India’s Historical Tour Of Australia

However, it was even more difficult and a controversial year for Australia. After winning the Ashes at home early in January, the Aussies toured South Africa in March. The tour turned out to be the downfall of the Australian team as they not only lost the series 3-1 but lost three of their key players - Steve Smith, David Warner, and Cameroon Bancroft, for one year in the 'sandpaper gate' controversy. It shook and completely changed Australian cricket.

India, though, coming from a heavy defeat in England, looked favorites as they landed down under against an under-confident Australian side. It seemed as if the places have been switched as the Indian team resembled more confident, Aggressive, bold - generally considered as a typically Australian way.

First Test(Adelaide), 6-10 Dec 2018 - The first test match began on 6th December with Indian captain Virat Kohli winning the toss and electing to bat first. India lost four wickets in the first session, including Kohli's, and it looked like the same old story of the Indian team in Australia. However, one man stood tall as the wickets tumbled from the other end and made sure the team reached a respectable total of 250 in the first innings. Cheteshwar Pujara made 123 of those runs. It was time for India's lethal fast bowling attack to bounce out Australians in their fashion. India, with a lead of 15 runs, got 307 runs on the bank of Pujara and Rahane's contribution. The Aussies, though having a lost a bit of their confidence, never forgot the fighting spirit as they came close to snatching a famous win from India. Nathan Lyon tried hard but the Aussies fell short of 31 runs. India made history as they won an opening test in Australia for the first time.

Brief Score: India - 250 & 307; Australia - 235 & 291

Player of the match - Cheteshwar Pujara(123, 71)

 Second Test (Perth), 14-18 Dec 2018 - It was the first time Optus Stadium in Perth was hosting a test match. Australian captain Tim Paine won the toss and elected to bat first. The Aussie openers got off to a good start as they reached a century run stand in the opening session of the test match. Indian bowlers, led by Ishant Sharma, came back into the match as Australia got bowled out for 326. Captain Virat Kohli led from the front and scored his 25th test century in the second innings. India, however, got bowled out for 283 and gave a healthy lead to Australians. The hosts once again batted positively and gave India a target of 287 runs to chase in the fourth innings. Nathan Lyon, who already picked up a fifer in the first innings, made sure the visitors didn't stand a chance as Aussies won the match by a margin of 146 runs. The series got leveled by 1-1 as the two teams drove to Melbourne for the Boxing day test match.

Brief Score: Australia - 326 & 243; India - 283 & 140

Player of the match - Nathan Lyon (5/67, 3/39)

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Third Test (Melbourne), 26-30 Dec 2018 - The heat was on between the two captains Virat Kohli and Tim Paine since the second test of the series. Indian team made some big changes in the batting as two new openers, Mayank Agarwal and Hanuma Vihari, stepped on to the field in the opening session of the test match. Debutant Agarwal gave India a strong start and was supported well by Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli's innings. Pujara scored his second century of the series as India declared on 443/7. Another young face in the Indian test squad - Jasprit Bumrah, took six wickets to bowl the Australians out for a score of 151. The never back down spirit of Aussies was then led by Pat Cummins as he bowled one of the finest spells to reduce India for 44/5. India struggled their way to get past 100 run mark and declared at 106/8, giving hosts a target of 399 to chase in the fourth innings. It was a difficult total to chase and the Indian bowlers never gave Australia a chance despite a fightback from Pat Cummins. India made history as they retained the Border-Gavaskar trophy and also won their 150th test match.

Brief Score: India - 443/7D & 106/8D; Australia - 151 & 261

Player of the match - Jasprit Bumrah (6/33, 3/53)

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Fourth Test (Sydney), 3-7 Jan 2019 - Australia had to win this match to level the series. However, the Indian team gave them a little to breathe in this match as well. Electing to bat first, India displayed a phenomenal batting performance in the first innings. The new pillar of Indian batting, Cheteshwar Pujara, played another fine knock of 193 along with the young batting sensation Rishabh Pant, who scored his career-best score of 159. India declared on 622/7 and presented an equally dominating bowling performance. Kuldeep Yadav, playing his first test in Australia, picked up five wickets. The Australians were asked to follow-on. The game was stopped due to rain for the next two days as the Australians escaped from an embarrassing defeat in the last game. Indian team, for the very first time in history, won the test series against Australia in Australia. Virat Kohli and his boys did what the others couldn't. Cheteshwar Pujara was named the player of the series and hero of the Indian cricket.

Brief Score: India - 622/7D; Australia - 300 & 4/0(Follow On)

Player of the match - Cheteshwar Pujara(193)