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In a match that will be etched in cricket history, England achieved a stunning victory against Australia in the first Test of the 1886-87 series in Sydney. The English team pulled off a remarkable comeback after being bowled out for just 45 runs in their first innings, ultimately winning the match by 13 runs. 137-year later Team India are in the same state of bother as England were after they were bundled out for mere 46 runs in their first essay of the first Test against New Zealand on October 17, 2024 and are hoping to replicate the miracle which England scripted a century ago.
Let's take you through the England's stunning win over Australia after their 45 all-out nightmare
England's 45 all-out horror against Australia
Winning the toss, Australia opted to field first and quickly justified their decision. The Australian bowlers tore through the English batting lineup with ruthless efficiency. Charlie Turner and JJ Ferris breathed fire with their combined 10-wicket haul in first innings, leaving England reeling at a dismal total of 45 runs. This marked one of the lowest scores in Test history and put Australia in a commanding position.
In response, Australia capitalised on their early advantage, posting a respectable 119 runs in their first innings. The Australian batting was bolstered by 31-run knocks each from Harry Moses and Sammy Jones. England's bowlers, however, managed to keep Australia from running away with the match, with bowlers George Lohmann, Dick Barlow and Billy Barnes taking crucial wickets. After two innings, Australia held a lead of 74 runs.
England's stunning fightback
Faced with a daunting task, England returned to bat in their second innings with determination. They were in desperate need of runs to mount a comeback, and this time they delivered. With a focus on building partnerships, the English batsmen put together a resilient performance, scoring 184 runs. The innings was highlighted by a stellar contributions from Barnes (32) and Johnny Briggs (33) who helped the Englishmen post a respectable target for the Australians.
Chasing a target of 111 runs to win, Australia’s batting faltered in the face of England's Barnes-inspired bowling attack. The hosts were bowled out for just 97 runs in their second innings, leaving England to celebrate a stunning victory by 13 runs. The English bowlers, particularly Barnes and George Lohmann, stepped up magnificently, taking crucial wickets and sealing the match.
India look to emulate England's 1987 miracle to stage turnaround against Kiwis in Bengaluru Test
Rohit Sharma-led India are also hoping to emulate the same miracle which England staged more than a century ago. India were bundled out for a lowly 46 runs in their first innings of the first Test against New Zealand which left the entire cricketing fraternity in utter shock. However,
India made a strong comeback on the third day of the first Test against New Zealand, thanks to the contributions of Rohit Sharma, Sarfaraz Khan, and Virat Kohli. New Zealand, resuming their first innings on 180/3, declared at 402, with Rachin Ravindra's century being the standout performance. This gave them a massive 356-run lead.
India's response was impressive. Rohit Sharma (52) and Yashasvi Jaiswal put on a 72-run opening stand. However, Ajaz Patel dismissed both openers, bringing Virat Kohli (70) band Sarfaraz Khan (70) to the crease. The duo formed a crucial partnership, scoring half-centuries each. Kohli's dismissal towards the end of the day left India trailing by 125 runs, setting up a thrilling Day 4's play.
