A look at Australia's last Test series win on Indian soil in 2004 featuring Shane Warne and Co.
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Image Source : GettyThe Australian cricket team toured India from 6 October 2004 to 5 November 2004 for a four-Test series. The series featured matches played at Bangalore, Chennai, Nagpur and Mumbai. Australia won the series 2–1.
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Australia won the first Test played at Bangalore comprehensively. The Indian batting order collapsed twice and they didn't look at any point that they could have made a match out of it. Michael Clarke, playing his first ever Test match, scored 151 runs to take Australia to a commanding position. Harbhajan Singh took another 10-wicket haul (5–146 and 6–78) in the match. Anil Kumble took his 400th wicket. Clarke was awarded Man of the Match.
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Being 1–0 down in the series, India started the second Test match played between 14–18 October 2004 at Chennai on a positive note. They got rid of Australia in the first innings for a mere 235 runs. India had a good chance of winning the game, but rain on the final day prevented any chance of play, therefore, the match ended in a draw. Anil Kumble took 6 wickets for 133 runs and was awarded Man of the Match.
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The third Test of the series was played between 26–30 October at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Ground at Nagpur. Australia won the match and series in four days. Australia posted 398 in their first innings, with Damien Martyn posting 114 runs with Michael Clarke making 91. Australia won the third Test by 342 runs. Martyn was awarded Man of the Match. With this win, Australia won this Test series after 35 years of trying for success in India, a feat which has been termed the final frontier by Steve Waugh.
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The fourth and final Test match was played between 3–7 November 2004 at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. Having already lost the series, India made changes in the team. Harbhajan Singh (5–29) and Murali Kartik (3–32) took most of the wickets. Murali Kartik was named Man of the Match. This Test is one of the shortest Test matches ever played, lasting for only 2 complete days. The pitch prepared for the match had later come in for a lot of criticism by Ricky Ponting.