Indian cricket team will embark on a five-Test series against Australia, starting from November 22 at the Optus stadium in Perth. It is going to be a challenging couple of months for the Indian cricketers Down Under, as Pat Cummins & Co will come hard at the tourists, having lost the previous two Test series against the same opponents in their backyard.
This will be the third Test series that I will be covering in Australia, previous two being in 2011-12 and 2018-19. Team Revsportz will be Down Under at full strength to cover the series which promises to be an entertaining one. Myself and my editor-in-chief Boria da (Boria Majumdar) were part of the last two Test series in Australia.
Talking about my memories of covering Test series in Australia, it is a mixed feeling. From covering the 0-4 drubbing of MS Dhoni’s side in 2011-12 to witnessing the first-ever Test series win on Australian soil on that rainy day at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on January 7, 2019 was very special for me as a photojournalist. It was even more memorable as I was presented with the match shirt by the Indian captain Virat Kohli moments after the Test series win.
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The celebrations which started at the SCG dressing-room went on at the Indian team hotel, with Bharat Army members joining the team. A day after I had the opportunity to record an interview of both Kohli and then Indian team Head Coach Ravi Shastri for Star Sports, for whom I was covering the series as a freelancer.
I have had the privilege of covering Test series in all Test-playing nations over the last two decades. But nothing can match the charm of covering a Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) or a Test match at Lord’s. I still remember the spell bowled by Aussie pace duo James Pattinson and Peter Siddle during the Boxing Day Test in 2011. Michael Clarke’s side clinched the opening game of the series, beating India by 122 runs on Day 4. What followed over the next one-and-a-half months was complete humiliation for the Indian team. The highlight of that series was the performance of then Australia captain Michael Clarke, who amassed 626 runs at an average of 125, including a brilliant 329 not out at his home ground, SCG.
The series had its share of controversies as well. On the eve of the third Test at WACA, this correspondent captured the ground staff having a beer party on the uncovered match pitch. Pitch curator Cameron Sutherland claimed it was a traditional event for the ground staff which had occurred since he took over the job as curator.
Clearly the 2011-12 series Down Under was not a memorable one for the travelling Indian media. Cut to the 2018-19 series, when the Kohli-led India clinched their maiden Test series triumph on Australian soil. India registered a 2-1 win in the series following the victories in Adelaide and Melbourne. The scoreline could have been 3-1, but for the persistent rain on the final day of the series which forced a washout. The home side was made to follow-on for the first time since 1988.
The architects of the series victory were Cheteshwar Pujara, who made 521 runs, including 193 in Sydney, and Jasprit Bumrah, who took 21 wickets at 17. On the eve of the Test, both teams were hosted by then Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison at the Kirribilli House in Sydney. I share the fond memories of being the only representative from the travelling Indian media to capture the moments of Indian players interacting with the Australian PM.
Finally, as I am all set to travel to cover my third Test series on the Australian soil, I would hope the Indian team puts up a spirited show, leaving behind the embarrassing series loss against New Zealand at home.
Also Read: From TV to Stadium: Covering BGT a dream come true