India vs England: Top 5 Memorable Test Matches From the Past

India and England are all geared up to add yet another chapter to their age-old fascinating Test rivalry this week. Both the teams will fight it out in a four-match Test series, starting on February 5 in Chennai. The second Test will be held at the same venue before the teams fly to Ahmedabad for the third and fourth Test. After the Test series concludes, India and England will also lock horns in T20Is and ODIs.

Talking about the Test series, a lot will be at stake for both teams as it will be their last opportunity to seal their place in the final of the ongoing ICC World Test Championship. The way the rivalry has panned out over the years, one can say that the upcoming series is also going to be an extremely tight affair.

So, as we get ready to witness another enthralling duel between India and England, we are taking a look at five memorable Tests between these two powerhouses of the game.

5. 1952 – Fifth Test in Chennai – India won by an innings and 8 runs:

After playing their first Test against England in 1932, it took India almost 20 years to register their first Test victory over the English side. The win came in the final Test of the five-match series. The first three Tests had ended in draws before England drew the first blood by winning the fourth Test in Kanpur by eight wickets.

With the series on the line, India produced a remarkable Test in Chennai to win the game by an innings and eight wickets. Vinoo Mankad’s eight-wicket haul helped India bowl out the visitors for 266. Riding on centuries from Pankaj Roy and Polly Umrigar, the hosts then piled up 457 for 9 before declaring. In reply, England were all out for 183 runs.

4. 2002 – Third Test in Leeds – India won by an innings and 46 runs:

India came into the third Test of the four-match series trailing 1-0 after losing the series-opener. The odds were firmly against them in Leeds but what unfolded in the game took the cricket world by surprise. India put up a stunning all-round display to thrash the hosts by an innings and 46 runs to draw level in the series.

Sourav Ganguly‘s surprising decision to bat first on a green top turned out to be a correct one. India scored 628 for 8 (declared) with Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, and Sachin Tendulkar scoring centuries. In reply, England were dismissed for 273 runs in their first innings.  Asked to follow-on, England failed to wipe off the led once again as they were all out for 309.

3. 2012 – Second Test in Mumbai – England won by 10 wickets:

Not many had given England a chance to challenge India let alone winning the series after they lost the first Test of the four-match series by nine wickets. However, the visitors defied all the odds to come-from-behind and win the series 2-1. Their best effort of the series came in the second Test when they had their backs against the wall.

Kevin Pietersen was the architect of England’s famous win at the Wankhede.  In the first innings, India were bowled out for a respectable 327 before England rode on Pietersen’s stunning knock of 186 to score 413. In the second innings, India were bowled out for just 142 which left England with the simple task of hitting 58 runs to claim victory.

2. 2006 – Third Test in Mumbai – England won by 212 runs:

England came into the final Test of the three-match series trailing 1-0 after suffering a crushing 9-wicket loss in the second game. The odds were definitely against them but the visitors went on to defy all the odds to register a famous win.

Asked to bat first, England scored 400 in their first innings thanks to centuries from Andrew Strauss and fifties from Owais Shah and Andrew Flintoff. James Anderson’s 4-wicket haul then helped them bowl out the hosts for 279. In the second innings, England were bowled out for just 191. They, however, made amends with the ball by bowling out India for just 100 runs.

1. 2008 – First Test in Chennai – India won by 6 wickets:

Perhaps no Test match or for that matter, any match lifted the mood of the nation like the Chennai Test of 2008 did. The entire country was yet to come to terms with the dastardly terrorist attack in Mumbai on 26th September. Following the attack, England had returned home after playing five ODIs of the seven-match series.

But the Kevin Pietersen-led side won over all the hearts by returning to India for the Test series and action started on a thrilling note in Chennai when India chased down 387 to win the game. England scored 316 in their first innings before bowling out India for 241.

In their second innings, they declared on 311 for 9. In reply, India chased down the total thanks to an unbeaten century from Sachin Tendulkar and fifties from Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, and Yuvraj Singh.