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1977-78, in Australia: It was one of the most exciting series of all times and it was said that the contests played an important role in reviving Test cricket. Bob Simpson was given the task of handling the side after the stars were lost to Kerry Packer and he did a marvellous job in inspiring the team to a 3-2 victory. The Aussies won at Brisbane and Perth despite the efforts of Gavaskar and Mohinder Amarnath. The Indian fight back was remarkable.. Gavaskar and Chetan Chauhan were out even before India had scored run in the third Test and yet the team went on to win by a margin of 222 runs. Gavaskar, Vishwanath and Mohinder put up gritty shows and Chandrasekhar ran through the opposition by returning identical figures of six for 52 in the two innings. India won the next Test by an innings and two runs. The series, was bagged by Australia when India fell short by 47 runs despite reaching 445 in the last innings of the match.

1979-80, in India: Kim Hughes brought a depleted Australian side and it was not at all surprising that India won the six match series 2-0. Australia did well by drawing the first two matches at Madras and Banglore but failed to stop India at Kanpur. The next two Test at Delhi and Calcutta were drawn before India won convincingly at Bombay.

1980-81, in Australia: It was a memorable series for Dennis Lillee bowled to Gavaskar for the first time in a Test. Australia won the first Test comfortably as Greg Chappell slammed 204. The second Test at Adelaide was drawn. The third Test at Melbourne saw India almost forfeiting the match when Gavaskar, given out leg-before to Lillee for a brilliant 70, stood his ground, and stormed off when Lillee exchanged words with him. The Indian skipper even dragged partner Chauhan off the ground before sanity prevailed and Vengsarkar stepped out in time to save the situation. Australia, requiring 143 to win, fell short by 59 runs in a stunning finish. It was the first time India had drawn a series in Australia.

1985-86, in Australia: The three Test matches at Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney failed to produce a result in the series dubbed the battle for cricket's wooden spoon. India came to Australia after losing a series to Sri Lanka, and Australian cricket was at its lowest ebb after losing to New Zealand. India had the better of each Test match but was unable to press home the advantage. Apart from new comer Bruce Reid, the Australian attack looked innocuous. Sunil Gavaskar looked invincible in averaging 117.33. Gavaskar scored two centuries in the series and the high point was India's mammoth total of 600 at Sydney in the third Test. The batsmen who revelled in that match were Gavaskar (172), K.Srikanth (116) and Mohinder Amarnath (138).

© Dawn