Australian cricket team in Ceylon and India in 1969-70
Encyclopedia
The Australia national cricket team toured Ceylon and India
in the last three months of 1969. The team, captained by Bill Lawry
, played five Test
matches against India, captained by the Nawab of Pataudi Jr
. The Australians also played first-class matches versus each of the five Indian Zone teams: Central, North, West, East and South. In Ceylon, they played one first-class game against Ceylon and three minor matches. Australia won the Test series in India 3-1 with one match drawn. It was to be Australia's last Test series win in India until Adam Gilchrist's
side's victory in the 2004-05 series.
's West Indians at home the previous season. They had also retained The Ashes
by drawing the 1968 series
in England. Prior to the Australians' arrival, India had just managed to draw its home series against New Zealand by drawing the deciding Third Test because of rain; India had been 7/76 chasing 268.
taking 5-69. Australia scored 345 built on Keith Stackpole
's 103. In the second innings, Australia dismissed India for 137 with Johnny Gleeson
taking 4-56. Australia won by eight wickets, successfully chasing the target of 64. This Test was followed by a tour match against Central Zone on 11 November, with Australia winning by an innings and 32 runs.
and Ashok Mankad
. A century from Paul Sheahan
gave Australia a small lead of 28. Gundappa Viswanath
's 137 in the second innings allowed India to declare, setting Australia a victory target of 285. Australia were 0/95 at stumps on the fifth day. Australia's tour match against North Zone on 24 November was also drawn.
took Australia to 296, and then Ashley Mallett
spun India out for 223, taking 6-64. However, Bishan Bedi and EAS Prasanna then took five wickets each in Australia's innings and had the tourists out for just 107, leaving India with a target of 181 for victory. Ajit Wadekar
's 91 set up India's victory by seven wickets, which saw the series locked at 1-1 going into the fourth and Fifth Tests. Australia won its tour match against East Zone on 8 December by 96 runs.
gave Australia a lead of 123, Bedi's 7-98 preventing a bigger Australian lead. In the second innings, Alan Connolly
and Eric Freeman helped remove India for 161 and Australia needed only 42 for victory; they won by 10 wickets.
rescued the innings for Australia, scoring 63. Australia were all out for 153, setting India 249 for victory. Mallett took his second five-for in the match and helped Australia dismiss India for 171, Australia winning by 77 runs.
Ashley Mallett ended up being the leading wicket taker of the series with 28 wickets at an average of 19.10; the second most successful bowler was Bishan Bedi with 21 at 20.57. The leading run scorer was India's GR Viswanath with 334 runs at 47.71; Australia's Ian Chappell was the next most successful batsmen with 324 runs at 46.28.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
in the last three months of 1969. The team, captained by Bill Lawry
Bill Lawry
William Morris "Bill" Lawry, AM is a former cricketer who played for Victoria and Australia. He captained Australia in 25 Tests, winning nine, losing eight and drawing eight, and led Australia in the inaugural One Day International match, played in 1971...
, played five Test
Test cricket
Test cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined by the International Cricket Council , with four innings played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a maximum five days...
matches against India, captained by the Nawab of Pataudi Jr
Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi
Mansoor Ali Khan or Mansur Ali Khan , sometimes M.A.K. Pataudi , nicknamed Tiger Pataudi, was an Indian cricketer and former captain of the Indian cricket team...
. The Australians also played first-class matches versus each of the five Indian Zone teams: Central, North, West, East and South. In Ceylon, they played one first-class game against Ceylon and three minor matches. Australia won the Test series in India 3-1 with one match drawn. It was to be Australia's last Test series win in India until Adam Gilchrist's
Adam Gilchrist
Adam Craig Gilchrist AM , nicknamed "Gilly" or "Churchy", is an Australian international cricketer who currently captains Kings XI Punjab and recently captained Middlesex. He is an attacking left-handed batsman and record-breaking wicket-keeper, who redefined the role for the Australian national...
side's victory in the 2004-05 series.
Series lead up
Australia came into the series with a win under its belt against Garry SobersGarfield Sobers
Sir Garfield St Aubrun Sobers AO, OCC is a former cricketer who captained West Indies. His first name of Garfield is variously abbreviated as Gary or Garry. He is widely regarded as one of cricket's greatest ever all-rounders, having excelled at all the essential skills of batting, bowling and...
's West Indians at home the previous season. They had also retained The Ashes
The Ashes
The Ashes is a Test cricket series played between England and Australia. It is one of the most celebrated rivalries in international cricket and dates back to 1882. It is currently played biennially, alternately in the United Kingdom and Australia. Cricket being a summer sport, and the venues...
by drawing the 1968 series
Australian cricket team in England in 1968
The Australian cricket team toured England in the 1968 season to play a five-match Test series against England for The Ashes.Australia retained The Ashes after the series was drawn 1-1.-Test series summary:* at Old Trafford – Australia won by 159 runs...
in England. Prior to the Australians' arrival, India had just managed to draw its home series against New Zealand by drawing the deciding Third Test because of rain; India had been 7/76 chasing 268.
First class games
The Australian cricket team played three minor matches in Ceylon before the first-class fixture against the Ceylonese national team on 24 October; the game was drawn. Australia's first match in India was against West Zone on 31 October, also ending in a draw. A highlight of the match was CG Borde's 113 in West Zone's first innings.First Test
The First Test was scheduled between 4–9 November. India won the toss and batted first, where they made 271, Australia's Graham McKenzieGraham McKenzie
Graham Douglas "Garth" McKenzie is a former Australian and Western Australian cricketer. He was a fast bowler. First selected to play for Australia at age of 19, he toured England in 1961 under Richie Benaud...
taking 5-69. Australia scored 345 built on Keith Stackpole
Keith Stackpole
Keith Raymond Stackpole Junior is a former Victorian and Australian cricketer who played in 43 Tests and 6 ODIs from 1966 to 1974, who is now a radio cricket commentator...
's 103. In the second innings, Australia dismissed India for 137 with Johnny Gleeson
John Gleeson
John William Gleeson is a former Australian cricketer who played in 29 Tests from 1967 to 1972.-Early years:Gleeson grew up in the country town of Tamworth...
taking 4-56. Australia won by eight wickets, successfully chasing the target of 64. This Test was followed by a tour match against Central Zone on 11 November, with Australia winning by an innings and 32 runs.
Second Test
The Second Test began on 15 November and India again won the toss and batted. They made 320 through half centuries from Farokh EngineerFarokh Engineer
Farokh Maneksha Engineer is a former Indian cricketer of Parsi background who played 46 Tests for India and played first-class cricket for Mumbai in India and Lancashire in England. Engineer's active international career started in 1961 and continued to 1975, and he was India's first-choice...
and Ashok Mankad
Ashok Mankad
Ashok Vinoo Mankad was a former Indian cricketer. A right-handed batsman, he played for India in 22 Test matches....
. A century from Paul Sheahan
Paul Sheahan
Andrew Paul Sheahan was an Australian Test cricketer who played 31 Tests and 3 One Day Internationals as an opening and middle order batsman between 1967 and 1974.He made his first class debut in 1965 for the Victorian Sheffield Shield against New South Wales scoring 62 and 5.An elegant stroke...
gave Australia a small lead of 28. Gundappa Viswanath
Gundappa Viswanath
Gundappa Rangnath Viswanath is a former Indian cricketer. He was one of India's finest batsmen throughout the 1970s. He played Test cricket for India from 1969 to 1983 making 91 appearances and scoring over 6000 runs. He also played in One Day Internationals from 1974 to 1982 including the World...
's 137 in the second innings allowed India to declare, setting Australia a victory target of 285. Australia were 0/95 at stumps on the fifth day. Australia's tour match against North Zone on 24 November was also drawn.
Third Test
On 28 November, the Third Test began. A century from Ian ChappellIan Chappell
Ian Michael Chappell is a former cricketer who played for South Australia and Australia. He captained Australia between 1971 and 1975 before taking a central role in the breakaway World Series Cricket organisation...
took Australia to 296, and then Ashley Mallett
Ashley Mallett
Ashley Alexander Mallett is a former Australian cricketer who played in 38 Tests and 9 One Day Internationals between 1968 and 1980...
spun India out for 223, taking 6-64. However, Bishan Bedi and EAS Prasanna then took five wickets each in Australia's innings and had the tourists out for just 107, leaving India with a target of 181 for victory. Ajit Wadekar
Ajit Wadekar
Ajit Laxman Wadekar is a former international cricketer. He played domestic first-class cricket for the Mumbai cricket team....
's 91 set up India's victory by seven wickets, which saw the series locked at 1-1 going into the fourth and Fifth Tests. Australia won its tour match against East Zone on 8 December by 96 runs.
Fourth Test
The Fourth Test started on 12 December and Australia won the toss, electing to field. McKenzie took 6-67 for Australia and ensured India's dismissal for 212. Half-centuries from Chappell and Doug WaltersDoug Walters
Kevin Douglas Walters MBE in Dungog New South Wales, known as Doug Walters, is a former Australian cricketer. He was known as an attacking batsman, and also as a typical ocker.-First-class career:...
gave Australia a lead of 123, Bedi's 7-98 preventing a bigger Australian lead. In the second innings, Alan Connolly
Alan Connolly
Alan Norman Connolly is a former Australian cricketer who played in 29 Tests and one ODI from 1963 to 1971. Connolly had been a fast bowler in his youth, but slowed his pace to increase his accuracy and became a reliable support bowler in partnership with Garth McKenzie...
and Eric Freeman helped remove India for 161 and Australia needed only 42 for victory; they won by 10 wickets.
Fifth Test
The Fifth Test began on 24 December with India needing a victory to draw the series. Batting first, Australia made 258, largely through Walters's 102, and then dismissed India for 163. However, an Indian fightback in the second innings saw Australia reduced to 6/24 at one point before Ian RedpathIan Redpath
Ian Ritchie Redpath is a former Australian cricketer who played in 66 Tests and 5 ODIs from 1964 to 1976...
rescued the innings for Australia, scoring 63. Australia were all out for 153, setting India 249 for victory. Mallett took his second five-for in the match and helped Australia dismiss India for 171, Australia winning by 77 runs.
Ashley Mallett ended up being the leading wicket taker of the series with 28 wickets at an average of 19.10; the second most successful bowler was Bishan Bedi with 21 at 20.57. The leading run scorer was India's GR Viswanath with 334 runs at 47.71; Australia's Ian Chappell was the next most successful batsmen with 324 runs at 46.28.
Aftermath
The tour was to be Australia's last successful series in India until victory under Adam Gilchrist in 2004-05. Between those series, Australia were unsuccessful on tours in 1979-80, 1996–97, 1997–98, and 2000–01; the 1986-87 tour was drawn 0-0 with the First Test a tie. India turned out to rebound from the loss by winning its next two series in the West Indies and England; they were its first series wins in those countries. Because Australia were scheduled for a tour in South Africa immediately after this series, they flew straight to South Africa for a four Test series without returning home.Test series summary
- 1st Test @ Brabourne StadiumBrabourne StadiumThe Brabourne Stadium is a cricket ground in the Indian city of Mumbai. It is located on 90,000 square yards of reclaimed land along Marine Drive near Churchgate railway station in South Mumbai. The stadium is owned by the Cricket Club of India . Brabourne Stadium is India's first permanent...
, Bombay – Australia won by 8 wickets - 2nd Test @ Modi Stadium, Kanpur – match drawn
- 3rd Test @ Feroz Shah KotlaFeroz Shah KotlaThe Feroz Shah Kotla or Kotla was originally a fortress built by Sultan Ferozshah Tughlaq to house his version of Delhi city called Ferozabad. A pristine polished sandstone pillar from the 3rd century B.C...
, DelhiDelhiDelhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
– India won by 7 wickets - 4th Test @ Eden GardensEden GardensEden Gardens is a cricket ground in Kolkata , India. It is the home of the Bengal cricket team and the Indian Premier League's Kolkata Knight Riders, as well as being a Test and One Day International ground. It is the largest cricket stadium in India by seating capacity...
, Calcutta – Australia won by 10 wickets - 5th Test @ MA Chidambaram Stadium, Madras – Australia won by 77 runs
External sources
Further reading
- Mihir BoseMihir BoseMihir Bose also referred to as Spermy ,is a British Indian sportswriter and journalist, who was the BBC's sports editor until 4 August 2009.-Early life:...
, A History of Indian Cricket, Andre-Deutsch, 1990 - Ramachandra GuhaRamachandra GuhaRamachandra Guha is an Indian writer whose research interests have included environmental, social, political and cricket history. He is also a columnist for the newspapers The Telegraph , and The Hindustan Times.-Early life and education:Born in Dehra Dun, Uttarakhand, India in 1958, Guha studied...
, A Corner of a Foreign Field - An Indian History of a British Sport, Picador, 2001 - Wisden Cricketers Almanack 1971