The 2001 Take a look at collection in opposition to Australia stays one of many defining chapters in Indian cricket historical past, remembered for the gorgeous comeback in Kolkata, Harbhajan Singh’s heroics and the emergence of Sourav Ganguly as a formidable chief. One other legendary element from the collection has additionally captured the creativeness of cricket followers worldwide: Ganguly’s behavior of creating Australia’s captain, Steve Waugh, look ahead to him on the toss. Waugh, probably the most profitable captains of his period, has repeatedly spoken about his irritation at having to attend for his Indian counterpart earlier than the toss.
Ganguly, too, has provided his perspective on the incident lately. Former India quick bowler Javagal Srinath has now provided a pointed tackle the episode, suggesting that Ganguly may have confronted disciplinary motion had the matter occurred below his watch as an ICC match referee.
“I’d have banned Sourav for a couple of video games,” Srinath mentioned at an occasion in Chennai.
Srinath, who turned an ICC match referee after retiring from worldwide cricket in 2003, was a part of the Indian aspect for the opening Take a look at of the collection. Nevertheless, he performed that match whereas carrying an harm and subsequently missed the rest of the competition.
The primary Take a look at in Mumbai led to a convincing victory for Australia, who entered the collection as sturdy favourites. However the outcome proved to be a false indication of what was to come back.
The Eden miracle
India produced probably the most outstanding comebacks in Take a look at historical past within the second match at Eden Gardens. After being requested to comply with on, VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid produced a monumental partnership that remodeled the competition, earlier than Harbhajan Singh’s bowling helped India full a unprecedented turnaround.
India turned solely the third staff on the time to win a Take a look at after following on and went on to safe the collection 2-1.
For Srinath, the importance of that interval prolonged past the outcomes on the sector. Indian cricket was trying to rebuild its status following the match-fixing scandal that had shaken the game on the finish of the Nineties.
“Submit the match-fixing scandal, a variety of issues got here good to us,” Srinath recalled.
He pointed to the staff’s dedication to revive religion in Indian cricket and to display that the game may transfer ahead with integrity.
“There was a little bit of a resoluteness in each participant to actually put that picture again and show to the world that cricket was clear,” Srinath mentioned.
“Each particular person confirmed management. Then the staff began successful not solely in India, however we had been successful overseas as properly,” he added.
Srinath’s personal post-playing profession has saved him carefully linked to worldwide cricket. As an ICC match referee, he has overseen greater than 500 matches.
