Past Panorama: India Start Off With A Victory 
No More Chepauk Magic For Australia
By S Zeyaur Rahman

The second edition of the Border Gavaskar Trophy had attempted to be a more honest evaluation of the competing teams and in a sense, a sincerer tribute to the greatness of the icons, who had lent their names to it. The caravan had moved but only to return to the same setting, as the series was to be fought on the Indian turf. 
 
In all fairness, the series did promise to be an engrossing contest. India had had a great year so far under the reinstated Azharuddin and the wonder boy had to prove that the results were not a nine day wonder. For the Aussie side, one cannot use the term resurgent for they had hardly looked otherwise for over a decade. They were always going to be a hard nut to crack. Unfortunately, their spearhead Glen Mcgrath was absent. Last time they were without Warne. But in the subcontinent, missing a spinner is different than missing a fast bowler. 
 
The stage was set up for the regal Sachin-Warne show. The world had waited too long for the duel. Sachin had won the first round, hands down at Mumbai, getting his first ever first class double century. Still test cricket is altogether a different cup of tea. 
 
The Chepauk pitch was a mystery and no one was sure as to how it would play. Nonetheless Azhar played it safe and elected to bat after winning the toss. While looking at Azhar's astonishing captaincy record at home, one must keep in mind his phenomenal success with the tosses, which were more often than not a decider in itself.
 
India persisted with Mongia as an opener, expecting a repeat of Kotla magic. But magic would not be magical if it occurs everyday. To Mongia's credit, he did not disappoint. He had a more reliable partner in Sidhu at the other end and the two had given India one of its best starts in recent times. 
 
In addition to the openers, Dravid had also helped himself to a 50. But the wily Warne had applied the brakes by claiming the wickets of the top two Indian batsmen Sachin and Azhar. There could not have been a sweeter revenge for the mauling at Mumbai. India had squandered the advantage of a great start and finished the day at 232-5. Not a bad score, but disappointing after the early promise. 
 
What followed the next day was even pathetic. Forget about wagging, the tail showed no life at all. Indian added only 27 runs before folding up. The last five wickets had in fact fallen within 10 runs. All limelight was not due to Warne. The off spinner Gavin Robertson had claimed four victims and it must have been a great feeling for him to have upstaged the great man.
 
Australia could not have been really happy with Robertson's performance. They were convinced that the devil in the wicket was out of its slumber. In any case the trio of Kumble, Raju and Chauhan posed a dreadful sight, devil or no devil.

The crunch time had arrived. Slater had been in excellent nick through the tour. He had got 98 at Mumbai and an absolutely splendid 207 at Vishakhaptnam. Poor chap had spent himself rather early. Despite having a formidable batting line up, the Australian batting could not dominate. Mark Waugh showed some resilience and in the process completed 5,000 runs in test cricket. But his side was not elated with the score of 193-7 at close of the second day.
 
In a complete contrast, the Aussie tail wagged endlessly and agonizingly. Ian Healay flirted with the idea of becoming the first Australian wicket keeper to score a hundred against India. He was lured to his doom on 90 by Raju. Australia's last four wickets had produced 194 runs. Robertson had had a great match so far and had remained unbeaten on 57 as Australia ended at 328, a significant lead of 71 runs.

India clawed back into the game with Sidhu playing another cameo. He was rather severe on Warne while getting his second 50 of the match. India ended the day at 100-1 for the loss of Mongia. The devil was sleeping on alternate days as though. 12 wickets had fallen on the 2nd day for 218 runs, while the 3rd day had produced 235 runs for four wickets.
 
As if the two greats, Warne had Scahin had also decided to share honours alternatively. Tendulkar played a gem of an innings, a perfect synthesis of aggression and caution, to script a match winning 155. His domination of the match was such that nobody took note of the sweet little innings of Dravid and Azhar, who had matched the little genius, stroke for stroke. India had raced to 418-4 in no time and Azhar thought that would suffice. 
 
A target of 348 in the fourth innings was never going to be easy. Kumble had nipped in the bud, whatever adventurous designs the Aussies would have entertained, by reducing them to 31-3 at the end of the fourth day.
 
Yet nobody was willing to take an Indian victory for granted. The Kangaroos had a knack of coming back from nowhere, especially in Chepauk. They had tied 87 test in a most dramatic and unexpected fashion. Even in the world Cup Quarter Finals two years ago, they had made a mockery of a mammoth Kiwi target.

But again, miracles do not make themselves available at the drop of a hat. The spin trio saw to it that India continued its victorious march at home. With the fall of Steve Waugh, the only survivor from the tie test, all hopes of magic disappeared. Australia were bundled out for 168, that too was possible after a late flourish by Warne and Healay, which proved not only insufficient but inconsequential as well. [ Score Card ]                                                                                                            
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Peeping In The Past: The Inaugural Border Gavaskar Test Match
Australia Floored On Kotla Pitch
By S Zeyaur Rahman

It was with great hopes and somewhat undue optimism that the Cricket Boards of India and Australia had instituted a trophy in the name of Sunil Gavaskar and Allan Border for their rubber. From the very outset the Border Gavaskar trophy appeared to be a poor cousin of the Ashes and the Frank Worrel Trophy, both in terms of quality and quantity of cricket played between these two countries. The hush hush manner, in which a one off match was scheduled for October 1996, did not exude much of confidence.

The Australian team arrived with Mark Taylor back at the helm. (He had missed the Singer Trophy due to injury). It was the absence of Shane Warne that had made news. By that time, Warne had established himself as the frontline spinner in the world, a domain generally reserved by the bowlers of the subcontinent.

His absence was peculiar for two reasons. Firstly, he was billed to be a sure shot success on the spinner friendly pitches of India keeping in mind his awesome record at pitches conducive to fast bowling. Secondly, he had to prove his mettle against the Indian batsmen, considered to be the best players of spin. The world was made to wait for the contest. For the time being a young man called Peter McIntyre had walked in the shoes of the great man.

India had built up not only an unbeaten record but an unbeatable aura at home. They had demolished every side with great authority. The architect of these victories, Azharuddin was replaced by his heir apparent Sachin Tendulkar, leading for the first time in a test match. Even the coach Madan Lal was new to the job, replacing Sandip Patil after the World Cup debacle.

What had not changed was the Kotla pitch. Curator Sitaram has the distinction of producing some unplayable tracks and he had another of his minefields ready. The Aussies had psychologically given up the battle on the first sight of the track. Taylor could not expect much from McIntyre or Mark Waugh, who had taken 6 wickets in a tour game and of course not from his pace quartet of McGrath, Reiffel, Flemming and Gillespie.

On the contrary India had too many options in the spin department. Kumble was the only certainty. For the remaining two or three spinners slot, there was a fight between, Sunil Joshi, Ashish kapoor, Narendra Hirwani and Raju, of which the first two got the nod. Prasad was to open with a new partner, David Johnson, though Dodda Ganesh had made a strong claim.

The opening pair was a problem. Realising the opportunity, Manjrekar had played as an opener at Mohali but his failure had shut pot the doors for him. The selectors persisted with Rathore and behaving in their typical way, they included a middle order batsman. VVS Laxman to counter the opening problem.    

Taylor won the toss and without batting an eyelid chose to bat. He could not have dared to bat fourth on that track. Slater began in his belligerent way and Australia were 81-1 at a stage. Joshi provided the crucial breakthrough and Kumble ran through the gate. The spinners accounted for 8 wickets and Australia were all out for 182 a little after tea.

India were never secure at the top and Rathore had departed early. Ganguly had steadied the innings with Mongia and India finished the day at 57-1.

The next day belonged to Mongia. He became the fourth Indian opener since Gavaskar to score a hundred. His innings was remarkable on  a crumbling pitch, where his more illustrious partners were found wanting. He and Ganguly added 121 invaluable runs, which introspect was the turning point of the match. Ganguly was on course to emulate Azhar's record of centuries in each of his first three tests, but was out for 66. Tendulkar failed in his first innings at captain and Azhar did not live long either. Another dependable youngster called Rahul Dravid gave able support to Mongia. At the end of the days play India were 319-6, a comfortable lead of 137 runs, precisely the number of runs Mongia had scored and by now had spent two complete days on the field.

The morning dew on the 3rd day curt short the Indian tail. Mongia was out 8th man after a heroic 152, almost 42% of the total and the innings folded soon after for 361, a lead of 179 runs.     

The bowlers did not allow Mongia's effort to go waste. Slater began in his normal way, attempting to send the ball to Australia, but Azhar plucked a blinder in slips. The Aussies dug themselves in and none of them could score freely or stay long, the exception being Steve Waugh. India had set up a victory by reducing Australia to 168-6.

With 4 wickets in hand and still 11 runs behind, Australia began the 4th day, all their hopes pinned on Steve Waugh. As always, he did not disappoint his team, but the others did. He remained unbeaten on 67 while the wickets kept falling on the other end. Kumble finished with another 5 wicket haul, giving him 9 for the match. Australia finished at 234, giving India a target of 56 runs.

Within half an hour it was clear that had Australia scored some more runs, India would have been trouble. The score read 26-3, which included first innings hero Mongia and the skipper, both without scoring. Ganguly and Azhar played attacking cricket to finish the match before the pitch becomes virtually impossible. After a lot of scaring moments, India managed the target with 7 wickets in hand and a day and a half to spare.

The match was remembered for Mongia's innings and the Kotla pitch, which had made the innings important. Tendulkar joined the elite club of captains to have won their first match. India preserved and perpetuated an excellent record at home. It was their first victory over Australia in 15 years and first time at home since 1979 . and the new trophy did not go out of the subcontinent.          
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Celebrating Rivalry
Tribute To Greatness of Border And Gavaskar
By S Zeyaur Rahman

Sar jhukaoge to pathar bhi devta ho jayega. A very famous Urdu ghazal begins so. 

It means; all that a stone needs to become a god is a bowed head. How true! The reverence we have for certain things is purely a psychological construct. What better proof can I provide than the Ashes Trophy. It is a small wooden piece, containing the ashes of stumps burnt after a test match. That insignificant little entity is one of the most valued possessions of cricket. Every Aussie and Brit dreams of laying his hand upon it once. The rivalry and fierce competition that it generates is phenomenal.

Not far behind is the Frank Worrell Trophy, which till a little while ago was the unofficial world championship of test cricket. For a better part of the past two decades, the Australian and the West Indians were the top two sides and this trophy used to settle the issue about the top position.

In the same tradition the Indian and the Australian Cricket Boards had instituted a trophy for their series. An infant when compared to its famous counterparts, the trophy has already acquired a significance. The reason being that Australia needs to win this trophy away from home to cross the final hurdle.

In a great sporting gesture, the respective boards named the trophy after the legendary figures of these two countries - Sunil Gavaskar and Allan Border - the only two members of the 10,000 runs club, two master batsmen who held many a world record against their name. Statistics apart, they were great idols for cricketers everywhere, astute leaders of men and upright individuals. It was one of the rare instances, when the award itself was honoured by its acceptance.

Another factor which weighed in favour of these two luminaries, was their performance against each other. Gavaskar and Border have fantastic records against Australia and India respectively. Not to mention the tremendous fighting spirit that characterized their approach to the game.

Gavaskar played Australia for the first time down under in 1977-78. He was just beginning to acquire the tag of a run machine and the bouncy pitches of Australia were to be a litmus test for him. He came out with flying colours as only true champions can do. He hit centuries in each of the first three tests at Brisbane, Perth and Melbourne to set Australia on fire. In five tests he had accumulated as much as 450 runs.  

Border started off against India on the return tour of the Aussies in 1979-80 and with that the great Border-Gavaskar rivalry began. Border began with a bang. Hitting 162 at Chennai in his first innings against India. Although he could not sustain the momentum, he chipped in with useful contributions through out. Gavaskar began more sedately and was in his elements towards the end. He scored tons in the 4th and 6th test matches. To be honest, he was upstaged by Border as he managed only 425 runs as against Borders 521.

The scene shifted to Australia in 1980-81. This series was a poor one for both of them. Gavaskar had 118 runs in three tests, 70 of them coming in the last innings at Melbourne. Though Border again held the upper hand with 228 runs, but had only one good innings of 124, also in the same match.

Australia did not come for a return series, so the next one was also played in Australia in 1985-86. Melbourne once again proved lucky for Border and he scored 163, his highest against India. Another innings of 71 followed to take him to 298 for the series. This time Gavaskar beat Border in his own den. He announced his intentions with 166 in the opening match at Adelaide and concluded with another huge sore of 172, his highest against Australia at Sydney. Despite a complete failure at Melbourne, Gavaskar finished with 352 runs in four innings.

The last time Border and Gavaskar played against each other was in India in 1986-87. In a repeat of history, Border hit yet another hundred in the first innings of the series in the famous Chennai tie test. He did not bat in Delhi but had 239 runs overall. Gavaskar had an incredible sense of history. He had missed his hundred at Delhi, but played an absolutely delightful swan song of 103 before his home crowd. Still he finished behind Border, accumulating 209 runs.

Border turned out against India for the last time in 1991-92 home series. In the dusk of his career, he had left the big scoring to others but kept on contributing usefully. In five tests he had 273 runs, a weak performance by his own standards.

It is co-incidental that both Border and Gavaskar played 20 matches against India and Australia respectively and there is a very thin difference of 17 runs in their career aggregates. Border carries the day with his consistency. He has 1567 runs at an average of 52.23 where as Gavaskar has 1550 at an average of 51.66.

A heartening fact for Gavaskar is that he has a better overseas record. He has scored 920 runs in Australia compared to Border's 766 runs in India. But Border has a better home record with 801 runs as against Gavaskar's 630 runs in India.         

There is an important fact weighing heavily in favour of Gavaskar. He has 8 hundreds, twice the number of Border. Border split two each at home and abroad but Gavaskar chose to have the last laugh with five hundred on the Aussie soil.

What more can one ask from a great rivalry. I am sure that no one else has the right to grudge if the Indo-Australian series is named after them.