5 Infamous moments in India vs Australia Test cricket history

3. Slater attempted to create fissures but failed miserably

Australia’s tour to India back in 2001 is remembered for various reasons. Experts believe that it changed the cricketing landscape in India and brought the game out from the cobweb of corruption in the public eye as well. The eternal fans re-started to watch cricket matches without any spectacle of fixing-scrutiny. Eventually, it revived the faith of people in Indian cricket.

Meanwhile, a controversy broke out in the first test of the 3-match series. Both the teams locked horns against each other at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. While every player was playing out of their skin, there was no backing off till the last delivery of the match was bowled. After Dravid had pulled a shot that landed just short of Michael Slater, a short-war seemed inevitable.

While Slater was confident that he had claimed the catch cleanly, replays showed the opposite. Frustrated Slater went to Dravid and exchanged a few words, along with Sachin Tendulkar. Eventually, the Karnataka based batsman’s 196 ball single-stand against the lethal bowling line-up sent a signal that the series would not be a usual cakewalk for the visitors. However, the Hayden-Gilchrist duo took the team across the winning mark with scintillating centuries coming from their willows. The series will be remembered for the Indian batting troika-VVS Laxman, Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar wreaked havoc against the brutal Aussie bowling line-up in the entire series. Although the 3-match clash resulted in a 1-1 draw, the words of Michael Slater spoke volumes about the Indian cricket wall’s class and temperament.

“Sledging Rahul Dravid was one of the mistakes of my life. He did not lose his cool even when I was hurling abuses at him. I could not stomach the fact that he was single-handedly demolishing the best team in the world. When the rage wore out on me, I realized that I was an animal and he was a gentleman. He won my heart instantly.” Slater remarked after the end of the first match.