There was little in the early stages of Australia's recent tour of India to suggest that one of the most exciting Test and One-day series of cricket history was about to take place. Australia under Steve Waugh was on the crest of a wave. Before embarking on the tour the team had created history by winning a sequence 15 tests and 10 one-day internationals. Odds, therefore, were heavily in favour of the tourists when the series began. But as events proved later, the breathtaking and exciting cricket produced by the two teams credited the test and one-day series to be ranked amongst the best of all times. India won the Test series 2-1 and Australia took the ODI series 3-2. Both the series were so closely fought that there was little to choose between the two teams. In fact, in the end cricket was the true winner.

Test Series - A brief view
Support popular expectations, Australia outplayed India in the first match at Mumbai by 10 wickets. Sachin Tendulkar with knocks of 76 and 65 was the lone Indian fighter. In the following test match at Calcutta, by mid point it looked a tall order for the Indians, in the first instance, to avert an innings defeat after being forced to follow-on. But the Indians produced an amazing performance. They amazed the world and came back in the match to win by 171 runs. VVS Laxman (281) and Harbhajan Singh (7 for 123, including a hat-trick and 6 for 73) were the two heroic performances to be long remembered. The third and final test match at Chennai was even more thrilling. Australia piled up 391. India replied with 501 and then contained Australia to 264 in the second innings. Set to make 155 runs in the fourth innings India slumped from 101 for 2 to 151 for 8, but in the seesaw final moments of fluctuating fortunes, India snatched the match by 2 wickets and, thus, won the series.

Review of One-day series

1. Bangalore
India convincingly won the first match at Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore by 60 runs after piling up 315 in 49.5 overs. R Dravid (80), V Shewag (58), V Dahiya (51) and VV Laxman (45) were the principal contributors. Shane Warne was ineffective with one wicket for 58 runs. Despite Matthew Hayden's 99 off 89 balls and Michael Bevan's 49, Australian innings was completed for 255 runs in 43.3 overs. V. Shewag earned Man of the Match award.

2. Pune
Mark Waugh hit an unbeaten 133 off 138 balls (his 18th century in one-day internationals, studded with 15 fours) to enable Australia to crush India by 8 wickets, surpassing their total of 248 for 9 with 29 deliveries to spare. Matthew Hayden (the prolific 549 scorer in the test series) scored 57. Earlier, left-handed HK Badani scored a career best 100 for India. McGrath, Fleming and Bracken shared two wickets each.

3. Indore
India again took lead in the series. Sachin Tendulkar surpassed 10,000 one-day runs during his 28th century. Tendulkar 139 (125 balls) and VV Laxman 83 were associated in a 199-run second-wicket stand in 29.4 overs. India scored 299 for 8 and later dismissed Australia for 181 in just 35.5 overs to win the match by 118 runs.

4. Visakhapatnam
Australia came back and leveled the series. Batting first, the tourists scored a mammoth 338. Matthew Hayden (111) and Ricky Ponting (101) scored centuries. Despite Sachin Tendulkar's hurricane 62 of 38 balls, India could manage only 245 (45 overs) in their turn. Shane Warne was back into his element with 3 for 38. Australia won by 93 runs.

5. Margao
Australia won the decider and clinched the one-day rubber by 3-2. In a thrilling encounter VV Laxman 101 (his maiden one-day century) and skipper SC Ganguly 74 helped India post an imposing total of 265-6. Australia was well placed at 187 for 3 but soon three quick wickets fell. Indians smelled victory but MG Bevan and IJ Harvey overcame the panic to steer Australia to a well-deserved 4-wicket victory. Bevan remained unbeaten on 87. Sachin Tendulkar with his 3 for 35 picked up his hundredth one-day wicket.

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