Is this the best performance of India or any Asian side ever overseas in Test cricket?

[Harsh Thakor]

India made history yesterday by winning their 1st series ever on Australian soil.Created the sensation of anew epoch being defined or a new chapter written in Indian cricket which reached it's pinnacle of glory.No Asian team has ever won a series in Australia ever and now the jinx is broken.India's victory will carve a permanent niche in the annals of it's sporting history.It was fully deserved.The cutting edge wast he bowling attack which was the best ever of any Indian touring side.The bowling standards literally scaled a new height.In 1977-78 India all but won losing by very narrow margins and were the morale winners in 1986 as rain curtailed a certain victory in the 2nd test.India delivered a knockout punch and displayed killer instinct as never before.Salutes to Chetasahwar Pujara whose batting in this series compared with that of the all-time greats.With great resilience India overcame its errors on the previous tours of South Africa and England where they came very close to winning.India was particularly unlucky with the toss in South Africa but fortunately here batted first twice.


Is this performance better than drawing with Steve Waugh's team in 2003-04 ?That team was close to the best ever although Mcgrath was not fully fit and missed some crucial tests.India acme close to winning as they won the honours in the drawn game in Sydney after the series wa s level at 1-1.Another great triumph of India was in Pakistan in 2004 when India made history by winning its 1st series on Pakistan soil.

Still it could be debated that Australia lost 3 of it's key players and in Steve Smith,the equivalent of a Sachin Tendulkar.It would have been hard to visualize India triumphing with Steve Smith and David Warner,or a t least winning so convincingly.

Did this win surpass the wins in West Indies and England in 1970-71?


In the final analysis it is just a whisker below the triumphs in West Indies and England in 1970-7 1considering the standard of opposition.I rate this side on par with the side led by Ganguly in 2003-04 and better than any other Indian side,including the teams led by Bishen Bedi,Gavaskar and Kapil Dev.I mantain that the Indian batting was stronger in the 1980's .


When compared to other nations I feel Pakistan's performance in West Indies in 1988 and in Australia in 1976-77 are comparable if not better.However even Imran's or Wasim's teams did not win series in Pakistan in 1989-90 or 1995-96.Considering India morally won 3-1 here I feel they rank with the best overseas wins of Pakistan in test series.In terms of a series win it is arguably the best by any team from the sub-continent overseas.Indian cricket has finally come off age.

 

[barah_admi]

Come on now, lets be serious. Pakistan drawing against the Windies, an ATG Windies side, where a couple of hometown decisions would have changed everything is far better. Or Pakistan beating England in 87, a side featuring Gower, Gatting, Botham...a side that would wallop this current Australian mash up.

As far as India is concerned, it shouldn't be labelled as their greatest win either. They beat a better England side in 07, in more testing conditions than this as well as a better Pakistan side in 04.

 

[Harsh Thakor]

Come on now, lets be serious. Pakistan drawing against the Windies, an ATG Windies side, where a couple of hometown decisions would have changed everything is far better. Or Pakistan beating England in 87, a side featuring Gower, Gatting, Botham...a side that would wallop this current Australian mash up.

As far as India is concerned, it shouldn't be labelled as their greatest win either. They beat a better England side in 07, in more testing conditions than this as well as a better Pakistan side in 04.

you may be right,but remember the era and how other teams fared in Australia like England in recent years.Also remember moral margin of victory was 3-1.

 

[BreadPakoda]

you may be right,but remember the era and how other teams fared in Australia like England in recent years.Also remember moral margin of victory was 3-1.

Moral margin. )

 

[barah_admi]

you may be right,but remember the era and how other teams fared in Australia like England in recent years.Also remember moral margin of victory was 3-1.

Moral margin?

Anyway, England fared worse against a better Aussie side. This did not feature their two best modern batsmen which is a huge blow, not to mention India managed to play a full strength side, on pitches which are flatter than they have ever been. Everything has to have context and yes, this is a pleasing win fr Indians fans after the abysmal time in SA and Eng but it is far from a greatest ever win.

 

[BreadPakoda]

Moral margin?

Anyway, England fared worse against a better Aussie side. This did not feature their two best modern batsmen which is a huge blow, not to mention India managed to play a full strength side, on pitches which are flatter than they have ever been. Everything has to have context and yes, this is a pleasing win fr Indians fans after the abysmal time in SA and Eng but it is far from a greatest ever win.

India didn't have a full strength side to be honest. This is an Indian team in transition with 5-6 new young players, 1 of whom was injured along with Ashwin (3 matches) and Ishant (last match). For a team in transition and reeling from injuries to 2 main players, India has done very well.

 

[barah_admi]

India didn't have a full strength side to be honest. This is an Indian team in transition with 5-6 new young players, 1 of whom was injured along with Ashwin (3 matches) and Ishant (last match). For a team in transition and reeling from injuries to 2 main players, India has done very well.

Get out of here. They have a full strength side.Ashwin would have been useless and has been outbowled by Lyon in several h2h meetings. Ishant is a guy averaging 35 in tests is not to be missed.

You guys just need to accept that this was a good win and move on and stop trying a load of rubbish, it actualy makes you look bad and its why Indians fans have such a bad international reputation. Just accet its not the best performance in Australia, just accept its a pretty bad Aus side BUT it is very godo work by India.

Be moderate.

 

[PerfectionPersonified]

Take out Kohli and Pujaara out and lets see how the series go

 

[BreadPakoda]

Get out of here. They have a full strength side.Ashwin would have been useless and has been outbowled by Lyon in several h2h meetings. Ishant is a guy averaging 35 in tests is not to be missed.

You guys just need to accept that this was a good win and move on and stop trying a load of rubbish, it actualy makes you look bad and its why Indians fans have such a bad international reputation. Just accet its not the best performance in Australia, just accept its a pretty bad Aus side BUT it is very godo work by India.

Be moderate.

What rubbish. I am not the one calling it India's greatest victory - I clearly said they've done well. But seriously stop being sour. India has a very young and inexperienced line up which will get better with time and there is due credit that needs to be given to the young guys who've played well.

Bumrah, Mayank, Vihari, Pant - all these guys are very new to test cricket.

And the fact that you don't know the importance of Ishant in the pace attack and his recent numbers shows you probably know nothing about the Indian team.

 

[Mr. Cricket]

Take out Kohli and Pujaara out and let's see how the series go

India will still thrash Aus in India. In the previous series, Kohli is in worst form and didn't play in last decider match. Their bowling is best and we thrash them like a previous Indian bowlers used to get thrashed when they play in australia.
So no excuse we win the series convincingly. I know it's hard to digest for many here but live with the fact.

 

[latecut]

Australia played two second choice players in place of Smith and Warner. These second choice Australian players were so bad (as we are told) that Australia were reduced to a pushover.

India played a second choice wicket keeper, a second and third choice spinner, and a fourth choice opener, that too on Australian soil, but that did not reduce India to a pushover. This shows the bench strength of India and the lack of bench strength of Australia.

 

[Bhaijaan]

Not even close.

Immy Khan's Pakistanis drawing against mighty Carribeans will always remain the greatest team effirr by an Asian team in WANESA

 

[austerlitz]

Not even close.

Immy Khan's Pakistanis drawing against mighty Carribeans will always remain the greatest team effirr by an Asian team in WANESA

Take out marshall and viv injured with garner,holding,roberts,lloyd retired and maybe not so much.Still great though.

 

[SportsWarrior]

Take out Kohli and Pujaara out and lets see how the series go

In india they will trash any team even without kohli or pujara. Last time when Aus toured india with all their superstars Kohli was in horrible form and failed most of the series and missed final match. India still won. At home they will not struggle

Also Australia had nearly nine months to find a replacement. If they cannot find two decent replacement in nine months I really doubt their FC setup. At home India has a ready ade replacement for all slots

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Not even close.

Immy Khan's Pakistanis drawing against mighty Carribeans will always remain the greatest team effirr by an Asian team in WANESA

Especially as Pakistan were robbed of an outright series victory by home umpires blatant cheating. India's victory would be sweeter if this was an Aussie side at full strength, but with key players missing it doesn't have quite the same satisfaction.

 

[Boxer]

Take out Kohli and Pujaara out and lets see how the series go

Wouldn't make much difference. India toured Aus with much better batting line ups. It's the bowlers that you need to mention here.

 

[SportsWarrior]

Not even close.

Immy Khan's Pakistanis drawing against mighty Carribeans will always remain the greatest team effirr by an Asian team in WANESA

India went to Australia and drew against mighty Australian side. So that is already taken care

 

[PerfectionPersonified]

India will still thrash Aus in India. In the previous series, Kohli is in worst form and didn't play in last decider match. Their bowling is best and we thrash them like a previous Indian bowlers used to get thrashed when they play in australia.
So no excuse we win the series convincingly. I know it's hard to digest for many here but live with the fact.

Thrash ??? i mean at the end won the series by just 32 runs

 

[PerfectionPersonified]

Wouldn't make much difference. India toured Aus with much better batting line ups. It's the bowlers that you need to mention here.

Pujaara took the games away from 40/4 to 250 ....THE ONLY DIFFERENCE in the two sides was Pujaara....

 

[PerfectionPersonified]

In india they will trash any team even without kohli or pujara. Last time when Aus toured india with all their superstars Kohli was in horrible form and failed most of the series and missed final match. India still won. At home they will not struggle

Also Australia had nearly nine months to find a replacement. If they cannot find two decent replacement in nine months I really doubt their FC setup. At home India has a ready ade replacement for all slots

I say that again , add Smith and Warner and take out Kohli and Pujaara, Aussies will thrash India in their fortress

 

[Rahul1]

Come on now, lets be serious. Pakistan drawing against the Windies, an ATG Windies side, where a couple of hometown decisions would have changed everything is far better. Or Pakistan beating England in 87, a side featuring Gower, Gatting, Botham...a side that would wallop this current Australian mash up.

As far as India is concerned, it shouldn't be labelled as their greatest win either. They beat a better England side in 07, in more testing conditions than this as well as a better Pakistan side in 04.

In the test which Pakistan won-

Malcolm Marshall and Viv Richards didn't play

Curtly Ambrose was making his test debut

Michael Holding had retired.

 

[Buffet]

In the test which Pakistan won-

Malcolm Marshall and Viv Richards didn't play

Curtly Ambrose was making his test debut

Michael Holding had retired.

I think most of these victories/draw will have home team weaker.

Great Aus team won series in India when some players were missing.
Ind won series in Aus when some players were missing
Ind drew against great Aus team when some players were missing.

India totally dominated this series in Aus and made history. People should move on. All victories will be special in their own ways.

 

[Robert]

Come on now, lets be serious. Pakistan drawing against the Windies, an ATG Windies side, where a couple of hometown decisions would have changed everything is far better. Or Pakistan beating England in 87, a side featuring Gower, Gatting, Botham...a side that would wallop this current Australian mash up.

That side was less strong than it looked. Botham was past it as a test player, and there was no Gooch as he had dropped himself. Dilley, Foster and Small all broke down at some point or other.

I agree that it was better than this Aussie squad though.

Still it was a good win by Imran’s Pakistan.

 

[BreadPakoda]

That side was less strong than it looked. Botham was past it as a test player, and there was no Gooch as he had dropped himself. Dilley, Foster and Small all broke down at some point or other.

I agree that it was better than this Aussie squad though.

Still it was a good win by Imran’s Pakistan.

How do you rate Kapil Dev led victory in England in 1986? Similar situation? Considering it was around the same time as Pakistan's win

 

[Rahul1]

How do you rate Kapil Dev led victory in England in 1986? Similar situation? Considering it was around the same time as Pakistan's win

Imran'a victory is much better. Because of obvious reasons.

 

[jnaveen1980]

India in England 1986/87. Absolutely trounced them. Should have been 3-0 white wash. But came away with 2-0. Having said that India's fond memory will always be their first Test series win in England.

 

[jnaveen1980]

How do you rate Kapil Dev led victory in England in 1986? Similar situation? Considering it was around the same time as Pakistan's win

India gave absolutely no chance to England. But beating England in England was easier than beating Australia given the atrocious umpiring in Australia. India could have won many matches there but for umpiring. England had unbiased umpires like Dickie Bird, David SHepard.

 

[Pete Rose]

In the modern era, this is the most impactful tour by any Asian side. But I consider the genesis for this to be in India’s tour to Australia in 2004. The results don’t show what an impact it has had on Indian cricket or cricketers, but that was the breakthrough series.

 

[jeeteshssaxena]

So pakistan won the only tests in WI tour of 1987 when malcomm marshall (the greatest bowler ever) and viv richards (the best bat of that era) weren't playing, and here they are downplaying our achievements.
If this series is marked with an asterisk then even that WI series deserves one.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

India went to Australia and drew against mighty Australian side. So that is already taken care

That was actually a more impressive result, it was a genuine surprise as Aussies were quite fearsome back then. I can remember being seriously impressed that India didn't get rolled over, whereas this current Aussie team is beatable even at full strength.