Two missed opportunities in 1990s - WI series and NZ series

[Trichromatic]

Those were 2 genuine opportunities to win a overseas series.

 

What went wrong?

 

There was one off test in Zimbabwe which was another missed opportunity.

[putrevus]

What series are talking about?

[vvvslaxman]

80 all out match? That was a terrible pitch. Even more terrible umpirng. THey were overstepping by a foot. Umpire did not even bother to call no balls. INdia lost 2 or 3 wickets off noball. NOt sure how many more noballs were bowled in that match. WI's known tactic back in the days was overstepping deliberately.

[Trichromatic]

1 hour ago, putrevus said:

What series are talking about?

 

WI 1997 and NZ 1998

[Trichromatic]

https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/india-tour-of-new-zealand-1998-99-62318/new-zealand-vs-india-2nd-test-63826/full-scorecard

 

NZ won 2 match series 1-0. First match was abandoned. 2nd test had brilliant fightback from India led by Sachin (47 and 113, 2 wickets) and Azhar (103* and 48). India collapsed from 297-4 to 356 all out. NZ were 5-74 chasing 215 and couldn't defend the total losing by 4 wickets.

 

https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/india-tour-of-west-indies-1996-97-62310/west-indies-vs-india-3rd-test-63747/full-scorecard

I think everyone knows about this loss.

 

 

[Prabhdeep Singh]

I would also add 1999 Chennai Test

[Lone Wolf]

I have heard that Barbados and Chennai test both gave generational trauma to 90's generation.

 

 

[Trichromatic]

Indian team surrendered in 3 test series in 1990s -

1992 v Aus,

1996 v SA

and 1999 v Aus

 

Apart from those were most of the overseas tours had similar pattern. Good batting here and there, losing key moments, not being able to capitalise at key moments, bowling getting flogged more often.

 

What was the reason?

[putrevus]

1 hour ago, Trichromatic said:

 

WI 1997 and NZ 1998

Oh that Azhar's hundred in first innings was something else.All wickets were falling around .

 

Srinath and  Prassad were very ineffective in  the first innings, to be fair they needed a third seamer instead of Bhajji. 

 

4th innings age old problem which is still there even today even with Bumrah unable to defend any totals.India should have won in SA and England in 2021 and 2022 but our bowlers could not defend any total there either.

 

Against WI their bowlers showed what Indian bowlers never do in fourth innings.

 

Our genius can revisit these matches and see what real bowlers do in crunch time.

[neel roy]

7 hours ago, Lone Wolf said:

I have heard that Barbados and Chennai test both gave generational trauma to 90's generation.

 

 

Barbados was unexpected. Also the jo burg 1996 when rain and cullinan denied india a victory. That after being smashed in first test by donald. 

[neel roy]

7 hours ago, Trichromatic said:

Indian team surrendered in 3 test series in 1990s -

1992 v Aus,

1996 v SA

and 1999 v Aus

 

Apart from those were most of the overseas tours had similar pattern. Good batting here and there, losing key moments, not being able to capitalise at key moments, bowling getting flogged more often.

 

What was the reason?

1992 india should have won adelaide. Azhar played a masterful innings chasing 350 odd if i remember and we lost by 30 odd runs. Sydney we should have won as well. 
 

1999 we surrendered as only tendulkar stood tall. Also surprisingly ganguly.  Brett lee debut and thunderbolts. I think post 1999 ( btw sachin got MOS) Ganguly became a front runner for captaincy as dravid failed miserably and jadeja was not in picture. Then Azhar became captain again and once he was gone Ganguly era ushered in. 
 

1996 saf azhar and Sachin played the best attacking partnership ever seen against adversity in cape town. Adam bacher took the catch of his life to get sachin out in boundary. The innings has been immortalised in a book as well. 
 

https://www.pitchpublishing.co.uk/shop/sachin-and-azhar-cape-town

 

third test we should have won till rain saved them. 

Edited January 25 by neel roy

[vvvslaxman]

8 hours ago, Prabhdeep Singh said:

I would also add 1999 Chennai Test

That is the most heart breaking game of all time. Not even the 1987 test where pitch was a raging turner. This was a good batting surface.  Yes reverse was on the offer. but if you spend enough time you can handle it. Our tail had no answer for reverse.