Five most memorable Test series since 2000

There have been growing doubts regarding the long-term future of Test cricket, over the last few years, due to the surge in popularity of T20 cricket. With that being the case, what Test cricket is desperately looking for is some gripping contests in order to capture the imagination of younger audiences in particular. There have been a few memorable Test match series, to the game’s credit, since the start of the 21st century. A few more of such series in the coming years would ensure that the longest format of the game continues thriving despite the intense competition it is facing for relevance in modern times.Here, we have a look at the five most memorable Test series since 2000. Note: Test series constituting just two matches have not been considered

#5 South Africa vs. Australia, 2009 (3-match series)

People had started suggesting that Australia were on the wane after they lost the home series 2-1 against South Africa in 2008/09, but they clearly had life left in them as they reversed that 2-1 scoreline against the Proteas in South Africa shortly after.

Their series victory against a strong South African side in their own backyard is even more remarkable when you consider the fact they went into the 1st Test, at Johannesburg, with their most inexperienced side in 20 years.

Phillip Hughes, Ben Hilfenhaus and Marcus North were all making their Test debuts, but they were still good enough to win the 1st Test by 162 runs, thanks largely to Mitchell Johnson’s match figures of 8/137 in addition to his 96* in the 1st innings.

Hughes took charge of the 2nd Test with hundreds in both innings to hand Australia not just a comprehensive 175-run win but also an unassailable 2-0 series lead. Although South Africa managed to regain some pride beating Australia by an innings and 20 runs in the 3rd Test, at Cape Town, it wasn’t enough as the ICC Test maze for being the No.1 Test side remained firmly with Australia.

#4 India v England, 2012 (4-match series)

India had been baying for England’s blood ever since they suffered a 4-0 whitewash in England in 2011, and England’s tour to India the very next year seemed like the perfect opportunity to seek revenge.

England, in the period between the two series, had lost to Pakistan 3-0 in the United Arab Emirates, and the general feeling, consequently, was that England had absolutely no chance of beating India in India.

After they lost the 1st Test in Ahmedabad by 9 wickets, that belief only seemed to get stronger.

India, then, won the toss in Mumbai on a square-turner and decided to bat first. They posted 327 on the board, a total considered very competitive on a deteriorating pitch, but Alastair Cook and Kevin Pietersen notched up impressive centuries to take the England total to 413 and gain a lead of 87 runs.

With the pitch crumbling, the onus was on England spin-twins Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar to take a majority of the Indian wickets, and they certainly stood up to the plate. Swann (4/43) and Monty Panesar (6/81) bowled out of their skins to share all the 10 Indian wickets amongst themselves and bundled India out for 142 before coasting to a comfortable 10-wicket victory.

The next Test, in Kolkata, followed a similar pattern as Cook hit a majestic 190 to provide able back up to his spin duo, and, all of a sudden, England were celebrating their first series victory in India, in 28 years. The series finished 2-1 in England’s favour with the 4th Test in Nagpur ending in a tame draw.

#3 India v Australia, 2004 (4-match series)

Having not won a Test series in India for 35 years, including a heartbreaking defeat on their previous tour in 2001, the Australians considered conquering the Indian conditions as their biggest ever challenge. They were undisputedly the No.1 Test side at the time, but they had never won in India and felt that they had to overcome that barrier to be recognized as one of the greatest cricket teams to have ever taken the field.

Like in 2001, Australia started off with an emphatic 217-run win in the 1st Test, but they didn’t let the momentum slip this time around. They were perhaps fortunate to not lose the 2nd Test, in Chennai, as India needed just 210 runs with all 10 wickets in tact going into the 5th day before rain washed out the entire day’s play. But, importantly, they made use of that fortune as they thrashed India by a colossal 342 runs in the next Test, in Nagpur, to seal a historic series victory.

India managed to win the inconsequential 4th Test in Mumbai on a track tailor-made for their spinners, but the Australians couldn’t care less as they were heading home having achieved a rare series win on Indian soil.

#2 India v Australia, 2001 (3-match series)

The 2001 Test series between India and Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy will undoubtedly go down in history as one of the greatest Test series ever.

It wasn’t looking like that was going to be the case, however, when Australia beat India by a whopping 10-wicket margin in the 1st Test in Mumbai.

Australia, then, gained a 274-run lead after the 1st innings in the 2nd Test, in Kolkata, and were looking well on course to take an unassailable 2-0 lead. But VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid had other ideas: they amassed a record-breaking 376-run partnership while following on, thereby giving the Australians a target of 384 on the 5th and final day. The visitors couldn’t cope with the pressure and ended up being bundled out for 212, leaving the series perfectly poised at 1-1 going into the 3rd Test in Chennai.

India, then, riding on the wave of their feats in the 2nd Test, went on to win the 3rd Test by a narrow 2-wicket margin to complete a 2-1 series win and signal the start of a bright new era for Indian cricket.

#1 England v Australia, 2005 (5-match series)

The 2005 Ashes series, arguably, is the greatest Test series ever played, with the quality of cricket over the 5 Tests and the drama that it provided being unmatched till date.

England hadn’t won an Ashes series for almost two decades and would have been desperate to turn the tables on Australia, but they got off to a disappointing start at Lord’s as they lost by 239 runs to an irrepressible Australian outfit.

England, though, quickly bounced back as they won two of the next three Tests by narrow margins to take a 2-1 lead in the series going into the 5th Test.

With England battling for a draw on the final day of the 5th Test at the Oval to win the series, Kevin Pietersen played a masterly knock of 158 from 187 deliveries to help his country regain the urn and, in turn, sealed his place in Ashes folklore.