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AUS win 4 - 0 AUS gains 16 points; IND loses 16 points
Draw 2 - 2 IND gains 14 points; AUS loses 14 points
IND win 4 - 0 IND gains 44 points; AUS loses 44 points
Bangalore
06 - 10 October 2004
Australia won the toss and elected to bat first. India made an early breakthrough when they dismissed Hayden (26) at 1 for 50. However, by lunch, Australia was back on track at 1 for 70. During the afternoon session, Australia took the score to 124 before India struck back hard and dismissed Langer (52), Martyn (3) and Lehmann (17) in the space of 25 runs to have the tourists 4 for 149. However, debutant Michael Clarke and Katich then combined to take the score to 4 for 177 at tea. After a remarkable period of recovery, Katich (81) was eventually out at 5 for 256 and by stumps, Australia was very well placed at 5 for 316.
Australia resumed on the second day and Clarke posted his maiden Test century on debut before Gilchrist powered to his eleventh Test century. Gilchrist was out shortly afterwards at 6 for 423 and lunch was then taken. India dismissed Warne (1) soon after play resumed and then Clarke (151) was out at 8 for 471. India then wiped up the remaining tailenders with Kasprowicz (3) and McGrath (0) out in the following over. Australia was all out for 474 while Harbhajan Singh finished with the best results for India with 5 for 146 off 41 overs. India began their reply badly after losing Chopra (0) in the first over and Dravid (0) in the third over to be 2 for 4. India then consolidated and batted through to be 2 for 34 at tea. Australia took a stranglehold on the match during the afternoon session after dismissing Sehwag (39), Ganguly (45), Yuvraj Singh (5) and Laxman (31) in the space of 49 runs to have India 6 for 136. India then batted through to stumps to end the day at 6 for 150, needing a further 124 runs to avoid the follow on.
The Indian lower middle order resisted the Australian onslaught on the third morning and batted for 105 minutes before Pathan (31) fell at 7 for 196. By lunch, India had taken the score to 7 for 199. Australia wrapped up the Indian tail in the hour after lunch after dismissing Patel (46), Harbhajan Singh (8) and Kumble (26) to have India all out for 246 runs. McGrath was the best of the bowlers with 4 for 55 off 25 overs. Gilchrist elected to bat rather than enforce the follow on and immediately lost Langer (0) in the first over. Australia was 1 for 24 at tea, with an overall lead of 252 runs. Australia took the total to 65 before Hayden (30) was run out. India began to pick up the pressure and dismissed Katich (39) and Lehmann (14) to have Australia 4 for 104. However, by stumps, Australia had began rebuilding the innings with the score 4 for 127 and an overall lead of 355 runs.
Australia used the fourth morning to occupy the crease, thus reducing the time available for the eventual Indian run chase, while also pushing the target beyond a realistically achievable limit. India dismissed Clarke (17), Martyn (45) and, on the stroke of lunch, Gilchrist (26) before Australia ended the session at 7 for 204. India then made light work of removing Warne (31), Gillespie (8) and Kasprowicz (8) to have Australia all out for 228 runs. Harbhajan Singh was again the most successful bowler with 6 for 78 off 30.1 overs. India began their chase for the 457 runs required for victory badly, losing Sehwag (0) in the third over, Chopra (5) in the fourth, Ganguly (5) in the seventh and Laxman (3) in the twelfth over to be 4 for 19. Thereafter, it became only a matter of time. Despite a short recovery effort, Yuvraj Singh (27) was out at 5 for 81 and Patel (4) followed five runs later as India slumped to 6 for 86. By stumps, India was 6 for 105, still needing 352 more runs.
Australia began the final day badly, missing their catches and allowing India a slight hope of a draw. However, once Dravid (60) was out at 7 for 118, Kumble (2) followed two overs later, India was 8 for 125. India then batted through to be 8 for 197 at lunch after a further period of resistance. Eventually, Australia dismissed Pathan (55) and Harbhajan Singh (42) to have India all out for 239 runs while Gillespie was the most successful bowler with 3 for 33 off 14.4 overs. Australia claimed victory by 217 runs.
Second Test
Chennai
14 - 18 October 2004
Australia won the toss and elected to bat first.� The decision paid early dividends as India failed to break the opening partnership.� By lunch, Australia was well placed at no wicket for 111 runs.� However, after lunch, the effects of the roller began to dissipate.� After reaching 136 runs, Hayden (58) and Langer (71) were out in the space of three balls to Harbhajan Singh.� Australia was able to take the score to 189 before the third wicket of Martyn (26) fell on the stroke of tea.� After tea, Kumble was able to cut decisively through the Australians, dismissing Lehmann (0), Clarke (5), Gilchrist (3), Warne (4), Gillespie (5) and Kasprowicz (4) before McGrath (2) ran himself out.� In all, Australia lost ten for 99 to be all out for 235 runs with Kumble finishing with 7 for 48 off 17.3 overs.� India faced 13 overs before going to stumps at 1 for 28 with Yuvraj Singh (8) the man out.
India resumed on the second morning and took the total to 83 runs before nightwatchman Pathan (14) was out.� India then went on to be 2 for 101 at lunch.� While Sehwag posted his seventh Test century, India continued to eat into Australia's first innings through the afternoon session before losing Dravid (26) at 3 for 178.� At tea, India was well placed at 3 for 197, only 38 runs short of the Australians.� However, Australia struck back in the evening session and dismissed Ganguly (9) and Laxman (4) and finally Sehwag (155) to have India 6 for 233. However, Australia failed to take any further wickets and at stumps, India was 6 for 291 with a first innings lead of 56 runs.
Australia needed quick wickets on the third morning to limit the potential first innings deficit.� However, their catching again let them down and India lost only the wicket of Patel (54) before going to lunch at 7 for 363.� When Kaif retired hurt over lunch with heat stroke, Australia suddenly had an opening and dismissed Kumble (20) and Harbhajan Singh (5) to have India 9 for 372.� Kaif (64) returned and was run out leaving India all out for 376 with a first innings lead of 141 runs.� Warne was the best of the bowlers with 6 for 125 off 42.3 overs while the Australians dropped seven catches during the Indian innings.� Australia began the task of erasing the deficit but lost Langer (19), Hayden (39), Katich (9) and Gilchrist (49).� At stumps, Australia was 4 for 150 with an overall lead of just nine runs, while India looked to be in the box seat.
On the fourth morning, India needed quick wickets to ram home their advantage.� However, Martyn and nightwatchman Gillespie managed to bat through the entire session to be 4 for 230 with the lead now 89 runs.� India continued to bowl without result during the afternoon session until two overs before tea, Martyn, having posted his eighth Test century, fell for 104 and then Gillespie (26) fell three balls later.� At tea, India seemed to be moving back into the ascendancy after having had a frustrating day, with the score 6 for 290 and the lead at 149 runs. India took most of the evening session to dismiss Lehmann (31), Warne (0), Kasprowicz (5) and McGrath (2) leaving Clarke not out on 39. Australia was all out for 369 runs, with an overall lead of 229 runs while Kumble was the best of the bowlers with 6 for 133 off 47 overs. India faced three overs before stumps and whacked 19 runs without loss, leaving the match there for either side on the final day, but with India with a slight advantage.
A monsoon swept through Chennai over night and no play was possible on the final day. The match was declared a draw mid way through the day.
Third Test
Nagpur
26 - 29 October 2004
Australia won the toss and elected to bat first.� After Australia make a competent start through the first hour, India struck back hard in the second hour, dismissing Hayden (23), Langer (44) and Katich (4) in the space of 19 runs to have Australia tottering at 3 for 86.� By lunch, Australia had fought back to be 3 for 103.� India failed to press their advantage through the afternoon session.� Lehmann (70) managed to add two runs after tearing his hamstring before falling at 4 for 234 and by tea, Australia had claimed the ascendancy to be 4 for 245.� Martyn (114) posted his ninth Test century before he fell at 5 for 314, triggering a mini collapse as Gilchrist (2) and Warne (2) fell in quick succession for Australia to be 6 for 323. By stumps, Australia was seemingly back in control at 7 for 362, with Clarke not out on 73.
India took almost an hour to dismiss Gillespie (9), Kasprowicz (0) and Clarke (91) leaving McGrath not out on 11 in an innings of 398 runs.� Khan was the best of the bowlers with 4 for 95 off 26.2 overs.� India began their reply in rollicking form, but lost momentum when Sehwag (22) and Chopra (9) fell within the space of three runs at 2 for 34.� India added just one more run before lunch was taken.� Australia dismissed Tendulkar (8) and Laxman (13) during the afternoon session as India struggled to score and by tea, India was 4 for 95. After Australia dismissed Dravid (21) at 5 for 103, India had lost their top five batsmen while still needing a further 96 runs to reach the follow on target. However, India's lower order managed to see out the day and when stumps were drawn, India was 5 for 146.
Australia struck hard on the third morning and dismissed Patel (20), Agarkar (15), Kaif (55), Kartik (3) and Khan (0) in the space of 35 runs to have India all out for 185 runs, 13 runs short of the follow on target.� Gillespie was the best of the bowlers with 5 for 56 off 22.5 overs.� Gilchrist, having previously avowed that enforcing follow ons in India were no longer a consideration, elected to attempt to bat India out of the match and secure the series.� Australia faced nine overs before going to lunch at 0 for 19.� India, desperately needing to run through the Australians, managed only to dismiss Hayden (9) in the second over after lunch.� By tea, Australia was 1 for 87, with a lead of 300 runs. India managed only to dismiss Langer (30) and Katich (99) during the evening session as Australia ended the day at 3 for 201 with an overall lead of 415 runs.
Australia continued to plunder the Indian bowlers on the fourth morning.� India eventually dismissed Clarke (73) and Martyn (97) before Australia declared at 5 for 329, setting India a seemingly impossible target of 543 runs in 150 overs.� Khan (2 for 64 off 21.1 overs and Kartik (2 for 74 off 26 overs) were the best of the bowlers.� India faced one over before going to lunch at 0 for 1.� India self destructed badly after lunch, losing Chopra (1), Dravid (2), Tendulkar (2), Laxman (2) and Kaif (7) to be 5 for 37.� Sehwag and Patel then managed to steady the innings and bat through to be 5 for 84 at tea.� India took the total to 102 before Sehwag (58) fell, triggering another mini collapse with Patel (32) and Kumble (2) falling for India to be 8 for 122.� The tail then took the long handle to the bat and Kartik (22) fell at 9 for 148 then Khan (25) was the last man out with the innings total at 200.� Agarkar (44*) was the not out batsman while Gillespie was the best of the bowlers with 4 for 24 off 16 overs.� Australia claimed victory by 342 runs and the series for the first time in India since 1969.
Fourth Test
Mumbai
03 - 05 November 2004
Rain and bad light prevented all but 11 overs of play on the first day.� When play finally got underway, India had finally won a toss, on a dodgy pitch, and elected to bat first.� Australia dismissed Sehwag (8) and debutant Gambhir (3) before India finished the day at 2 for 22.
Play began early on the second day and Australia went on the rampage.� India lost their remaining eight wickets to be all out for 104 shortly before lunch.� Dravid (31*) was the only recognised batsman to reach double figures, while another debutant in Karthik (10), Kumble (16) and Harbhajan Singh (14) made the only other contribution of note.� Gillespie was the principle destroyer with 4 for 29 off 12 overs while Hauritz made a worthy debut in place of the injured Warne with 3 for 16 off 5 overs.� Australia began their reply, but lost Langer (12), Ponting (11) and Hayden (35) to be 3 for 99 at tea.� India dismissed Katich (7) before Australia took the lead.� As Australia built an important lead in the context of the pitch's condition, India dismissed Clarke (17), Gilchrist (26), Gillespie (2) Hauritz (0), Martyn (55) and Kasprowicz (19) to have Australia all out for 203 runs. McGrath (9*) was once again left stranded while Kumble was the best of the bowlers with 5 for 90 off 19 overs. India faced three overs before ending the day at 0 for 5, needing another 95 runs to force Australia to bat again.
Australia struck early on the third morning and dismissed Gambhir (1) and Sehwag (5) to have India 2 for 14. However, more experienced heads found the pitch conditions to be easier than the first day. Australia was unable to inflict the same debacle as occurred in the first innings, but did dismiss Tendulkar (55) shortly before India went to lunch at 3 for 114 with a lead of 15 runs. Australia began to get some momentum during the afternoon session, dismissing Laxman (69), Dravid (27), Karthik (4) and, in the final over before tea, Kaif (25) in the space of 42 runs. At tea, India was 7 for 195, with a lead of 96 runs. India added only ten runs before Harbhajan Singh (0), Kartik (2) and Khan (0) were out, leaving Kumble not out on 13 in an innings of 205 runs. Clarke, having previously bowled only one over at Test level in his career, finished with 6 for 9 off 6.2 overs. Australia began their chase for the 107 runs needed for victory and promptly lost Langer (0) in the first over. Ponting (12) and Martyn (0) then fell with 24 runs on the board and Katich (4) was out at 4 for 33. India continued to apply the pressure and Hayden (24) and Clarke (7) fell with 48 runs on the board. With 59 more runs still needed, India was on top and headed for victory. Gilchrist (5) fell ten runs later at 7 for 58 then the tail added another 20 runs before Hauritz (15) fell at 8 for 78. Australia took the score to 93 before both Kasprowicz (7) and McGrath (0) fell leaving Gillespie not out on 9. Harbhajan Singh was the best of the bowlers with 5 for 29 off 10.3 overs as India claimed victory by 13 runs.
