2001 Eden Gardens - The unforgettable Test match

It happened 12 years ago but I still clearly remember this series. My exams were on and like every other person in the class (except for the genuine nerds), all I wanted was to pass them and ensure that I move on to the next year. The task was cut out in bold letters: write only as much as is required to pass.

The Aussies were led by Mr. Cool, Steve Waugh. They had won 15 Tests in a row before the start of the series and their win in Mumbai gave them their 16th win on the trot, extending their world record of the most consecutive wins by a Test team in international cricket. Steve Waugh had already declared India as the ‘final frontier’ and a victory over India in the subcontinent would have made him the Alexander of world cricket. India, on the other hand, had a relatively new captain (Sourav Ganguly) and coach (John Wright). They had lost the Mumbai Test in a tame manner and had their backs against the walls.

Day 1

Steve Waugh won the toss, elected to bat and the opening pair of Slater and Hayden proved the captain’s decision right by putting up a 103 run partnership for the first wicket. Hayden had announced his return to Test cricket in some fashion, and his knock in Mumbai was lethal. He began from where he left at the Wankhede.

Cuts, pulls and sweeps were hit with enormous power and the leather ball thudded into the boundary boards. But a loose stroke post the tea session sent Hayden packing for 97. India was back in the game. Langer and Mark Waugh departed soon after, with Aussies score at 237/4.

The last hour of play witnessed history being written. India saw its first hat-trick through the bowling of Harbhajan Singh, who dismissed Ponting, Gilchrist and Warne off consecutive balls. So, from 193/1 when Hayden was out, the Aussies were rattled and left at 252/7. Harbhajan was the new national hero of the cricket-crazy nation. The day ended with Australia at 291/8. The advantage clearly in India’s favour.

Day 2

Gillespie and Steve Waugh started the day with great determination. The Indians got close to dismissing Gillespie but were unlucky when umpire SK Bansal turned down an appeal for caught behind. Gillespie was lucky to stay and he used that opportunity to score valuable 48 runs for his team. The Aussie skipper, in the meantime, scored a patient century to pull his team out of trouble. The last two wickets added 176 runs for Australia to get them to 445. Harbhajan scalped 7 wickets, his best figures then, to restrict the Aussies for a total which was much lesser than what it could have been.

The Indians had a bad start with Sadagopan Ramesh being dismissed for a duck in only the second over of the innings. Das, Dravid, Tendulkar and Ganguly, all got starts but couldn’t convert them into substantial scores. Thanks to some disciplined bowling by McGrath, Kasparowicz and Gillespie, India finished Day 2 on 128/8; the only hope being Laxman who was in the middle. Without doubt, it was a day that belonged to the Aussies.

Day 3

VVS Laxman started Day 3 with aggressive intent and helped himself to a very promising half century. But there was no support from the other end. India were bundled out for 171. Steve Waugh, sensing victory, with India still lagging by 274 runs, enforced the follow-on.

India made a steady start with Das and Ramesh notching up 52 for the first wicket until Ramesh fell to some inspirational spin bowling by Shane Warne. Then came the master stroke from Ganguly. Out came Laxman, a supremely confident one, thanks to his first innings score. He started playing his strokes from the word go but India lost two quick wickets, those of Das and Tendulkar.

The captain strolled out and added 121 runs for the fourth wicket with Laxman. Ganguly, as always, looked confident on the off-side with his array of trademark strokes. Just when things were looking better for India, he was dismissed, thanks to a sharp catch by Steve Waugh at gully. The stadium was engulfed in silence. The newspapers started their preparations for next day’s headline. Laxman, in the meantime, got to his century – the second of his career. The day ended without any more casualties for India at 254/4.

Day 4

Dravid and Laxman began Day 4 with a lot of caution. A few edges flew by, but the duo passed a testing session from the Aussie bowlers. Laxman, especially, cut loose from second session onwards. His assault on Warne was a treat to watch – one of the few players (the only other player being Tendulkar) who thought of using the pull shot against Warne. He toyed with the leggie, used his footwork to drive, loft and pull him at will.

Dravid, meanwhile, had started coming into his own once he was set. Laxman got to his double century with his trademark square drive. Soon, Dravid too got to his 9th Test century. The partnership was having its effect on the Aussies. A lot of sledging was going on, but it had no effect on the Indian pair. They batted the entire day and added 335 runs without losing their wickets.

The tables had turned. The Aussies were now on the backfoot. India had crawled themselves back into the match. Every run was cheered by the jam packed Eden Gardens crowd. The entire country and the on-field Aussies applauded the efforts of Dravid and Laxman. Little did we know that they were going to torment the Aussies and other teams in the future too. India ended the day on 589/4, with Laxman batting on 275 and Dravid on 155. Needless to say, it was India’s day.

Day 5

Laxman added only six more runs to his overnight total and was finally dismissed on 281 – a knock that is arguably the best ever witnessed on Indian soil.

Dravid was run out for 180 and Ganguly declared with the score on 657/7. The commentators felt he was a tad late in declaring the innings but, as he clarified later, he wanted to be sure to not lose from here.

The Aussies came out to bat, needing 383 runs to win with two and half sessions to go. As expected, Hayden and Slater started clobbering the Indian pacers with some attacking strokeplay. It was Harbhajan Singh who then dismissed Slater and made inroads into the Aussie batting lineup. Langer too, fell after being over-aggressive. Venkatapathy Raju removed Mark Waugh for a duck and the Aussies were reduced to 116/3.

The Aussie skipper and Hayden tried to resurrect the innings but Harbhajan, who was brimming with confidence, took Waugh and Ponting in the same over. With Raju not getting turn off the pitch, Ganguly now handed the ball to Tendulkar. It took him two deliveries to get Gilchrist. India sensed victory now. Tendulkar’s golden arm then scalped Hayden and Warne too.

Three vital wickets, and the crowd were now on their feet. Gillespie and McGrath were gobbled up by Harbhajan and all of India erupted. The Aussies were defeated finally. Harbhajan picked 12 wickets in the match while Laxman aggregated 340 runs. India had done the impossible – stop the unstoppable Aussies.

The win was special. It instilled confidence in the new captain. It was only the third instance of a team winning a Test match after being asked to follow-on. India famously went on to win the next Test match at Chennai and clinched the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

But those five crucial days at the Eden Gardens will never be forgotten by any Indian of my generation. It was dogged cricket, the kind that makes Test cricket so special.

PS – I also passed my exams!