The Indians found themselves in the unusual position of favourites on the eve of the 1985-86 tour of Australia. This may sound unbelievable given the past record of Indian teams `Down Under' but events over the preceding couple of years had dictated that the home team should start as underdogs.

Ever since the retirement of Greg Chappell, Dennis Lillee and Rodney Marsh at the end of the 1983-84 series against Pakistan, Australia were a struggling side. Three giants having left the scene all at once, Australia had to commence the rebuilding process in real earnest. And they were still midway through this process when the Indians arrived. In the preceding two years, Australia had lost twice to the West Indies 3-0 and 3-1, had been beaten 3-1 in the Ashes battle in England in 1985 and just prior to the series against India, had also lost to New Zealand 2-1. India themselves had not had an outstanding record over the same period but at least the team had a well settled look. The batting in the hands of Gavaskar, Srikkanth, Amarnath, Azharuddin, Vengsarkar, Kapil Dev and Shastri looked solid and the bowling manned by Kapil Dev, Binny, Chetan Sharma, Yadav, Shastri and Sivaramakrishnan seemed capable enough. And India's triumph in the World Championship of Cricket in Australia in March 1985 had boosted their confidence.

A bland pitch and loss of five hours play saw to it that the first Test at Adelaide ended in a tame draw. Centuries by David Boon (123) and Greg Ritchie (128) and their 117 run fourth wicket stand enabled Australia to score 381. But the chief honours were with Kapil Dev. The Indian captain finished with eight for 106, including a spell of 5 for 4 from 21 balls with which he ended the innings. It was the best bowling analysis registered by an Indian in Australia and was the second best ever at Adelaide after AE Trott's eight for 43 for Australia against England in 1894-95. The Australian bowling in the hands of McDermott, Reid, Hughes, Bright and Matthews was not weak but the Indians displayed their batting depth in hitting 520. Srikkanth (51) and nightwatchman Chetan Sharma (54) got half centuries, the latter half - Amarnath (37), Shastri (42), Kapil Dev (38) and Binny (38) - kept the innings going but the star was still 36-year-old Gavaskar, who completed his 31st Test century in scoring an unbeaten 166. With Shivlal Yadav (41) he added 94 runs for the last wicket and in the process became the first batsman to hit 9000 runs in Tests. In the remaining time available Australia scored 17 without loss.

Rain also had a say in Australia saving the second Test match at Melbourne but it was also rather inept handling of an advantageous situation by Kapil Dev which saw Australia wriggle out of trouble. The home team were always up against it when they were dismissed for 262 in their first innings after being put in to bat. Greg Matthews scored a fighting unbeaten 100, scoring the last 41 runs of his second Test hundred in 49 minutes after being joined by last man Gilbert. The Indian batting depth was again seen in all its glory. Srikkanth led the way with a typically swashbuckling innings of 86 off 89 balls with 16 fours. And then right through the order, almost everyone contributed. Amarnath hit 45, Vengsakrar 75, Azharuddin 37, Shastri 49, Kapil Dev 55 and Kirmani 35 and the Indians amassed 445. And at close of play on the fourth day, Australia, despite a typically gallant innings by Border were facing defeat at 228 for eight. The ninth wicket, that of Reid, fell at 231 and at this juncture, Australia were only 48 runs ahead and an Indian victory was sighted on the horizon. But the Australian captain found unexpected support from Gilbert, normally a very definite No 11 batsman. Gilbert survived for 115 minutes to score ten and with Border added a record 77 runs. Border in the meantime got to 163 before he was out. The innings ended at 308 and the victory target for the Indians was now 126. Rain however had already been forecast and the last wicket stand had consumed valuable time. Srikkanth got a bright 38 but at tea India were 59 for two, still requiring 67. Thunderstorms during the interval saw to it that India could not resume their innings. It was a particularly frustrating time for Kapil Dev who was looking to lead India to victory for the first time in 19 Tests as captain.

Having wriggled out once, Australia again had a close shave in the final Test at Sydney. Over the first two days, Indian batting shone in all its glory as the first three in the order got hundreds. Gavaskar and Srikkanth led off with a first wicket stand of 191 runs. Srikkanth was in rollicking form and needed only 97 balls for his first Test hundred. Batting for most of his innings with a runner, Srikkanth hit leg spinner Bob Holland for 22 runs in an over (046444). After Srikkanth was out for 116, Gavaskar and Amarnath added 224 runs for the second wicket. Gavaskar (172) got his 32nd hundred while Amarnath (138) got his tenth century in Tests. Kapil Dev (42), Vengsarkar (37 not out) and Azharuddin (59 not out) maintained the tempo and India were able to declare at the imposing score of 600 for four. Undaunted, Boon (131) and Marsh (92) gave Australia a fine start putting on 217 runs for the first wicket. Border scored 71 and Matthews chipped in with 40 and early on the fifth morning, the match had been written off as a dull draw with Australia 387 for five. However Shastri and Yadav caused a sharp slide and Australia, losing their last five wickets for nine runs, had fallen five runs short of the follow on target. Suddenly the match was very much alive. With Yadav and Shastri again picking up wickets at regula The Indians found themselves in the unusual position of favourites on the eve of the 1985-86 tour of Australia. This may sound unbelievable given the past record of Indian teams `Down Under' but events over the preceding couple of years had dictated that the home team should start as underdogs.

Ever since the retirement of Greg Chappell, Dennis Lillee and Rodney Marsh at the end of the 1983-84 series against Pakistan, Australia were a struggling side. Three giants having left the scene all at once, Australia had to commence the rebuilding process in real earnest. And they were still midway through this process when the Indians arrived. In the preceding two years, Australia had lost twice to the West Indies 3-0 and 3-1, had been beaten 3-1 in the Ashes battle in England in 1985 and just prior to the series against India, had also lost to New Zealand 2-1. India themselves had not had an outstanding record over the same period but at least the team had a well settled look. The batting in the hands of Gavaskar, Srikkanth, Amarnath, Azharuddin, Vengsarkar, Kapil Dev and Shastri looked solid and the bowling manned by Kapil Dev, Binny, Chetan Sharma, Yadav, Shastri and Sivaramakrishnan seemed capable enough. And India's triumph in the World Championship of Cricket in Australia in March 1985 had boosted their confidence.

A bland pitch and loss of five hours play saw to it that the first Test at Adelaide ended in a tame draw. Centuries by David Boon (123) and Greg Ritchie (128) and their 117 run fourth wicket stand enabled Australia to score 381. But the chief honours were with Kapil Dev. The Indian captain finished with eight for 106, including a spell of 5 for 4 from 21 balls with which he ended the innings. It was the best bowling analysis registered by an Indian in Australia and was the second best ever at Adelaide after AE Trott's eight for 43 for Australia against England in 1894-95. The Australian bowling in the hands of McDermott, Reid, Hughes, Bright and Matthews was not weak but the Indians displayed their batting depth in hitting 520. Srikkanth (51) and nightwatchman Chetan Sharma (54) got half centuries, the latter half - Amarnath (37), Shastri (42), Kapil Dev (38) and Binny (38) - kept the innings going but the star was still 36-year-old Gavaskar, who completed his 31st Test century in scoring an unbeaten 166. With Shivlal Yadav (41) he added 94 runs for the last wicket and in the process became the first batsman to hit 9000 runs in Tests. In the remaining time available Australia scored 17 without loss.

Rain also had a say in Australia saving the second Test match at Melbourne but it was also rather inept handling of an advantageous situation by Kapil Dev which saw Australia wriggle out of trouble. The home team were always up against it when they were dismissed for 262 in their first innings after being put in to bat. Greg Matthews scored a fighting unbeaten 100, scoring the last 41 runs of his second Test hundred in 49 minutes after being joined by last man Gilbert. The Indian batting depth was again seen in all its glory. Srikkanth led the way with a typically swashbuckling innings of 86 off 89 balls with 16 fours. And then right through the order, almost everyone contributed. Amarnath hit 45, Vengsakrar 75, Azharuddin 37, Shastri 49, Kapil Dev 55 and Kirmani 35 and the Indians amassed 445. And at close of play on the fourth day, Australia, despite a typically gallant innings by Border were facing defeat at 228 for eight. The ninth wicket, that of Reid, fell at 231 and at this juncture, Australia were only 48 runs ahead and an Indian victory was sighted on the horizon. But the Australian captain found unexpected support from Gilbert, normally a very definite No 11 batsman. Gilbert survived for 115 minutes to score ten and with Border added a record 77 runs. Border in the meantime got to 163 before he was out. The innings ended at 308 and the victory target for the Indians was now 126. Rain however had already been forecast and the last wicket stand had consumed valuable time. Srikkanth got a bright 38 but at tea India were 59 for two, still requiring 67. Thunderstorms during the interval saw to it that India could not resume their innings. It was a particularly frustrating time for Kapil Dev who was looking to lead India to victory for the first time in 19 Tests as captain.

Having wriggled out once, Australia again had a close shave in the final Test at Sydney. Over the first two days, Indian batting shone in all its glory as the first three in the order got hundreds. Gavaskar and Srikkanth led off with a first wicket stand of 191 runs. Srikkanth was in rollicking form and needed only 97 balls for his first Test hundred. Batting for most of his innings with a runner, Srikkanth hit leg spinner Bob Holland for 22 runs in an over (046444). After Srikkanth was out for 116, Gavaskar and Amarnath added 224 runs for the second wicket. Gavaskar (172) got his 32nd hundred while Amarnath (138) got his tenth century in Tests. Kapil Dev (42), Vengsarkar (37 not out) and Azharuddin (59 not out) maintained the tempo and India were able to declare at the imposing score of 600 for four. Undaunted, Boon (131) and Marsh (92) gave Australia a fine start putting on 217 runs for the first wicket. Border scored 71 and Matthews chipped in with 40 and early on the fifth morning, the match had been written off as a dull draw with Australia 387 for five. However Shastri and Yadav caused a sharp slide and Australia, losing their last five wickets for nine runs, had fallen five runs short of the follow on target. Suddenly the match was very much alive. With Yadav and Shastri again picking up wickets at regular intervals, the Australians faced the prospect of an unexpected defeat. However Ritchie who had come in when the first wicket had fallen at 57, hung on for 166 minutes for 17 not out. The Indians rushed through their overs, sending down 77 in all, but the home team held on till stumps were finally drawn with the score a very sketchy 119 for six. Yadav had the Australians in all sorts of trouble as his figures of 33-22-19-3 will convey but in the end it was frustration time again for the Indians.

r intervals, the Australians faced the prospect of an unexpected defeat. However Ritchie who had come in when the first wicket had fallen at 57, hung on for 166 minutes for 17 not out. The Indians rushed through their overs, sending down 77 in all, but the home team held on till stumps were finally drawn with the score a very sketchy 119 for six. Yadav had the Australians in all sorts of trouble as his figures of 33-22-19-3 will convey but in the end it was frustration time again for the Indians.

© CricInfo