Enthralling Spells of fast bowling - Ajit Agarkar vs Australia, Adelaide, 2003

Winning a test series Down Under was a dream of every Indian in the early 2000s and India managed to almost do it- they drew the series 1-1 in 2003-04 thanks to a victory in Adelaide. After the rain curtailed first test was drawn at Brisbane where their daring skipper Sourav Ganguly set the tone with a fighting 144, India was in dire straits in the second test at Adelaide- which was a very familiar position to be in, those days. At 85-4, Australia's score of 556 looked imposing but VVS Laxman joined Rahul Dravid- a combination which no Australian will forget. The Australians managed to separate the pair only 303 runs later and India finally were all out for 523.

With the match evenly poised, India were looking for early wickets. Ajit Agarkar trapped Justin Langer in front with a sharp in swinger, which was his strength against the left handers. 10-1 soon became 18-2 when Ricky Ponting was caught at gully by a diving Akash Chopra for a duck, Ponting's double century was instrumental in Australia crossing the 550 mark in the first innings. Soon after Mathew Hayden who was beginning to look settled could not keep a drive down and was caught by Virender Sehwag off Ashish Nehra. Damien Martyn was forced to walk back because of a one handed catch at slip by a leaping Rahul Dravid and Steve Waugh edged to Dravid while driving - Sachin Tendulkar being the bowler on both the occasions. The score was 112-5 then. Adam Gilchrist and Simon Katich steadied the ship and put on a 50 run partnership with Gilchrist scoring at almost run a ball as was his wont. Anil Kumble bowling over the wicket, got Gilchrist out bowled on the leg side. At 183-6, India sensed an opportunity but Australia had escaped several times from such situations and was already leading by 216 runs. A bowling attack of Jason Gillespie, Brad Williams and Andy Bichel was threatening though Glen McGrath and Shane Warne were missing. To chase a score above 250 would have been difficult specially if the Indian batting stuttered and Australia then was a team which never failed to seize any opportunity.

Andy Bichel was out clean bowled in the next over to a good length delivery - he was known for his batting too and had contributed handsomely in the two low scoring games against England and New Zealand in the 2003 world cup. 184-7, India still hoped. But Simon Katich was still solid at one end. Two overs later, Agarkar bowled a well directed short pitched delivery- well directed in terms of the height and the line. It was outside the off stump and high. Katich tried to hook it from outside and managed to find Ashish Nehra at the fine leg fence. The plan for Katich had worked. Ajit Agarkar had four and Australia was 188-8.

Jason Gillespie who would score a bizarre ( in his own words) double century against Bangladesh in 2006, played and missed and finally edged one to an 18 year old Parthiv Patel - 192-5 and a five wicket haul for Agarkar. Stuart Macgill was out to an inswinger and Australia were bowled out for 196. Puffing and Panting, India crossed over the line thanks to Rahul Dravid again. With figures of 16.2-2-41-6, a beaming Ajit Agarkar remained modest and mentioned that he got his length and seam position right that day. Considering the situation, the opponent and the result, it was one of the best figures by an India in Australia.