Hi folks! This blog is all about the bilateral test series between India and Australia in 2004 which happened to be a absorbing contest and those memories will remain vivid in my heart for many years to come.It was one cracker of a tournament where Indian team played to its full potential with some brilliant individual performances.The first test took place at Adelaide where India somehow managed to save the match.Ganguly scored his maiden century against Aussies on the final day which helped India see through. It was considered to be a mediocre performance by the Indian team.The second test became a milestone for the Indian team where India won graciously by 220 odd runs.Ricky Ponting scored a double ton in the first innings and so did Dravid.India was in the thick of things in the second innings where Agarkar took 6 wickets that helped them to bundle out Aussies for a cheap total.Sehwag's career blossomed under the captaincy of Sourav Ganguly.Dravid and Laxman were in a purple patch then as they were in their peak of form.
That was the only time where i felt so excited about the idea of getting up early in the morning.I was 14yrs old then and was eager to know about the nuances of playing cricket.I used to get up as early as 4.00am and would watch cricket till lunch session.After then, i was off to school and would get my score updates for post lunch session from my maths teacher who was a cricket fanatic.I still remember the jubilant atmosphere in the class room after the dismissal of Adam Gilchrist in the second innings(Sydney test).Steve Waugh was the skipper then and he faced a heavy criticism.The Aussies realized it was time to pull up the socks and they were dying to win the third test.They pulled it off quite convincingly in the pre-final test match.
Every one was expected a nail biting finish in the final test match and the players didn't fail to match the expectation as they played out of their skin to winkle out the extra edge.Sachin Tendulkar was in a rough patch then and he fancied his wicket by nicking off the ball to slip fielders.He was not able to properly negotiate Mcgrath's good length delivery outside the off stump.Sachin proved his critics wrong as he scored a double ton(242) in the deciding test match.What is so peculiar and special about this double ton is that majority of his scoring shots were all on the leg side.He didn't even register a single four on the off-side.He left most of the deliveries coming on the off-side and hence the Wagon wheel looked weird.It was a fairy tale for Steve waugh as he ended his test career on a high note as he scored a century on the final day there by saving the test match for his country.
