting says that the 2001 India-Australia clash was the most remarkable Test series he played in
Over the course of a stellar 17-year career in the game’s traditional format, Australia’s Ricky Ponting has labeled the historic 2001 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in India as the most fiercely fought and high-intense Test series that he had participated in.
At an event organised in Mumbai to promote tourism in his home state of Tasmania, the 41-year-old opened up on the iconic series which India ending up winning 2-1 after making an astonishing comeback.
Ponting enthused, “2001 series was probably the most remarkable Test series I have played in. We lost the series but the level of cricket that was played and the intensity with which the series was played, the audience in attendance right through the series was unbelievable.“
After being thoroughly outplayed in the opening Test of the 3-match series at Mumbai, the hosts were still trailing by 42 runs in the second innings at Eden Gardens when VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid joined hands to produce one of the greatest partnerships of all-time.
When the duo were done, India had a lead of over 300 and captain Sourav Ganguly eventually declared. Charismatic off-spinner Harbhajan Singh produced a sensational spell to dismiss the Aussies for 212 to complete a remarkable victory, only the third by a team following on in the sport’s glorious history.
With momentum on their side, the Indians delivered another spirited performance in a thriller at Chennai to seal a monumental series win and skipper Steve Waugh’s ‘Final Frontier’ was not to be breached.
Also Read: 'I still get nightmares about Harbhajan Singh', claims Ricky Ponting
Taking a trip down memory lane, Ponting added, “All finishing off going to Kolkata – when you ask (commentator) Harsha Bhogle about his most memorable Test match, pretty sure the Kolkata Test will be one right at the top. Laxman’s 280, Dravid’s 180 after being enforced (the) follow on, India declared a few hundreds in the front and just had over a session to bowl us out and they did.”
However, he admitted, “It was not our proudest moment, but certainly one of Indian cricket’s proudest moment. Then went on to the third Test (in Chennai) that ended up with India hanging on to win the series – remarkable series.”
The former skipper concluded by expressing his excitement regarding the upcoming Australia-South Africa Test series.which kick starts at the WACA from November 3.