One prediction that can be made about cricket is that it is unpredictable. A match isn't over till it is over. At times, teams have proven this quote. They have pulled quite impossible, by winning the test matches after being asked to bat again by the leading team.
In the history of cricket, only thrice it has been seen that teams have won the match after following on. Australia has ended up being the losing team in all of the three matches. Here is a list of those matches and the teams who achieved this feat against the mighty Aussies.
1. England vs Australia
Date: 14 December 1894
Result: England defeated Australia by 10 runs.
Scorecard:
Australia - 586 (1st innings) 166 (2nd innings)
England - 325 (1st innings) 437 (2nd innings)
It was in 1894 when England defeated Australia to become the first side to win a Test after following on.
Australia batted first and scored 586 runs after batting for almost 2 days. When England came to bat, they scored a decent 325 but trailed enough to be asked to bat again by the Aussies.
England was trailing by 261 runs. This time they showed intent and class. England proved Australia's decision wrong and scored a mighty 437 runs.
Now the pressure was on Australia, however, the target being just 177 runs. When Australia came to bat it was Bobby Peel's magic who took 6/67 and restricted Australia to 166. England won the match by 10 runs.
Also Read | List of tied matches in Test Cricket History
2. England vs Australia
Date: 16 July 1981
Result: England defeated Australia by 10 runs.
Scorecard:
Australia - 401/9d (1st innings) 111 (2nd innings)
England - 174 (1st innings) 356(2nd innings)
Again, it's England vs Australia, and the English side got the better of the Aussie side. The match was a total Ian Botham dominance with bat and ball.
Australia batted first and scored 401. They were restricted to this target by Ian Botham as he took 6 wicket hauls.
England batting first was disappointing and was reduced to 174 runs by Australia. England batted again due to following on, they trailed by 227 runs.
This time Ian Botham stepped up with his bat. He scored a beautiful 149 not out and helped his team reach 356.Australia now required 130 runs to win the match. But a supreme bowling attack by England stopped them to 111 and won the match by 18 runs.
3. India vs Australia
Date: 11 March 2001
Result: India defeated Australia by 171 runs.
Scorecard:
Australia - 445 (1st innings) 212 (2nd innings)
India - 171 (1st innings) 657/7d (2nd innings)
In the history of Test Matches, India vs Australia Eden garden match will be right at the top of the list. It is undoubtedly one of the best matches ever.
Australia scored 445 in the first innings. Steve Waugh scored an important century and Harbhajan took a hattrick. When India came to bat, all big guns misfired except Laxman's 59 and India got out on 171.
When they were asked to bat again, and it was the Dravid- Laxman show. India was 232-4 when Dravid came to bat. From that point, the duo stood a partnership of 376 runs, which is the 3rd highest partnership for the 5th wicket.
Dravid scored 180 and Laxman scored 281. India indeed declared after giving a follow-on. They made 657 runs. Australia now had to chase a target of 384 runs.
In the bowling, the spin again did the trick for India. Harbhajan Singh took crucial 6 wickets to help India seal the victory.
