December 7, 2003, was a Sunday, a day Sourav Ganguly pressed the pause button on Aussie preaching; a norm in the Steve Waugh era of Australian cricket. Simply put, it’s 20 years today for Ganguly’s hundred at the Gabba in Brisbane, scored amidst talk, predictions of yet another India captain failing in the opening Test of a series. Ridiculing a captain or team should always be condemned, but there was reason for pessimism over Ganguly striking it rich with the bat. His run tally in 10 Tests against Australia was 501 with three half centuries. On Australian soil, he had 177 runs to show in three Tests at 29.50.

In beautiful Brisbane, we sensed another low for India. Ganguly won the toss and sent Australia in. By ending Day One at 262 for two, the hosts looked primed for yet another massive first innings score. But India rode the storm and Zaheer Khan’s 5-95 helped bowl out Australia for 323. The Indian openers Aakash Chopra and Virender Sehwag knew what to expect. The home attack didn’t have Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee (both injured). Shane Warne was serving his drug ban, but there was Jason Gillespie, local lad Andy Bichel and Stuart MacGill, the leggie who thrived on opportunities to prove himself in Warne’s absence.