The Best of Tests: Dean Jones 'seeing' double as India-Australia tie back in 1986

Test cricket mirrors life. The ebbs and flows of the format have given birth to some of the most breath-taking cricketing epics. A Cricket World Series, The Best of Tests, highlights the finest of these spectacles.

Match Summary

AUS 574/7dec, 170/5dec (49)

IND 397/10, 347/10 (86.5)

Result - Match tied

Player of the Match - Dean Jones

It was September and India's southern city of Madras (now Chennai) felt like a furnace. India had just returned after a famous win from their tour of England.

Australia, on the other hand, were trying to overcome the retirement of Greg Chappell, Dennis Lillee and Rodney Marsh. Since the trio bid adieu to the sport a little over two years ago, Australia had lost twice each to the West Indies and New Zealand, once to England and had managed to just about draw a series against India at their home.

However, on day one of the first Test, the Aussies did well to shed off their underdog tag with a century from opener David Boon. Dean Jones then played one of the most courageous knocks of all time.

Jones' 210 was the highest score by an Australian in a Test against India. The knock took him 503 minutes, 330 deliveries and included 27 boundaries and two sixes. By the time he was dismissed after bouts of vomiting at the crease, he had to be taken to the hospital straight away.

India responded well with half centuries from Kris Srikkanth, Mohammad Azharuddin, Ravi Shastri and a 119-run hand from Kapil Dev.

Australia showed no urgency in the 3rd innings and it came as a surprise when skipper Allan Border declared on the overnight score. Indian needed 348 runs to win in 87 overs on the last day.

Handy knocks from Srikkanth, Mohinder Amarnath, Azharuddin and Chandrakant Pandit kept the side in good stead. Towards the end, Indian needed 3 runs to win with Ravi Shastri and Maninder Singh at the crease.

When the scores were tied, Maninder was given out by umpire Vikram Raju as the match became only the second tied Test after 1025 Test matches - the first being the famous match between West Indies and Australia in 1960.

Match Details

IND v AUS, 1st Test, Australia in India Test Series, 1986

Date: Thursday, September 18, 1986 - Monday, September 22, 1986

Toss: Australia won the toss and opt to bat

Time: 1:00 AM (Sep 18)

Venue: MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai

Umpires: Dara Dotiwalla, Vikramraju

Teams

India: Sunil Gavaskar, Kris Srikkanth, Mohinder Amarnath, Mohammad Azharuddin, Ravi Shastri, Chandrakant Pandit, Kapil Dev (c), Kiran More (wk), Chetan Sharma, Shivlal Yadav, Maninder Singh

Australia: David Boon, Geoff Marsh, Dean Jones, Ray Bright, Allan Border (c), Greg Ritchie, Greg Matthews, Steve Waugh, Tim Zoehrer (wk), Craig McDermott, Bruce Reid

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