Top 5 bowling spells by an Indian in Tests at the Gabba ahead of BGT 2024-25 3rd Test ft. Mohammed Siraj
The Indian team are set to face Australia in the third fixture of the five-match BGT 2024-25 Test series at the Gabba, Brisbane. The game is scheduled to start on December 16, with the series currently tied at 1-1.
So far, India have played seven Tests in Brisbane, with the latest coming in January 2021. The have won only one of those games, losing five and drawing one. Naturally, they will be eager to improve on that record at the venue.
There have been a few Indian bowlers who have posed a threat to the Australian batters in Gabba Tests over the years. Let's take a look at their five best figures and what transpired in those games.
#5 Madan Lal - 5/72, 1977
Madan Lal played only two Tests in Australia, both of which came on the 1977-78 tour. The first Test of the series was played at the Gabba, with the hosts batting first. Madan Lal took a solitary wicket in the first innings, as the hosts were dismissed for 166.
In response, India could only get to 153, with a top contribution of 48 from Dilip Vengasarkar. Thereafter, Madan Lal was sensational to secure a breakthrough in the first over, of Australia's second innings as he dismissed Gary Cosier for a duck. In his next over, the right-arm pacer dismissed another opener, Paul Hibbert (2). He went on to finish with figures of 5/72 to bundle out Australia for 327.
The Indian team displayed a spirited effort in their chase, led by Sunil Gavaskar's ton. However, they fell short by just 16 runs in their pursuit of 341.
#4 Bishan Singh Bedi - 5/55, 1977
Bishan Singh Bedi was appointed as India's captain in 1976. The 1977 tour was his first tour to Down Under as skipper. Bedi's best performance came in the Brisbane Test, where Madan Lal had produced his finest spell in Australia.
After Mohinder Amarnath dismissed both the openers in the first innings, Bedi spun a web around the Australian batting unit and didn't let them settle. One of his dismissals was captain Bob Simpson (7). The left-arm tweaker finished with figures of 5/55 to help his side bundle out Australia for 166.
Bedi went wicketless in the second innings as Australia won the game by 16 runs.
#3 Erapalli Prasanna - 6/104, 1967
In the first Test of the bilateral series in 1967-78 in Brisbane, Australia batted first. Four players scored half-centuries, putting up 379 on the board. Although the Indian top-order failed, Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi (74) and Motganhalli Jaisimha (74) pushed India's total to 279.
Thereafter, Australia got off to a fabulous start with their openers Bill Lawry and Ian Redpath. However, Erapalli Prasanna broke the 116-run stand by dismissing Redpath (79). The right-arm off-spinner picked up wickets in consistent intervals and finished with figures of 6/104, as Australia were all-out for 294.
Although Jaisimha scored a century, the Indian team lost the game by 39 runs.
#2 Zaheer Khan - 5/95, 2003
One of Zaheer Khan's finest Test performances came in December 2003 at the Gabba. The hosts batted first and were off to a good start with Justin Langer and Matthew Hayden.
Zaheer induced an edge off Hayden (37), who was trying to play an expansive cover drive, to secure a much-needed breakthrough. Ricky Ponting, who was looking in good rhythm and had already scored a fifty, failed to execute a pull shot and was caught by keeper Parthiv Patel off Zaheer's bowling.
Then, Zaheer secured a hit-wicket dismissal of captain Steve Waugh and added wickets of Simon Katich (16) and Adam Gilchrist (0) to his kitty. He finished with figures of 5/95 as Australia were dismissed for 323.
The visitors responded by slamming 409, with captain Sourav Ganguly (144) emerging as the top scorer. The game ended in a draw, with Australia scoring 284/3 in the second innings.
#1 Mohammed Siraj - 5/73, 2021
One of India's finest Test victories came at the Gabba, as they broke the Australian fortress, handing them their first loss at the venue in 32 years. The key performer for the side was the right-arm pacer Mohammed Siraj.
Batting first, Australia posted a hefty total of 369, with Marnus Labuschagne scoring a century. In response, India were boosted by 60+ contributions from Washington Sundar and Shardul Thakur, as they compiled 336.
Thereafter, Marcus Harris (38) and David Warner (48) did well, but their dismissals opened the floodgates for India. Siraj induced an edge off Labuschagne (25) and then got Matthew Wade (0) caught in quick succession.
Extra bounce from the surface helped Siraj to break Steve Smith's resistance and sent him packing for 55. Then, he took the wickets of Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood and finished with figures of 5/73, while the hosts were bundled out for 298.
Thereafter, Rishabh Pant (89*) remained unbeaten to help the side chase down a 328-run total.