10 best drawn Test matches of the last decade

Over the past decade or so, Test match cricket has grown into a far more result-oriented game and the number of draws has reduced quite significantly. Teams are far more attacking in their approach and hence, even the drawn Test matches seem to throw up intriguing topsy-turvy games instead of ones that are dead two days in.

As a result, the last decade has witnessed plenty of exciting Test matches that, despite ending in draws, have been fascinating to witness. Here is a look at 10 of them.

#10 India v Pakistan, Bengaluru 2008

Having already secured a 1-0 lead in the three-match Test series against arch-rivals Pakistan, India arrived for the third Test at Bengaluru with the sole purpose of ensuring that the visitors had no chance of squaring the series.

A double century (239) from Sourav Ganguly and 169 from Yuvraj Singh saw India post a mammoth 626 in the first innings. Pakistan responded with 537 and it seemed the match was heading for a tame draw. India then declared their second innings to set Pakistan a target of 374 in 47 overs and only one result was really possible, a draw.

However, after a decent start, Pakistan started losing wickets and captain Anil Kumble's superb five-wicket haul, coupled with Yuvraj's two wickets forced Pakistan towards the precipice as they were reduced to 154-7 in the 35th over. Bad light though helped Pakistan escape with a draw and brought down the curtains on one of the most exciting draws of the last decade.

#9 West Indies v England, Port of Spain, 2009

England were left ruing their luck after coming ever so close to a victory

West Indies led the five-match series 1-0 with the final Test set to be played at Port of Spain. The game lived up to its billing, producing a riveting final day's play. England scored 546 in the first innings but West Indies responded with 544. Courtesy a 92-ball 102 from their star batsman Kevin Pietersen in the 2nd innings, England set the West Indies a target of 240.

Superb performances from James Anderson, Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar reduced the West Indies to 90-6 as England closed in on an unlikely victory. However, wicket-keeper Dinesh Ramdin knuckled down and remained unbeaten, scoring 17 off 87 balls, while Chris Gayle played out 42 crucial deliveries. When the match ended, West Indies had been reduced to 114/8 but escaped with the draw and the series.

#8 India v Australia, Ranchi, 2017

Steven Smith and Virat Kohli

The four-Test series between India and Australia earlier this year was a hugely competitive one. India squared the series at Bengaluru after a heavy defeat in the first Test at Pune and everyone was set for another keenly contested game in the 3rd Test at Ranchi.

Australia gained the upper hand when they scored 451 in the 1st innings, thanks to a superb 178 from their captain Steven Smith. However, India responded in kind and, powered by Cheteshwar Pujara's epic 525-ball 202, posted 603 in 210 overs.

They declared on the 4th evening with a lead of 152 and by the end of the 4th day, Australia were reduced to 23-2 in 7.2 overs. A defeat for the visitors looked likely considering the sort of tricks a 5th-day Indian pitch could play and when Smith departed in the 30th over with the scoreboard reading 60-4, the writing seemed to be on the wall.

However, Shaun Marsh (53 off 197) and Peter Handscomb (72 not out off 200) shut India out of the game, ensuring both sides shared the spoils.

#7 Australia v South Africa, Adelaide, 2012

Faf du Plessis

The two teams arrived in Adelaide for the 2nd Test of the three-match series, deadlocked at 0-0. Australia piled up 550 in a mere 107 overs, gaining the ascendancy immediately. South Africa were dismissed for 388 and Australia set the visitors a target of 430 runs with around a day to spare.

The match looked done and dusted for South Africa when they were reduced to 45-4 on the 4th evening in the 21st over, Nathan Lyon causing havoc on a dry pitch. However, Australia had no idea that they were about to witness a Faf du Plessis-AB de Villiers 'Blockathon'.

The pair came together in the 21st over on the 4th day and saw their side to stumps, before going on to bat for another 39 overs on the fifth day. The partnership that spanned 68 overs yielded only 89 runs but South Africa now had an opportunity to eke out a draw. Du Plessis remained not out on 110 off 376 deliveries and eschewed all his attacking instincts, even though wickets fell around him. Eventually, South Africa lost eight wickets to make for an exciting finish but managed to escape with a totally unexpected draw.

#6 South Africa v England, Cape Town, 2010

The last wicket pair rejoices

When it looked like the 4th Test of the series between South Africa and England at Cape Town was petering out towards a draw, things changed quite dramatically on the 5th day. The honours were even after both teams completed their 1st innings, England scoring 273 in response to South Africa's 291.

However, South Africa took the game away in the 2nd essay when they piled up 447, thanks to Graeme Smith's superb 183. England were left to survive for more than a day and a half. They ended the first day at 132 for 3 and South Africa were clear favourites to win the game on the fifth day.

When Jonathan Trott departed on the 5th morning to leave England at 160 for 5, there was no doubt which way the game was heading. However, Ian Bell and Paul Collingwood dropped anchor, taking England close to safety. Just when it looked like they had seen things through, England lost four quick wickets. Number 10 Graeme Swann and last man Graham Onions were left to bat out the 17 deliveries left on the day. However, the two saw off the last two overs from Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel to help England escape with a famous draw.

#5 India v Sri Lanka, Eden Gardens, 2017

Bhuvneshwar Kumar

This one is the most recent match on the list and one that absolutely no one expected to end up being as excited as it turned out to be. The game was affected by rain and plenty of overs were lost but Sri Lanka skittled India out for 172 in the 1st innings on a surprisingly bouncy and seam-friendly wicket. In response, they scored 294 and it seemed that the game was all but over. However, India fought hard to score 352 in the second innings, thanks to a superb unbeaten century from their captain Virat Kohli.

With only one and a half sessions left in the game, the game was heading towards a drab draw. Sri Lanka had no intention of chasing 231 in the 4th innings but their batsmen's nervousness was exposed by Bhuvneshwar Kumar and the rest of the pace bowling arsenal. They were reduced to 2-2 and then 22-4. The wickets kept tumbling but some creative time-wasting tactics from Niroshan Dickwella saw them escape with a draw, aided by bad light, despite being precariously placed at 75 for 7.

#4 New Zealand v England, Auckland, 2013

Panesar and Prior helped England escape with a draw

England and New Zealand were locked at 0-0 in the three-Test series back in 2013 when the teams arrived in Auckland for the final game.

Powered by a century (136) from opening batsman Peter Fulton and 91 from Kane Willamson, New Zealand posted 443 in their first innings. Then Trent Boult produced a virtuoso performance as he took six wickets and skittled England for 204.

From then on, it was all New Zealand as Fulton scored another century and the hosts set England a target of 481 in around a day and a half. By the time the 4th evening ended, England were on the mat at 90 for 4. Things continued in the same vein in the next morning as England slumped to 159 for 6 but then Ian Bell and Matt Prior rallied to offer some resistance.

However, even after Bell was dismissed, Stuard Broad supported Prior well and it was not until the 140th over that New Zealand got two quick wickets to reduce England to 304 for 9. However, England's last man Monty Panesar played out five deliveries and Prior defended stoutly to help England escape with a draw.

#3 India v West Indies, Mumbai, 2011

Ashwin almost pulled off the impossible

It was the only second occasion in Test cricket history that two teams ended up level on runs with the match ending in a draw. It was a dead rubber since India had already taken a 2-0 lead in the 3-Test series but it was the 3rd Test that will remain in public memory for a long time.

West Indies produced an excellent batting display to score 590 in their 1st innings and then dismissed India for 482. However, they could not quite kill the game off as Pragyan Ojha's 6 wicket haul saw them crash to 134 all out on the final day, leaving India to score 243 in 64 overs to win the game. A 65-ball 60 from Virender Sehwag at the top raised the hopes of Indian fans.

However, India kept losing wickets until Virat Kohli's 63 steadied the ship. Eventually, with 2 wickets in hand and 3 needed to win the game, it was up to Ravichandran Ashwin to see them home. With Fidel Edwards bowling, West Indies still sensed an opportunity to blast out the tail. After all, Varun Aaron was on strike, but the fast bowler somehow survived and took a single off the 4th ball of the over.

With 2 required to win and 2 deliveries to go, Ashwin edged one on to his pads to avert a leg before dismissal and then once the draw had been secured, took a single. However, he was run out while going for the 2nd run, resulting in the match ending in a draw.

#2 England v Australia, Cardiff, 2009

England's tail held firm

The first game of the Ashes in 2009 produced one of the most pulsating draws ever seen in Test cricket. After dismissing England for 435 in the 1st innings, Australia responded with a massive 674, with four batsmen scoring centuries. Staring at a deficit of 239, England ended the 4th day at 20 for 2 and lost Kevin Pietersen early on the 5th day to be reduced to 31 for 3. They continued to lose wickets and were reeling at 159 for 7 when Paul Collingwood and Graeme Swann got together to stem the bleeding.

However, the dismissal of Swann and then Collingwood in quick succession meant that England's number 10 and 11 had to bat out the last few overs in order to avoid the ignominy of an innings defeat in the first Test. James Anderson and Monty Panesar's heroic 11.3-over vigil to keep Australia at bay went a long way in ensuring that England were not dealt a body blow in the very first Test match of the series.

#1 South Africa v India, Johannesburg, 2013

Du Plessis and De Villiers almost did the unthinkable

It is not only the greatest drawn Test match of the past decade but possibly the greatest in cricketing history. In the first Test of the two-game series in South Africa, the hosts were on the verge of pulling off a record chase but had to pull the shutters down after a string of wickets fell.

India dominated the Test at the beginning. They scored 280 in the first innings, thanks to Virat Kohli's brilliant 119 and then dismissed South Africa for 244, following a fine show from the trio of Zaheer Khan, Mohammed Shami and Ishant Sharma. 153 from Cheteshwar Pujara and 96 from Kohli in the 2nd innings helped them pile up 421 and left South Africa with a target of 458 in a day and a half.

South Africa recovered from 197 for 4 on the 5th day to stage a remarkable comeback through their batting stars Faf du Plessis and AB de Villiers. Both scored centuries and when De Villiers departed, South Africa had reached 402 and were very much in with a chance of claiming a record-breaking victory. However, two more wickets fell and the South Africans eventually shut up shop. Dale Steyn hit a six off the last delivery to get them to within eight runs of the target but it was not enough.