India vs Australia: Rahul Dravid-VVS Laxman bowled on Ricky Ponting’s double century, Agarkar bowled a terrible bowling
The series of three ODIs, three T20s and four Test matches between India and Australia is scheduled to begin on November 27. The first Test match is to be held in Adelaide from 17 December. Before that, Team India will play ODIs on 27, 29 November and 2 December. After this, T20 matches will be played on 4, 6 and 8 December. Many matches between India and Australia have been exciting so far, records have been made in many. In 2003, a Test match was played in Adelaide itself, in which three veterans scored more than 100 runs and a bowler bowled dangerously.
In that match, Ricky Ponting first scored a double century and then later Rahul Dravid, along with VVS Laxman, had punished his double century. A series of four Tests were played between the two teams in 2003-04. Steve Waugh was the captain of Australia and Sourav Ganguly was the captain of India. This was Steve Waugh’s last Test series. The first match was drawn in Brisbane. The second match was played in Adelaide. Australia won the toss and decided to bat first. The team scored 556 runs in the first innings. Ricky Ponting scored 242, Simon Katich 75, Justin Langer 58 and Jason Gillespie scored 48. Anil Kumble took 5 wickets.
Seeing the mountain score of 556 runs, it seemed that Team India would play twice in this. Everyone was thinking that somehow India draws this match, that will be a big deal. When Team India came out to bat, opener Virender Sehwag scored 47 and Akash Chopra scored 27 runs. After both Sachin Tendulkar 1 and Sourav Ganguly 2 runs out. It was felt from here that the Indian team would play a firm follow-on. At the crease were Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman. Both had done wonders in the Kolkata Test in 2001. Fans expected the same innings here as well.
Dravid scored 233 and Laxman scored 148. Parthiv Patel contributed 31 runs. India scored 523 runs. The team finished behind Australia by 33 runs in the first innings. Dravid and Laxman shared a 303-run partnership for the fifth wicket. Andy Bickel had taken 4 wickets. Australia’s team collapsed for 196 runs in the second innings. Adam Gilchrist scored 43, Steve Waugh 42, Damian Martin 38 and Simon Katich 31. Ponting could not even open the account. Ajit Agarkar took 6 wickets for 41 runs for India. This proved to be the best performance of his Test career.
India got the target of 230 runs to win. Sehwag scored 47 and Akash Chopra scored 20 runs. Sachin 37 and Ganguly could only score 12 runs. Dravid and Laxman also took over the team in the second innings and shared a crucial 51-run partnership. Dravid came to the pavilion after scoring an unbeaten 72. Laxman scored 32 runs. Team India won the match by 4 wickets and took a 1-0 lead in the series. It was one of the most exciting matches played between India and Australia.