September 22, 1986 was an unforgettable day for me when we tied the Madras Test against Kapil Dev's Indians. The target of 348 which our skipper Allan Border set for India was a sizeable one but we knew India were a talented side while we just wanted to win the Test match. That is why AB (Border) declared at 170 for 5
Geoff Marsh
September 22, 1986 was an unforgettable day for me when we tied the Madras Test against Kapil Dev's Indians. The target of 348 which our skipper Allan Border set for India was a sizeable one but we knew India were a talented side while we just wanted to win the Test match. That is why AB (Border) declared at 170 for 5.
Like in this Test, the climate was humid, I remember in the lead up to the game, our guys had their boots dripping wet and batting lovers wouldn't last one net session. The humidity was enormous.
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Geoff Marsh
We knew that this was going to be a tough Test. Coming to the last day's play we wanted to bowl you (India) guys out. But the Indians backed themselves to get the runs. And I wasn't surprised that they came close to winning it. The pitch was good and so was the outfield.
Deano's special knock
Earlier in the Test Dean Jones played an innings which was the best I have witnessed. I have watched Border. The Waugh brothers have played some splendid knocks but considering the conditions, Deano played very well. People back came and asked us about his effort and one had to explain to them what state he was in when he came in to the pavilion after that double ton.
He was sick on the field and he needed help to even have a shower. So drained was he. But Deano just wanted to work hard and be out there. His performance was fantastic. Personally, I did not have a good Test scoring 22 and 11 but the important point was Australia fared well with Greg Matthews getting a five-wicket haul.
Declaration & game on
Coming back to AB's declaration, it was indeed a sporting one. If he hadn't declared then the game would have petered out into a draw. Test cricket is all about pressure and that indeed was a pressure Test match.
I remember fielding at short-leg when Maninder Singh was declared leg before to Matthews and I did not know the result at first. No one won but we had some good batting and bowling, throughout the Test. And you don't want to fight that hard and lose a Test match. Unfortunately, we let India score a run extra otherwise we would have won.
The scenario in the dressing room? Actually we were quiet. Because it had been a hard day and we had some of the stuff that you now call Fosters. From the future of Australian cricket point of view, our guys benefited from the experience of playing the Gavaskars, Kapil Devs, Shastris et al. Non one won – only cricket did.
Brief scores
Australia (1st innings) 574-7 declared (David Boon 122, Dean Jones 210, Allan Border 106; Shivlal Yadav 4-142)
India (1st innings) 397 all out (K Srikkanth 53, Ravi Shastri 62, Kapil Dev 118, Greg Matthews 5-103)
Australia (2nd innings) 170-5 declared (David Boon 49)
India (2nd innings) 347 all out (Sunil Gavaskar 90, Mohinder Amarnath 50, Ravi Shastri 48, Greg Matthews 5-146)
Geoff Marsh spoke to Clayton Murzello for the March 11, 1998 issue of mid-day.
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