The Hindu : Sport : September 22, 1986: a date with destiny

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Sep 22, 2006
ePaper

Sport

Sport

September 22, 1986: a date with destiny

S. Dinakar

The India Australia duel was only the second tied Test in the game's history

— Photo: The Hindu Archives

MOMENT FROZEN IN HISTORY: Maninder Singh misses, Greg Matthews (left, cock-a-hoop with joy) appeals, Vikram Raju raises his finger... .and Chepauk witnesses the second ever `tie' in Test cricket.

CHENNAI: Allan Border had thrown down the gauntlet with a brave declaration. The Indians accepted the challenge. The chase was on, so was the date with destiny.

It was a final day of strokes, wickets and a pulsating conclusion. The India - Australia duel of 1986 at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium whipped up only the second tied Test in cricket history. What a finish!

Actually, both teams emerged winners on the evening of September 22. Neither feared defeat, neither deserved to lose. And history was `re-made.'

In a high-octane Test from another era, Australia and West Indies had played out a tied epic in Brisbane, 1960.

Matthews strikes

Madras too embraced cricketing immortality, the moment umpire Vikram Raju raised his finger following off-spinner Greg Matthews's query for a leg-before decision against last man Maninder Singh.

Now, 20 years on to the day, the match is recollected as a celebration of cricket. The Test was not just about numbers. Courage and passion were reoccurring themes.

Kapil Dev's men were set a target of 348 on day five after Australia chose not to continue from its overnight 170 for five. The Indians built a platform, and then stumbled before a late blitz took them to within four runs of victory when the final over commenced.

The combative Matthews began the last over. The crowd had gradually built up at Chepauk. Now, the excitement levels reached a crescendo.

A wise captain

Border wisely kept men in the infield. Much hinged on all-rounder Ravi Shastri, who held strike with only Maninder for company. Recalls Maninder: "We decided that we would take whatever runs that came our way. We realised we had to first avoid defeat."

The first delivery failed to produce a run. Shastri collected a brace off the second, and picked a single off the next. The scores were equal.

Could Maninder pull it off for India? In the event, Matthews finished at the right end of a contentious leg-before verdict with his fifth delivery. It was a tie!

Matthews — he scalped 10 in the match — and left-arm spinner Ray Bright had delivered for Australia on the last day. Remembers Indian batting great Mohinder Amarnath. "There was some turn on the final day, but it was still a good wicket to bat on. Kapil told us to play normal cricket and take it session by session."

Many heroes

The match comprised several parts, had many heroes. In Australia's mammoth first innings 574 for seven declared, opener David Boon contributed 122, Border an efficient 106 and Dean Jones a heroic 210.

During his 502-minute classic, Jones battled heat, dehydration and spells of giddiness on a typically hot and humid Madras afternoon. Maninder rates it among the greatest innings he has seen. "Jones showed so much character. There was some turn and bounce in the pitch, but he was dancing down and not allowing the ball to spin."

With runs to back them, the Australian bowlers struck. The side had a potent new ball combination in the fast and aggressive Craig McDermott and the beanpole left-armer Bruce Reid.

The Indians, without injured key batsman Dilip Vengsarkar, stumbled. It was only a blistering counter-attacking 138-ball 119 by skipper Kapil Dev that enabled the side avoid follow on.

"He was unhappy with the effort of the batsmen earlier, and this was his response," says Mohinder.

Wily coach

India's score of 397 meant the host was 177 runs behind Australia. By close on day four, Australia had stretched the lead to 347. Then Border, encouraged by wily coach Bob Simpson, opened up the last day. It was now anybody's game.

Krishnamachari Srikkanth set the pace with a hectic 39. Then Sunil Gavaskar (90) and Mohinder (51) held centre-stage with an amalgam of technical excellence and judicious stroke-selection.

The Australian bowlers, subsequently, struck at regular intervals, although Mohammed Azharuddin's wristy 42 and Chandrakant Pandit's 39 kept India in the hunt. Crucially for Australia, Matthews prised out Kapil for one.

Gamesmanship

The Australians engaged in gamesmanship too. Shastri (48 not out) kept his cool, while someone like Chetan Sharma did not. Shivlal Yadav departed after striking a six, and then arrived the last over and the final act.

Looking back, Australia, in the midst of a rebuilding phase, took more out of the match than India, which was fresh from a 2-0 Test series triumph in England. The Aussies would go on to win the 1987 World Cup in the sub-continent — a significant cricketing turning point for the nation.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport