India-Australia rivalry in Tests is something cricket fans always look forward to. Whenever the two cricket powerhouses play, there is always something to expect from both the teams. Let’s walk through the memory lane of some brilliant bowling spells that not only changed the course of the game but also made these bowlers as icon for the future generations.
INDIA’S 5 MOST MEMORABLE BOWLING SPELLS IN TESTS AGAINST AUSTRALIA
HARBHAJAN SINGH: This was the spell that not only changed the complexion of the series but also of Indian cricket. Turbanator demolished the Australian batting line-up and ended up with the figures of 7-133 at Kolkata, 2001. Harbhajan's hat-trick was just too good to handle for the Aussies and that bowling spell introduced a New Wizard of spin bowling to World Cricket.
BS CHANDRASHEKHAR: BS Chandrashekhar surprised the Aussie batting line-up with one of his bowling spells. His pace and length were too good for Aussie to take care off and Chandra ended up with the figures of 6-52 at Melbourne in 1977. It was one of the finest wins in Indian cricket in which Chandrashekhar bagged as much as 12 wickets for 114 runs.
AJIT AGARKAR: He has been in and out of the Indian team but he has proved his worth whenever the ball was thrown to him. His figure of 6-42 at Adelaide in 2003 was one of the amazing spells that Indian cricket has ever seen. His ability to reverse swing the ball in the air as well as off the pitch made him the lethal bowler. Along with Agarkar's bowling spell, it was Rahul Dravid’s double hundred which led India to a historic win.
KAPIL DEV: India's All-time best fast bowler Kapil Dev bagged four wickets in the second innings of Australia when they were chasing down the total of 279 at Kanpur in 1979. Haryana's Hurricane went on to bamboozle the opener Rick Darling and Australian captain Kim Hughes among others.
EAS PRASANNA: Undoubtedly, one of the best spinners of his time, Prasanna picked up four wickets for 51 runs at Sydney in 1978. Along with his Karnataka teammate B S Chandrasekhar, who had picked up four wickets in the first innings, EAS Prasanna handed over an innings win to the Indian fans.
AUSTRALIA’S 5 MOST MEMORABLE BOWLING SPELLS IN TESTS AGAINST INDIA
RAY LINDWALL: Lindwall’s swing and pace was something that any Indian batsmen would have ever faced in their lifetime. He ended with a terrific spell of 7-43 at Chennai in 1956:. His seven-wicket haul on Indian wicket was a hallmark of his ability to bowl on any wicket. Lindwall dismissed India for a paltry 153.
RICHIE BENAUD: Richie Benaud came up with some brilliant bowling spell and tore apart the Indian batting and ended up with the figures of 7-72 at Chennai in 1956. Richie Benaud terrified the Indian batsmen with his swing bowling in the first innings whereas it was Lindwall’s pace which restricted India in the second innings to 153.
BRUCE REED: Bruce Reed had a brief career but he created havoc for even greatest batmen of his time. In 1991 he picked up six wickets haul at Melbourne against India in the second innings and took Australia home with a comfortable win of eight wickets. Bruce Reid was one of the many fast bowlers whose career was cut short by recurring injuries.
GARTH MCKENZIE: One of the three generations of bowlers, including Ray Lindwall and Dennis Lille, who created fear in the best of the batsmen all across the world, Garth McKenzie replaced Lindwall in the Australian team. At Kolkata in 1969, McKenzie picked up six wickets and in the first innings and restricted the Indian total to 212. He gave way 67 run to bag six wickets
JASON GILLESPIE: In 2004, when Australia toured India, Jason Gillespie and Glenn McGrath were the new ball bowlers who were tearing apart the opposition. Gillespie was equally responsible for Australia’s winning streak under skipper Steve Waugh. Gillespie picked up nine wickets in the Nagpur Test , five of them coming in the first innings, which restricted India to 185.
By Amit Chopra
Indian Sports News Network