Flashback: India tours of Australia - A brief history - Part 1 (1947-1978)

 

India versus Australia. This  clash quickly grown into one of cricket’s marquee rivalries, marked by fierce on-field battles and a series of unforgettable matches. It is the most mouthwatering clash in test cricket along with the Ashes in current times .   As captain Rohit Sharma and his squad embark on another tour down under, let’s look back at the long and often turbulent history of Test cricket between India and Australia on Australian soil. In the 13 tours they have undertaken so far, India’s record has been bleak, with just 7 wins out of 48 matches, compared to 29 losses and 12 draws.

Let us rewind on the early tours from 1947-48 to 1977-78.

1947-48: Australia Dominates 4-0 - Bradman’s Brilliance and the Challenge of 8-Ball Overs

India’s first post-independence cricket tour was a daunting journey across the Indian Ocean to take on Australia, led by the incomparable Don Bradman. With Lala Amarnath as captain, the Indian team faced formidable challenges in this maiden tour.

In the first Test at Brisbane’s Gabba, Bradman’s masterful 185 set Australia up with 382 runs in their first innings. India, unfamiliar with Australia’s fierce pace and bounce, faltered at 58 and 98, conceding defeat by an innings and 226 runs. Ernie Toshack’s left-arm medium pace claimed 11 wickets, setting a record as Australia’s most decisive Test win over India.

The second Test at Sydney showed a flicker of India’s potential. Dattu Phadkar’s determined 51 helped them to 188 runs, and Phadkar and Vijay Hazare’s impressive bowling restricted Australia to 107, even dismissing Bradman. However, rain interrupted India’s response at 61/7, resulting in a draw.

Australia regained control in the third Test at Melbourne. Bradman scored centuries in both innings, while Ian Johnson’s sharp bowling claimed eight wickets, leading to a 233-run victory. Though Vinoo Mankad’s stellar 116 briefly held India’s hopes, their second innings collapse dashed any comeback dreams.

The fourth Test at Adelaide turned into a run-fest. Bradman (201), Sid Barnes (112), and Lindsay Hassett (198) punished the Indian bowlers, scoring a monumental 674. Hazare and Phadkar’s centuries allowed India to reach 381, but they couldn’t avoid a follow-on. Ray Lindwall’s seven-wicket haul sealed India’s defeat by an innings.

In the final Test back in Melbourne, India faced another crushing loss, this time by an innings and 177 runs. Mankad’s resilient 111 provided some hope, but a mere 67-run second innings signaled their struggles were far from over. One of the series’ unique features was Australia’s use of 8-ball overs, a format unfamiliar to the Indians used to 6-ball overs.

1967-68: Australia Sweeps 4-0 - A Ruthless Aussie Machine Crushes Pataudi’s India

India’s second tour to Australia, led by Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, came two decades later. Though Indian cricket had evolved, the Australian team remained intimidating. In the first Test at Adelaide, Abid Ali’s remarkable six-wicket spell limited Australia to 335. Farokh Engineer, Rusi Surti, and Chandu Borde fought hard for India, but centuries from Simpson and Cowper set a 398-run target that Australia defended, winning by 146 runs.

In the second Test at Melbourne, Australia’s pace attack, led by McKenzie with seven wickets, bowled India out for a paltry 173. Simpson, Lawry, and Chappell’s centuries powered Australia to 529 runs. Though Pataudi and Ajit Wadekar resisted with strong innings, Australia claimed another victory by an innings and 4 runs.

The third Test in Brisbane offered a glimmer of hope for India in a closely contested match. Surti, Jaisimha, and Pataudi countered Australia’s 379, preventing a big lead. But with a target of 395, India’s brave attempt fell short, as they lost by just 39 runs.

The final Test in Sydney saw Australia’s control persist as Walters and Cowper led them to a comfortable 144-run victory, completing a 4-0 series clean sweep.

1977-78: Australia Wins 3-2 - Simpson Comes to the Rescue in a Series Shaken by Packer

India’s third tour in 1977-78 took place against the backdrop of Kerry Packer’s World Series Cricket, which had lured away Australia’s top players. A largely inexperienced Australian team was led by former captain Bob Simpson, called out of retirement with only fast bowling superstar  Jeff Thomson amongst the big boys available.  

In the excitng first Test at Brisbane, the Indian spin trio  skittled Australia out for 166, but India’s batting struggled to 153. In the second innings, Simpson’s composed 89 gave Australia a defendable total, and despite Gavaskar’s commanding 113, Australia scraped a 16-run victory in a chase of 341 . Thomson took 4 wickets in the 2nd innings. 

Mohinder Amarnath driving & hooking Thomson at Brisbane 1977 Test

The second Test at Perth saw India achieve a formidable 402, with Chauhan (88) and Amarnath (90)  setting the tone. Simpson’s impressive 176 held Australia together, matching India’s total to reach 394 . In India’s second innings, glorious centuries from Gavaskar (127) and Amarnath (100)  set Australia a target of 339. Although Bedi’s five-wicket haul created pressure, a remarkable 139-run partnership between nightwatchman  Mann (105) and Toohey tipped the balance, and Australia eked out a narrow 2-wicket win with Thomson & Clarke handling the tensed last moments  . 

India staged a stunning comeback in the third Test in Melbourne as Australia's loopholes started to catch  up with them . Chandrasekhar’s 12-wicket performance securing their first win on Australian soil by 222 runs. In response to India's 1st innings score of 256 ( Amarnath 72) , Australia managed 213 ( Sergent 85) . Gavaskar 118 ( His 3rd century in consecutive  tests ) and strong middle order scores helped India to set up a 387 formidable 4th innings target and this time there was no way to escape for the Aussies in front of a vicious Chandrasekhar leg spin bowling . 

In the fourth Test at Sydney, India’s bowlers again led the charge. Chandrasekhar and Bedi bowled Australia out for 131, with Gundappa Viswanath’s 79 leading India to 396. Peter Toohey's gallant 85 only delayed the inevitable  as Australia failed to stop India from a resounding win by an innings and 2 runs which brought the exciting  series level at 2-2.

Bedi bowling to Steve Rixon in Sydney test 1978 

The decider at Adelaide saw wholesale changes in the Australian team that worked as sparkling  centuries from Yallop (121)  and Simpson (100)  anchor Australia’s innings of 505. Despite a spirited 89 from Viswanath, India couldn’t match the massive target as India get 269 . Simpson’s half-century set an impossible 493-run target, and India’s resistance, led by a gallant  Amarnath (86) , Viswanath, and Vengsarkar (78) , ended at 445, with Simpson claiming the final wicket on the 6th day . 

Simpson , Bedi & Gavaskar celebrating a successful series 

The exciting 5 test series saw some fine individual performances . Bobby Simpson (539) , GR Viswanath (473) , Sunny Gavaskar (450) , Mohinder Amarnath (445) & Peter Toohey (409) batted brilliantly at different times in the series while Bedi (31) , Wayne Clark (28) , Chandrasekhar (28) & Jeff Thomson (21) were the chief wicket takers in thr series . 

Though India narrowly missed claiming a maiden series victory on Australian soil, the 3-2 scoreline marked a thrilling end to one of the most fiercely contested series in history, cementing a rivalry that would define Test cricket for decades to come.