FEATURE
Follow Us26th September 2021 will go down as one of the defining moments in the history of the game as the Women in Blue managed to halt the Aussie juggernaut by registering a two-wicket win post a cliffhanger in the third ODI at Mackay.
After all the drama surrounding a last-ball thriller in the second ODI, the Indian team bounced back in an emphatic fashion to end the series with a consolation win and end a 26-match winning streak for the home team.
Half-centuries from Shafali Verma and Yastika Bhatia laid a solid foundation for a 265-run chase before Sneh Rana's 30-run cameo powered the visiting side to a close win, their highest ever run chase in the 50-over format.
Over the years, India and Australia have been involved in an intense rivalry that has enthralled millions of fans all around the globe. Bruised and in disarray after a semi-final loss to India in the 2017 Women's World Cup, Australia entered a phase of transition in the white-ball format.
Three years ago, on 12th March 2018, the Southern stars defeated India in the first match of the three-match ODI series in Vadodara by eight wickets to kickstart their dominance in this format.
Ever since that game, Australia has been on a rampage by winning 26 consecutive games before the Indian team finally managed to stop their dream run with an all-around performance.
However, this is not the only time an Indian team has successfully halted Australia's dominance at the international level.
Let us take a look at three iconic instances that are etched in the memory of every cricket fan:
A Test match to savour for the ages - Kolkata 2001
The second Test match at the iconic Eden Gardens between India and Australia is a story of a remarkable comeback by the home team. With a comprehensive 10-wicket win against India in the first of the three-match test series in Mumbai, Australia stepped onto the Eden Gardens, riding high on confidence.
After opting to bat first, Steve Waugh's scintillating hundred (110), along with a valuable 97 from Matthew Hayden, propelled the visiting side to a mammoth total of 445 runs in the first innings. A lukewarm performance with the bat resulted in India getting bundled out for 171 runs and asked to follow on.
However, what followed later showcased the immense grit and determination of the Indian side in hot and humid conditions at Kolkata. India scripted an incredible comeback in the second innings courtesy of a 376-run partnership between Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman that helped them set a target of 384 runs.
While the first innings highlighted Harbhajan Singh's hat-trick and a seven-wicket haul, the second innings witnessed his immaculate skills on turning surface as he picked up six wickets to guide India to a famous win.
For every cricket fan, the Test match will always be the game to savour in the longest format of the game. However, for the Australian outfit, this loss ended their 16-match dominance in red-ball cricket.
After a ten-wicket win against Zimbabwe in Harare on 14th October 1999, the team has won 16-matches in a row, which is the most by any team, surpassing the previous best of 11 wins held by the West Indies in 1984.
A comeback that defined the spirit of India - Perth 2008
Four years after India managed to break the Aussie dominance by registering a 171-run win at the Eden Gardens, the Australian side yet again proved to be a notch above the rest of the teams locked horns with India during their tour Down Under with a 14 consecutive winning streak.
With tempers flaring at Sydney due to the glaring umpiring errors and the monkey gate scandal, India entered Perth vowing to make a comeback. The win by the barest of margins at the Sydney Cricket Ground helped Ponting and his men equal Steve Waugh's unbeaten record of 16 consecutive Test wins.
However, a clinical performance by the visiting led by one of the most astute captains India has produced, Anil Kumble, scripted India's comeback in the series with a 72-run win. The Test match at Perth showcased the never-say attitude of the Indian side and enabled them to halt Australia's march towards rewriting the record books.
The golden run for the mighty Aussies started in the Boxing Day Test match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in 2005. The batting unit led skipper Ricky Ponting, and Michael Hussey smashed centuries in the first innings against South Africa to help the home team post 355 in the first innings.
While the game was hanging in the balance for most of the Test, it was Shane Warne's magical spell with the ball in the second innings that caused a collapse and handed Australia a 185-run win.
Bruised India breach the Gabba fortress - Gabba 2021
The last time Australia lost a Test match at the Gabba was way back in 2008 by nine wickets against West Indies. Over 32 years, the Brisbane Cricket Ground has turned into a fortress for the home with 31 consecutive matches undefeated until a young Indian contingent edged them in a record run chase on Day 5 of the Border-Gavaskar trophy 2021.
Australia held the record for the second-most games at a venue being undefeated with 31 matches behind Pakistan's 34 games at the National Stadium in Karachi.
After a hard-fought draw at the Sydney Cricket Ground, India set foot at the Gabba with an aim to clinch the series 2-1. Despite being plagued by injuries, the young blood of Shubman Gill - 91 - and Rishabh Pant's heroics of an unbeaten 89 on the final day powered the Indian team to breach the fortress with three wickets remaining.
