5 instances when teams made perfect use of their home advantage

India’s dominance over South Africa during the ongoing Test series between the two teams has been there for everyone to see as the Proteas stare at yet another defeat in the 3rd Test at Nagpur. With the Indian spinners creating havoc in the opposition camp on pitches that have turned square from Day One, it is evident that they have been able exploit their home conditions to good effect.Not only India, but teams from all over the world, be it England, Australia, New Zealand or South Africa, have utilised their respective home conditions mighty effectively to get an upper hand over the opposition from time to time.Here are 5 instances when teams made complete use of the home advantage:

#5 Pakistan vs England Test Series 2012

Pakistan were too good for England in the 2012 Test series played in UAE

Home Team: Pakistan (playing in UAE)

Opponents: England

Series Result: 3-0

Pakistan’s record in their adopted home, the United Arab Emirates, has been envious to say the least and they have learnt very well about how to utilise their ‘home advantage’ here. Their most famous victory in the country came when they whitewashed the England team, who were ranked number one in the world in Tests at that time, 3-0 in a series played in 2012.

In spin-friendly conditions, Pakistani tweakers Saeed Ajmal and Abdur Rehman tore through the England batting line-up on more than one occasion and inspired their team to win all three Tests with consummate ease. It earmarked the beginning of the Pakistan cricket team’s remarkable success in the UAE in the years that have followed.

#4 Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2011-12

Australia battered India 4-0 in a home series early in 2012

Home Team: Australia

Opponents: India

Series Result: 4-0

Australia’s massacre of India in the 2011-12 Border Gavaskar Trophy was a fine display of how the home advantage can be utilised. Their bowlers dominated an ageing Indian batting line-up on pitches full of pace and bounce to set up a commanding whitewash in the 4-match Test series.

Such was the Australian dominance that they registered an innings victory on 2 occasions and allowed India to score 400 just once in 8 innings. The Aussies set the record straight after a couple of closely fought series that took place during India’s two previous tours to the country.

#3 Pataudi Trophy 2011

England whitewashed India 4-0 in 2011 to become the No. 1 Test team

Home Team: England

Opponents: India

Series Result: 4-0

The Englishmen set an excellent example in using home advantage as a recipe for success when they pounded India 4-0 in the 2011 Pataudi Trophy. In the process, they ensured that the last series that the last series that Indian legends Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman played in England did not end up being a memorable one.

The home side inflicted heavy defeats in all the 4 Tests as the hapless Indian batsmen fell prey to some quality swing bowling from the likes of Anderson and Broad. With two innings victories in back-to-back matches, the England team put up their best showing against India in a long long time.

#2 The Ashes 2013-14

Mitchell Johnson was the cheif architect of Australia’s dominant display in the 2013-14 Ashes

Home Team: Australia

Opponents: England

Series Result: 5-0

The Australians not only taught England, but the entire cricketing world a lesson on how to take advantage of home conditions in the best possible manner. After being beaten in 3 consecutive Ashes series, Australia served out a cold dose of revenge as they blanked out arch-rivals England 5-0 in a highly dominating display.

It was not just about the result, but the manner in which the English batsmen capitulated against the likes of Mitchell Johnson and Ryan Harris which made this series special. The Aussies won all 5 Tests comprehensively and their bowlers as well as their batsmen led from the front in terms of series statistics.

#1 Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2013

MS Dhoni’s men handed the Australian team a whitewash to remember

Home Team: India

Opponents: Australia

Series Result: 4-0

Perhaps the greatest example of utilising home advanatge to the fullest in recent times was India’s 4-0 whitewash of Australia in the 2013 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. It was a case of total domination for the Indians with both bat and ball. With pitch conditions fully suited to India’s spinners, they left the Australian batsmen clueless for most part of the series picking up 65 wickets between them.

The demons in the pitch all seemed to disappear whenever the Indians came to bat as they racked up the runs on the board to apply pressure on the Aussies. The narrowest margin of victory for India was by 6 wickets in the final Test at Delhi, which ended in just 3 days, while the heaviest defeat they inflicted was by an innings and 135 runs in the 2^nd Test at Hyderabad.

It was India’s best performance in a home series since some of their exploits during the 1990s.