Even though India’s tour of Australia starts with the limited-overs leg all the talk has been about the Border Gavaskar Trophy which is the Test series. All the people and experts are constantly talking about how India will miss Virat Kohli after the first Test and who should open with David Warner for Australia etc.
The Border Gavaskar Trophy is one of those trophies which everybody wants to watch because when two high-quality teams are involved you will get to watch high-quality Test match cricket. We have seen some high-class batting with some great partnerships in this special trophy. There have been some huge partnerships in this India vs. Australia Test series. On that note, let’s have a look at the four highest partnerships in the Border Gavaskar Trophy.
4. Sachin Tendulkar & VVS Laxman – 353 runs
The series was 1-1 going into the fourth Test in the 2003/04 Test series between India and Australia. India won the toss and opted to bat first on a flat wicket at Sydney. Sachin Tendulkar was struggling for form in the previous Tests as he was getting out while driving the ball. India was off to a good start but then lost three early wickets and the scoreboard read 194-3. Tendulkar had said in the pre-match press conference that he won’t play a cover drive for the full innings.
Tendulkar and Laxman came together at the fall of three wickets, and they just didn’t look back. Tendulkar scored a mammoth 241 and Laxman put on 178 as they put up a 353-run partnership which helped India reach 705 before declaring. Eventually, the match ended in a draw and the series result remained 1-1.
3. Cheteshwar Pujara & Murali Vijay – 370 runs
In the second Test of the 2013 Border Gavaskar Trophy, Australia batted first and scored 237 runs at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. In reply, India’s opener Virender Sehwag got out early and Pujara joined Vijay at 17-1. Both these Test specialists tired out the Australian bowlers as they put up a 370-run partnership with Pujara scoring a double hundred and Vijay scoring 167.
India scored more than 500 in that innings which helped them win the Test by an innings and 135 runs.
2. Rahul Dravid & VVS Laxman – 376 runs
Very few Indian fans will not be aware of this famous Dravid-Laxman partnership of 2001 when Australia had visited India. India had lost the first Test in a three-match Test series and they were in trouble in the second Test at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata as they were bowled out for 171 in the first innings while Australia had scored 445. So, Australia enforced the follow-on and this time India was in a decent position on 232-4 but still way behind in the game.
After the fall of four wickets, Dravid and Laxman joined together, and they batted the full fourth day as Laxman scored 281 and Dravid scored 180. Their partnership of 376 helped India take a sizeable lead and Australia was bowled out on the fifth day which meant India won the Test from the most difficult situation.
1. Michael Clarks & Ricky Ponting – 386 runs
Australia was leading 3-0 in the 2011/12 four-match Test series and they opted to bat first in the fourth Test at Adelaide Oval. Australia lost early wickets as they were reduced to 84-3 and that’s when Clarke joined Ponting at the crease.
The current captain – Michael Clarke and the former captain – Ricky Ponting both scored double hundreds as they put up a 386-run partnership to demolish India who had already lost their confidence and the series. Australia scored 604 in their first innings and won the fourth Test by 298 runs to complete a whitewash over India.
