30th anniversary of 1986 tied Test: Kris Srikkanth attacks, but Indians falter

Krishnamachari Srikkanth

Day three action: Australia, overnight on 556 for six, declared 18 runs later as soon as Greg Matthews was out for 44. The intense heat and humidity in Madras must have kept the crowds away because Chepauk like most Test venues back then used to be packed to capacity. But they came in droves on the third day with the expectation of watching local lad K Srikkanth in action. The flamboyant opener did not disappoint as he lashed a quickfire 53 from just 62 balls.



Krishnamachari Srikkanth

Boundaries cheered
Each of his nine boundaries was lustily cheered and for the first time at Chepauk one witnessed banners and posters with witty comments written on them, inspired perhaps by the telecast of India's ODI matches from Australia that year. Facing a huge total, the Indian batsmen struggled in the face of brilliant bowling by off-spinner Greg Matthews supported by veteran left arm spinner Ray Bright. Mohammad Azharuddin (50) and Ravi Shastri (62) also chipped in with half-centuries.

Good starts go in vain
But none of the batsmen could build on their good starts and after the Australian batsmen had dominated on the first two days, it was now the turn of their bowlers to turn the screws on the Indians. Meanwhile, the conditions out in the middle were hardly conducive to a sporting event. Trapped within the concrete bowl of the massive MA Chidambaram stadium, there was barely a whiff of breeze - except when the fetid smell of the filthy Cooum river running outside the ground wafted its way in! Even the spectators and media in their open press box were wilting. With half the side gone for 206, the follow-on was looming. Hope now rested on the broad shoulders of captain Kapil Dev, who was batting on 33 at close with Chetan Sharma (14) keeping him company at 270 for 7.

The author is a Delhi-based journalist, who covered the 1986 Tied Test in Madras