By the end of third day of the Kolkata Test against Australia at the Eden Gardens in 2001, India were down and all but out. Following on, the hosts were 232/4 in second innings, still 42 runs behind the visitors and had just six more wickets left. That’s when VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid started writing a rising-from-the-ashes story that became one of the most incredible comebacks in the history of Test cricket.
Laxman was batting on 109 and Dravid on 7 at the start of day four. But when the stumps were drawn, India hadn’t lost a wicket in the entire day’s play and Laxman had moved to 275 and Dravid to 155.
The beauty of Laxman’s knock, which ultimately ended at an epic 281, overshadowed what actually was an equally priceless innings played by Dravid, who went on to score 180. The duo added 376 runs for the fifth wicket.
The Eden Gardens crowd, which was already on its feet sensing something special from the home team, then witnessed Harbhajan Singh‘s class for the second time in the match.
Following up on his seven wickets in the first innings, which included the first Test hat-trick by an Indian, the off-spinner spun a web around the Aussies once again to claim six wickets and took India to a 171-run victory.
Brief Scores
Australia (1st innings): 445 all out; Steve Waugh 110, Matthew Hayden 97, Justin Langer 58; Harbhajan 7/123
India (1st innings): 171 all out; Laxman 59; Glenn McGrath 4/18
India (2nd innings following-on): 657/7 declared; Laxman 281, Dravid 180; McGrath 3/103
Australia (2nd innings): 212 all out; Hayden 67; Harbhajan 6/73
Laxman was batting on 109 and Dravid on 7 at the start of day four. But when the stumps were drawn, India hadn’t lost a wicket in the entire day’s play and Laxman had moved to 275 and Dravid to 155.
The beauty of Laxman’s knock, which ultimately ended at an epic 281, overshadowed what actually was an equally priceless innings played by Dravid, who went on to score 180. The duo added 376 runs for the fifth wicket.
The Eden Gardens crowd, which was already on its feet sensing something special from the home team, then witnessed Harbhajan Singh‘s class for the second time in the match.
Following up on his seven wickets in the first innings, which included the first Test hat-trick by an Indian, the off-spinner spun a web around the Aussies once again to claim six wickets and took India to a 171-run victory.
Brief Scores
Australia (1st innings): 445 all out; Steve Waugh 110, Matthew Hayden 97, Justin Langer 58; Harbhajan 7/123
India (1st innings): 171 all out; Laxman 59; Glenn McGrath 4/18
India (2nd innings following-on): 657/7 declared; Laxman 281, Dravid 180; McGrath 3/103
Australia (2nd innings): 212 all out; Hayden 67; Harbhajan 6/73
