Cricket, often referred to as the “gentleman’s game,” has witnessed memorable matches that have etched their place in sporting history. Among these, tied Test matches hold a special significance, where two teams battle it out on the field for five days, only to end with the scores level.
Two such iconic tied Test matches took place in cricket history—one in 1960 between Australia and the West Indies, and the other in 1986 between India and Australia.
These thrilling matches displayed the unpredictable nature of Test cricket, with batters and bowlers displaying resilience, and the drama culminating in an unforgettable tied conclusion.
In this article, we delve into the details of these remarkable contests, reliving the moments that captivated cricket enthusiasts worldwide.
Australia vs West Indies at Gabba in 1960
The first tied Test match in cricket history was played between Australia and the West Indies at the Brisbane Cricket Ground on 9–14 December 1960. The West Indies posted 453 on board in the first innings, led by Garry Sobers’ 132.
In response to that, Australia scored 505, with Norman O’Neill scoring 181 and Alan Davidson scoring 100. In their second innings, West Indies were bowled out for 284 runs, leaving Australia to chase 233 runs for victory.
The chase was tough for the Australians especially because Wes Hall bowled excellently and picked 5 wickets in the fourth innings of the match. But what really struck Australian chase was 3 run outs and when 2 runs were needed with only one wicket in hand, Ian Meckiff was run out after he completed one run.
Thus the memorable test match ended in a tie. The match was a close-fought contest throughout, with both teams putting in strong performances. Australia’s bowling attack was led by Davidson, who took 11 wickets in the match, while the West Indies’ batsmen were led by Sobers, who scored 146 runs in the match.
Coincidentally, West Indies’ captain Frank Worrell scored 65 runs in the first innings and same in the second innings. The match was also notable for being the first time that a batsman had scored 100 runs and taken 10 wickets in the same Test match. Alan Davidson scored 124 runs in the match and took 11 wickets.
The tied Test match between Australia and the West Indies in 1960 was a rare and exciting contest. It is a match that is still talked about today, and it is considered to be one of the greatest Test matches ever played.
Here are some additional details about the match:
- The match was played over six days.
- The highest individual score was Norman O’Neill’s 181 for Australia.
- The best bowling figures were Alan Davidson’s 6 for 87 for Australia.
- Australian batters shared a record 137 runs partnership for the 7th wicket which was a record at the time.
India vs Australia at Chennai in 1986
The tied Test match between India and Australia in 1986 was the second tied Test match in cricket history. It was played at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai from 18 to 22 September 1986.
Australia batted first and scored 574 for 7, with Dean Jones scoring 210 and David Boon scoring 122. India responded with 397 for 10, with Kapil Dev scoring 119 and Ravi Shastri scoring 62. Australia then batted for 49 overs and declared their innings for 170/5.
The set target for India was 348 runs to win, and the match truly went down to the wire. India were 347 for 9 with just one wicket remaining when Maninder Singh was bowled by Greg Matthews who took 5 wickets in the fourth innings.
The uncanny thing about the match was that India had 4 wickets in hand when they were batting at 330, only 18 runs required for victory. However, in the next couple of overs, Australian left arm spinner Ray Bright took three wickets and completely shut off the Indian chase.
The last ball of the match was bowled by Greg Matthews, and Maninder Singh was given out lbw. With that wicket, Matthews completed his 5-wicket haul and also, the match reached a rare conclusion of tied game.
The tied Test match between India and Australia in 1986 was a thrilling contest that went down to the wire. It was a rare and exciting event, and it is still talked about today.
Here are some additional details about the match:
- The match was played over six days.
- The highest individual score was Dean Jones’s 210 for Australia which still remains to this day.
- The best bowling figures were Greg Matthews 10 for 249 for Australia.
- Kapil Dev was the only Indian cricketer to score a century in this match.
- Ravi Shastri did proper Bazball in the fourth innings with 40-balls-48*, however, he couldn’t guide the team to win.
The tied Test matches of 1960 and 1986 stand as timeless reminders of cricket’s exhilarating unpredictability and the spirit of competition that drives players to go beyond their limits. From Garry Sobers’ century to Kapil Dev’s heroic hundred, and from Alan Davidson’s all-round brilliance to Greg Matthews’ match-defining five-wicket haul, these encounters were rare occurrences in history of cricket.
Cricket is a sport known for its close-fought contests, and the tied Test matches between Australia and the West Indies in 1960 and India and Australia in 1986 are two of the most memorable examples of this. Both matches were played over six days respectively, and featured some of the best batting and bowling of the era. The matches went down to the wire, with Australia and India both falling just short of victory.
