The Miracle at Eden Gardens
Match Information
Category
Details
Series
Dates
11–15 March 2001
Toss
Australia won the toss and elected to bat
Result
Attendance
Approximately 100,000 spectators on the final day
Five days
Background
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy began disastrously for India.
Australia had already won the Mumbai Test convincingly and entered Kolkata with tremendous confidence. Steve Waugh's side had won 16 consecutive Test matches, equalling the world record established by the West Indies.
Australia were regarded as nearly unbeatable.
Their batting order included:
Matthew Hayden
Michael Slater
Justin Langer
Ricky Ponting
Steve Waugh
Adam Gilchrist
Their bowling attack featured:
Glenn McGrath
Jason Gillespie
Shane Warne
Michael Kasprowicz
Match Officials
Umpires:
Steve Dunne (New Zealand)
Srinivas Venkataraghavan (India)
Match Referee:
Cammie Smith (South Africa)
Day 1 – Australia's Dominance
Australia began confidently.
Matthew Hayden continued his remarkable form against India.
Steve Waugh played another captain's innings.
Harbhajan Singh, however, kept India in the contest with superb off-spin.
Major Scores
Steve Waugh – 110
Matthew Hayden – 97
Harbhajan Singh Creates History
The defining moment came when Harbhajan dismissed:
Ricky Ponting
Adam Gilchrist
Shane Warneon
on three consecutive deliveries.
This became:
The First Hat-trick by an Indian in Test Cricket
It remains one of the most iconic moments in Indian cricket history.
Australia's First Innings
445 all out
Top performers
The Turning Point
Captain Sourav Ganguly and coach John Wright decided to promote VVS Laxman from No.6 to No.3.
This tactical decision changed cricket history.
Day 3 – Laxman Begins
Laxman looked in sublime touch.
Elegant drives
Silky wrist work
Flawless timing
He dominated Australia's world-class attack.
India finished the day still behind but hopeful.
Vangipurapu Venkata Sai Laxman is an Indian former international cricketer and a former cricket commentator and pundit. A right-handed batsman known for his elegant stroke play, Laxman played as a middle-order batsman in Test cricket.
Day 4 – One of Cricket's Greatest Days
Day Four at Eden Gardens is widely considered one of the finest days ever witnessed in Test cricket.
Laxman and Rahul Dravid batted the entire day.
Australia failed to take a single wicket.
The pair completely exhausted:
McGrath Warne Gillespie LeeThe Australian bowlers had no answers.
