In the career of a cricketer, there are a few moments and memories which one can proudly tell their grandchildren about. The third Test played between India and Australia at Perth in 2008 was one such match for the Indian cricketers. It was a match which every member of that Indian team will cherish for their entire lifetime.
The Western Australia Cricket Ground at Perth also known as the W.A.C.A, has been a sacred ground for the Australians. The ground was the Australian team’s fortress, which not many teams have been able to conquer. The fact that they had not lost a Test at the W.A.C.A from February 1997 till this match (they won 8 and drew 2 tests during this period) speaks volumes of their record at this venue.
And playing at the ground, which was once considered the fastest pitch in the world, is a dream for every professional cricketer. Sachin Tendulkar had once famously said that he regarded his century at Perth in 1992 as one of his best innings ever.
In the 2008 Test, the Australians had been unbeaten in 16 Test matches and having won the first two Tests of the series, were already in the driver’s seat even before the start of the match. But the ghosts of the epic 2001 Kolkata Test came back to haunt them and the Indians once again ensured that the Australian winning streak stopped at 16.
Such was the Australian dominance during that time that Michael Hussey had not been part of a losing test team. Sadly for Hussey, along with his first loss, he also got his first duck in this match.
Let’s relive some magic moments from this match which was played exactly 9 years ago on this day.
#1 Tendulkar-Dravid Show
Indian skipper Anil Kumble won the toss and elected to bat. Openers Virender Sehwag and Wasim Jaffer justified their captain’s decision and put on 57 runs for the first wicket before Sehwag was dismissed by Mitchell Johnson. Jaffer followed him soon, but his wicket brought together two of India’s best ever batsmen – Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid.
Over the next 38 overs or so, the two greats treated the crowd to some immaculate display of batting. Dravid, who was returning to his favourite number 3 spot after having opened in the first two Tests, once again proved why he was best suited for that spot.
The 139-run partnership between the two was their 16th-century stand in tests and it equalled the world record held by Desmond Haynes-Gordon Greenidge and Matthew Hayden-Ricky Ponting. In the process, Tendulkar also became the first batsman to make 50 fifty-plus scores in overseas Tests.
However, despite their heroics; India ended the day at 297 runs for the loss of 6 wickets.
#2 A day for the Indian bowlers to remember
If there was some confusion about who the winner was at the end of day 1, the Indian team ensured that there wasn’t any ambiguity at the end of day 2. The day belonged to the Indian bowlers. RP Singh was the chief havoc creator and ended with figures of 4 wickets for 68 runs.
The other three Indian bowlers – Irfan Pathan, Ishant Sharma and Anil Kumble – also played their part with each of them taking 2 wickets. It was also a special day for skipper Kumble as he took his 600th Test wicket. The Australians were bundled out for 212 runs in just 50 overs.
India began their second innings confidently and raced to 52 runs for the loss of one wicket in 11 overs, courtesy of some bold batting by Sehwag.
#3 A Very Very Special man comes to India’s rescue
An India-Australia Test match was invariably incomplete without something special from VVS Laxman. Day 3 of this match ensured that this trend continued. Like he had done numerous times in the past, Laxman, in the company of Dhoni and the tailenders were given the task of getting India out of trouble. And Laxman did not disappoint.
First with Irfan Pathan, then with MS Dhoni and finally with number 10 batsman RP Singh, the Hyderabad batsman put together valuable runs. The difference between setting a target of 300 runs and the 413 runs (which India eventually set the Aussies) was Australia’s nemesis, Laxman.
He scored 79 runs and was the highest scorer in India’s second innings. Pathan’s two wickets late in the day wrapped up a satisfying day for the Indians and they were now very close from creating history at the W.A.C.A.
#4 “Ek aur over karega” (Will you bowl one more over)
This day gave the Indians one of the famous lines since Tendulkar’s “Main khelega” (I will play). Ishant Sharma, who had troubled Australian captain Ricky Ponting, was being taken out of the attack after an inspiring spell of seven overs. That’s when Sehwag intervened and said to skipper Kumble, “Ponting strike par hai. Usko ek aur over do” (Ponting is on strike, give him one more over).
Heeding to Sehwag’s advice, Kumble asked Ishant; “Ek aur over karega” (will you bowl one more over?). To which Ishant replied, “Haan karoonga” (Yes, I will).
The Delhi bowler got Ponting out with the first ball of his next over and gave Indian cricket a story which has been retold innumerable times over the last nine years. Ponting’s wicket opened the floodgates and the Australians were reduced to 177 runs for the loss of 5 wickets from a comfortable 117-2.
Taking a cue from his idol, Tendulkar, who had taken crucial wickets in the 4th innings of the 2001 Kolkata test, Sehwag picked up Adam Gilchrist’s and Brett Lee’s wickets.
But Michael Clarke was still going strong at one end and the Indians knew that they could not take anything for granted. When the former Australian captain was finally stumped by Dhoni off Kumble’s bowling, the Indians sensed a famous win.
A 73-run partnership for the 9th wicket between Mitchell Johnson and Stuart Clark could only delay the inevitable. It was Pathan, again – who had already put in a very good all-round performance in the match – who got the breakthrough and captured Clark caught behind the wicket.
With Shaun Tait’s wicket, RP Singh finished off the proceedings soon and gave India their first ever test victory at the W.A.C.A. In fact, this was the first Test victory by a subcontinent team at this historic ground.
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