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3 Times a Team Achieved a Miracle Victory after Following On

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The 3 Times a Team Achieved a Miracle Victory after Following On | How many times has a team won a Test match after following on?

Written by Kristopher Hinz

Kris is also a commentator for Flashscore Cricket. You can follow their live ball-by-ball commentary for all international cricket and the IPL. Check them out on Facebook and Twitter

Seeing the follow-on enforced these days is a rare thing, but it may become more common if four-day Tests become a regular occurrence. What is truly remarkable to note is that out of the 286 times that the follow-on has been enforced in Tests, the side asked to follow on has won just three times.

Let’s take a closer look at those three special victories. 

England vs Australia, SCG, 1894: 

After winning the toss and electing to bat, Australia amassed 586. They were led by allrounder George Giffen (with 161) and star batsman Syd Gregory, who smashed 201. England toiled for more than 170 overs and at one stage looked to have Australia at least somewhat under control at 408/8, but wicketkeeper and Australian skipper Jack Blackham changed things with a counter-attacking 74 in only 86 minutes. Faced with a mountain to climb, England barely scraped to 325 in an agonising 140 overs, with Albert Ward’s 75 the only resistance of note. 

Ward went one better in the next round, making 117 in the second inning as Australia enforced the follow on. With support from Jack Brown and some handy lower order resistance, England managed a much more competitive 437, which gave them an overall lead of 176. But things still looked to be headed in Australia’s favour when the home side reached 113/2 at stumps on the penultimate day. Rainfall changed things, and in an era when pitches were left uncovered overnight, this caused havoc with the pitch conditions. All of a sudden, England had a way back into the match. Bobby Peel (6/67) and Johnny Briggs (3/25 to go with 57 and 42) took advantage, rolling Australia for 166 and claiming a 10-run win. 

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England vs Australia, Headingley, 1981:

Remembered as the Test match that turned Ian Botham’s career around, this match may have raised eyebrows if it was played in the 21st century. Ian Botham had been recently appointed captain of the England side but had made a disastrous start to his Ashes campaign. The English selectors decided to hand the reins to the experienced Mike Brearley. 

The change in leadership didn’t seem to be making much of a difference when Australia reduced England to 135/7. It was at that point that Aussie tearaway Dennis Lillee and his wicketkeeping pal Rod Marsh decided to place a bet on England at odds of 500/1, something which as previously noted, would surely raise eyebrows now. This did not bother Botham, as he simply played with unbridled freedom from that point on. With the support of Graham Dilley (56) and Chris Old (29), he smashed an unbeaten 149 at over a run a ball, including 27 fours and a huge six that flew as Richie Benaud said “into the confectionary stand.” Set 130, Australia looked to be in control, as they had a century earlier, when they reached 56/1. But Bob Willis turned it around with 8/43 as England took a morale-boosting 18-run win which proved to be the catalyst for their eventual series victory. 

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Australia vs India, Eden Gardens 2001: 

India had tried manfully in the first Test. But it is worth remembering that Australia were at the zenith of their cricketing powers and not even a spell of 3/8 from Harbhajan Singh could stop them from reeling in an easy 10-wicket win.

So, when India fell to 113/8, still 332 runs behind Australia’s first innings total of 445 (despite a hat-trick for Harbhajan), it looked to be much the same story. India added some valuable runs on day three but were unable to save the follow on.

It was Rahul Dravid’s arrival at the crease during the second innings that turned things around. India went from 232/4 to 608/5 when his partner VVS Laxman was finally removed for a scarcely believable, silky 281. Dravid was more stout, but no less imperious, with his dour 180 from 353 balls. India eventually declared on 657/7, leaving Australia 384 to win. Once again, Harbhajan did the damage, claiming 6/73 and bowling India to a mammoth 171-run win, by far the biggest margin of victory by a Test team following on, and without a doubt India’s greatest Test win ever.

The 3 Times a Team Achieved a Miracle Victory after Following On | How many times has a team won a Test match after following on?
India vs Australia, 2001: The greatest Test victory after following on

Written by Kristopher Hinz

Kris is also a commentator for Flashscore Cricket. You can follow their live ball-by-ball commentary for all international cricket and the IPL. Check them out on Facebook and Twitter

Kristopher Hinz
Kristopher Hinzhttp://www.flashscore.com.au/cricket
Kristopher Hinz is a Sports Journalism student and cricket enthusiast. In addition to CricBlog, Kristopher has also done work for Flashscore Cricket Commentators.

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