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WATCH- This day that year, VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid tamed Australians at Eden Gardens
VVS Laxman stood at the crease with India staggering at 115/3. Captain Saurav Ganguly departed with just two runs short of his half-century and in walked `the wall`. And the rest, as they say, is history.
New Delhi: With hurtful memories of their 3-0 whitewash, the previous summer in the Baggy Greens, Indians welcomed the Aussies for a Test series in 2001. The visitors, then known as 'the invincibles' were led by Steve Waugh and in the very first Test match at Wankhede proved why they were called so. A blistering knock from Mathew Hayden (119) and Adam Gilchrist (122) was enough to unleash the kangaroos who hoped to victory while the home side could only stand and stare.
The dark and gloomy clouds were pondering over the Indian team. Things seemed pretty evident as to who would take home the trophy, until the fourth day of the second Test at the Eden Gardens.
The home side struggled to 171 in comparison to Australia's 445 and was soon imposed a follow on. VVS Laxman stood at the crease with India staggering at 115/3. Captain Saurav Ganguly departed with just two runs short of his half-century and in walked 'the wall'. And the rest, as they say, is history.
Laxman and Dravid together build up their greatest partnership cracking 376 runs together as India roared back to post a total of 657/7. Laxman's knock of 281 runs was then the highest individual score in Test by an Indian batsman, before Virendra Sehwag struck a triple ton three years later. Rahul Dravid, on the other hand, ceased at 180 runs, but the home side had enough runs in their baggage to add on to the concern of the visitors.
Harbhajan Singh once again came forth with his off-spinning tale to pile up the Aussies for a mere total of 212 and level the series 1-1.