It's still a game of glorious uncertainties

Moments after Tied Test II ended at the MA Chidambaram stadium on September 22, 1986, the reporters were informed that it was only the second such result in 1052 Test matches. Such a rarity deserved its place in history and there is no doubt that the result of the Kolkata Test which ended on Thursday is also assured of a special place in cricket history. After all, it was only the third time in 1535 Tests since 1877 that a team had emerged triumphant after being obliged to follow on. By a coincidence, Thursday was the 124th anniversary of the first ever Test match at Melbourne.

For the first such incident, one has to go back to 1894-95 and Test No 42 between England and Australia at Sydney. It was the first Test to involve six playing days. Batting first, Australia led off with 586. Syd Gregory scored 201 in 244 minutes and hit 28 fours. It was the first double century for Australia in Tests. George Giffen who was known as WG Grace of Australia had earlier scored 161. Giffen and Frank Iredale (81) put on 171 runs for the fourth wicket and then Giffen and Gregory added 139 runs for the fifth wicket. Finally there was an unexpected partnership of 154 runs for the ninth wicket between Gregory and wicketkeeper Jack Blackham (74) which still remains the record for this wicket in Anglo-Australian Tests. Tom Richardson bowled his heart out in sending down 55.3 overs to take five wickets for 181.

At the halfway mark in the Test, England were all out for 325. Opener Albert Ward top scored with 75 while there were useful contributions from Bill Brockwell (49) and Johnny Briggs (57). Giffen bowled 43 overs to pick up four for 75. Blackham who was the Australian captain enforced the follow on and England replied with 437. Ward again top scored, this time getting 117. Useful contributions down the order kept the innings going. The indefatigable Giffen sent down 75 overs to take four for 164. He remains the only player to score 200 runs and take eight wickets in Anglo-Australian Tests. Despite England's brave effort, Australia, requiring only 177 for victory, were the favourites. At the end of the fifth day, Australia were 113 for two with Giffen (41) and Joe Darling (53) in the midst of a third wicket partnership that was to put on 85 runs. But on the final day, left arm spinners Bobby Peel and Johnny Briggs took advantage of a typically Australian sticky wicket and the home team slid from 130 for two to 166 all out. Peel took six for 67 and Briggs three for 25. The match aggregate of 1514 runs was then a record in first class cricket.

The only other instance is of course well known to the average cricket fan. This was Test No 905. Mention Headingley, 1981 and Ian Botham's name is indissolubly linked with it. Batting first, Australia led off with 401. Opener John Dyson top scored with 102 and valuable knocks came from skipper Kim Hughes (89) and Graeme Yallop (58). Botham led the England team off with six for 95. By the end of the third day, England were bowled out for 174. Dennis Lillee (4 for 49), Terry Alderman (3 for 59) and Geoff Lawson (3 for 32) shared the wickets and only Botham (50) put up a show of defiance. Midway through the fourth day, England, following on 227 runs behind, were 135 for seven and this was the time the bookies were offering odds of 500 to one on an England win. It did not seem unduly generous for England were still 92 runs away from an innings defeat with only three wickets left. Botham, who had just been relieved of the captaincy, however turned the match around with some breath taking hitting. With Graham Dilley as his partner, Botham laid waste to the Aussie attack. The two added 117 runs for the eighth wicket before Dilley was out for 56. Now England were 25 ahead but with only two wickets in hand. Chris Old (29) and Botham then added 67 runs for the ninth wicket. At close of play on the fourth day, England had staged a marvellous recovery and were 351 for nine with Botham batting on 145, having reached his hundred off only 87 balls. The innings came to an end early on the final morning at 356 with Botham unbeaten on 149.

Even at this stage, however, Australia were clear favourites for the target was only 130. Botham took the first wicket and then Dyson and Trevor Chappell took the score to 56. Bob Willis then got into the act and one by one the Australian wickets fell in quick succession. Suddenly the hunter had become the hunted as Australia slumped to 75 for eight. Ray Bright and Lillee brought about a last minute twist to the script by adding 35 runs for the ninth wicket but then Willis came back to dismiss both and Australia were all out for the jinxed Nelson figure of 111. Willis finished with eight for 43 but there was little doubt as to who had spearheaded the dream fightback. Botham became the second player after Jack Gregory to score a century and take five wickets in an innings of an Ashes Test. It was the fourth time he had achieved this feat in his Test career, two more than any other player.

Both these Test matches were undoubtedly dramatic but the Eden Gardens Test which ended today was no less so. Indeed, in some ways, it was even more dramatic in the sense that India's first innings deficit was greater and the final margin of victory was much more emphatic than 10 runs and 18 runs. The background to India's triumph added spice to the flavour for not only had the first Test been lost only two weeks before in three days and by ten wickets but the disparity between the sides seemed all too obvious. Moreover, the Australian team were on a roll, having won 16 Tests on the trot. That the end of the dream run had to come about in such a turn around manner shows that the glorious uncertainties of cricket - the oldest cliche in the book - are still very much part and parcel of the game.