Credit: The Cricket Monthly
When Indian Bowlers Stunned the Aussies at the MCG
The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) has hosted several thrilling matches between India and Australia throughout the years. While batters frequently make headlines, it is bowlers who have altered the course of the game on several occasions. As the Border-Gavaskar Trophy stands at 1-1, the forthcoming Boxing Day Test might yield another historic performance. So, it’s the perfect time to revisit five excellent six-wicket hauls by Indian bowlers at the historic MCG.
Jasprit Bumrah made history during the 2018 Boxing Day Test by taking 6 for 33 in Australia’s first innings. His devastating spell featured a slower ball to remove Shaun Marsh, which critics dubbed “world-class.” Bumrah’s speed, accuracy, and finesse perplexed the Australian batters as he frequently delivered yorkers, bouncers, and swinging deliveries.
India declared twice during the match, giving Australia a mammoth target of 399. Bumrah’s match tally of nine wickets helped India win by 137 runs. It wasn’t just about the numbers; his spell embodied control and genius. In decades, this was India’s first Boxing Day win at the MCG, confirming Bumrah’s status as a world-class bowler.
Bhagwath Chandrasekhar’s leg-spin wizardry decimated Australia in the third Test of the 1977-78 series. Chandra dominated Australia’s opening innings, taking 6 for 52. His flighted deliveries tempted the Australians to take risky shots, and his ability to withdraw turn made survival difficult.
The match was a turning point in the series, as India rallied from 2-0 behind to win by 222 runs. With Chandrasekhar’s first-innings stint, Australia could only muster 213 in response to India’s 256.
If Chandrasekhar’s first innings was outstanding, his second innings performance on the same Test would have been nothing short of spectacular. With Australia chasing 387, he dismissed them for 164, claiming another six-wicket haul (6 for 52).
The strain of a fourth-innings chase, mixed with Chandra’s unplayable leg spin, was too much for the Australians. His performance is still one of the best examples of a spinner dominating at the MCG. Chandrasekhar took 12 wickets in the match, practically single-handedly keeping India’s hopes alive in the series.
In the 2003 Boxing Day Test, Anil Kumble proved why he was India’s spin spearhead. Kumble took 6 for 176 after bowling 51 overs in the first innings. While the figures may not appear spectacular, his tenacity and ability to pluck vital wickets, like Matthew Hayden and Steve Waugh, stood out.
Although Australia won the match by nine wickets, Kumble’s performance highlighted his endurance and talent. Bowling on a surface that provided nothing for spinners, he relied on subtle variations and unwavering precision to keep India in contention.
Erapalli Prasanna’s six-wicket haul in 1967 was a highlight in an otherwise dismal encounter for India. Prasanna bowled 34 overs in the first innings, taking 6 for 141, exploiting the Australian batters’ limitations against flight and drift.
Despite his valiant efforts, India lost the Test by an innings and four runs. However, Prasanna’s stint will go down in history as a masterclass in off-spin bowling, demonstrating that individual talent can shine through even in defeat.
Boxing Day Test! pic.twitter.com/2jY0zmpVva
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With the Boxing Day Test approaching, India’s bowlers will seek to emulate these superstars at the MCG. Can Bumrah or Siraj bring a new chapter to this historic venue? History teaches us that the batters do not always dominate Melbourne; sometimes, the bowlers steal the show.
