When New Zealand arrived in India after losing 0-2 in Sri Lanka, few expected them to end India’s 12-year, 18-series streak of Test series wins, let alone sweep the series 3-0. History will celebrate their win as one of Test cricket’s most unexpected triumphs.
England in South Africa, 1905-06
On their 1904 tour of England, South Africa ran into leg-spinner Bernard Bosanquet, who took 9-107 at Lord’s to bowl them out for 194 with a new ball that turned from off to leg. Reggie Schwarz, part of that South African unit, had played alongside Bosanquet for Middlesex. He practised this curious innovation (we call it the googly now), took it back home, and passed it on to his compatriots.
When England toured in 1905-06, South Africa were ready. Schwarz was accompanied by Aubrey Faulkner, Bert Vogler, and batting all-rounder Gordon White – leg-spinners who were equipped with the new trick. This googly quartet – the only one of its kind in Test cricket – were instrumental in South Africa not only winning their first ever Test but the series, that too by a 4-1 margin.
South Africa in England, 1935
As the novelty of the googly wore off, South Africa struggled to compete with England or Australia. Expectations were little when they toured England in 1935. This time they brought with them one of Test cricket’s greatest novelties – a Greek googly bowler. Xen Balaskas would take only 22 wickets in his nine Tests, but that included 5-49 and 4-54 on this tour.
A leatherjacket invasion left the Lord’s pitch bone-dry. South Africa won the toss. And England caved in to lose against South Africa at home for the first time. This was only the second Test of the five-match series, but South Africa never conceded the 1-0 lead.
India in England, 1971
If one ignores the 1967-68 tour of New Zealand (the weakest side at that point), India had a streak of 17 defeats in 17 away Tests when 1971 began. True, they did win in the Caribbean that year, but the West Indies were going through a seven-year phase without a series win. India had never won a Test in England until then either.
England, on the other hand, had gone unbeaten in 24 Tests in a row. They stretched that to 26 in the first two Tests of the series, and got a 71-run lead in the decider. Then Bhagwat Chandrasekhar bowled one of the greatest spells in Indian cricket history (6-38) to bowl out the hosts for 101. India used 101 overs and six wickets to get their 174 runs – but they did get there.
New Zealand v West Indies, 1979-80
On one hand of this mismatch were the all-conquering West Indians, without Viv Richards but equipped with their megastars who had returned from Kerry Packer’s World Series, fresh from a series win in Australia. On the other were the weakest side in Test cricket, yet to win a home series in half a century of Test cricket. No eyebrows were raised even after the two-time world champions lost the only ODI on the tour.
Yes, the umpiring, especially Fred Goodall’s, was questionable. “There is little doubt that if both sides suffered from difficult, debatable decisions, more went against West Indies than against New Zealand,” summed up the Wisden Almanack. Even then, New Zealand’s 1-0 win – riding on a one-wicket heist at Dunedin – was remarkable. It also triggered New Zealand’s streak of going without a series defeat at home for the next 12 years. Unfortunately, the series is mostly remembered for Michael Holding kicking the stumps and Colin Croft barging into Goodall.
Sri Lanka in England, 1998
Despite playing Test cricket for 16 years, Sri Lanka used to get only one Test when they toured England. Even winning a World Cup did not change that when they visited in 1998. “Always when you go to England, you get one Test match,” Muttiah Muralidaran told Nicholas Brookes. “We were not regarded”.
Muralidaran took the matter in his own hands at The Oval with 7-155 and 9-65. In between, Sanath Jayasuriya’s (213 in 255) ferocity and Aravinda de Silva’s (152) helped Sri Lanka take a 146-run lead despite them batting fewer overs than England. Sri Lanka have never got a one-off Test match in England since that 10-wicket thumping.
Zimbabwe in Pakistan, 1998-99
There was little indication of what was to follow at Peshawar after Pakistan secured a 58-run lead. On a “grassy” pitch, Pakistan then had to open batting with Azhar Mahmood as Saeed Anwar was battling a stomach bug. By the time Anwar emerged, the hosts were 34-5. They could only manage 103 as Heath Streak (2-19), Henry Olonga (4-42), and Mpumelelo Mbangwa (3-23) ran riot. Wasim Akram (3-47) hit back, but it was not going to be enough.
At Lahore, Zimbabwe were 48-0 after the fourth day, still requiring 94 to avoid innings defeat. But fog prevented any cricket on the final day, or on any day of the decider at Faisalabad, and Zimbabwe converted their maiden overseas Test win to an overseas series victory.
Sri Lanka in South Africa, 2018-19
It has been three decades now (South Africa did not play non-White nations until the 1990s), but only one Asian side has managed to win a Test series in the nation. The hopes kindled by massive win at Durban in 2011-12 had been extinguished by the utter annihilation of 2016-17. Even here, at Johannesburg, few hoped when Sri Lanka became 110-5 and then 226-9 in pursuit of 304.
This is when Kusal Perera decided to play arguably the greatest innings of all time against a world-class attack at their den with history stacked against him and his side. Perera’s 153 not out got Sri Lanka home. Then, at Gqeberha, South Africa folded for 128 against Suranga Lakmal (4-39). Sri Lanka lost two early wickets but Oshada Fernando and Kusal Mendis completed the clean sweep.
India in Australia, 2020-21
Not an upset on face value per se, especially after India had won 2-1 in Australia two years ago. Yet, every pundit had written them off after they folded for 36 at Adelaide, and both Virat Kohli and Mohammed Shami were ruled out of the series.
The list of injuries kept mounting as the series went on. India kept handing out Test caps and recalling cricketers (the 20 Indian cricketers are a world record for any team in an overseas series), but they kept finding new heroes among them. It culminated in a great fairytale for the ages.
Bangladesh in Pakistan, 2024
You do not win after your opposition, a team you have never beaten in Test cricket, declares the first innings closed on 448-6 on the second evening. Or if they make 274 and you become 26-6.
Yet, Bangladesh won both. In the first Test, they rode on Mushfiqur Rahim’s sublime 191 to get a 117-run lead before Mehidy Hasan Miraz (4-21) ran riot. In the second, Litton Das (138) and Mehidy (78) restricted Pakistan to a 12-run lead before Hasan Mahmud claimed 5-43.
New Zealand in India, 2024-25
India had won 18 Test series across 12 years. New Zealand had never won a Test match in the country since 1988-89. Yet, when the sides met, Rohit Sharma called wrong at Bengaluru and opted to bat, India folded for a humiliating 46, and the tourists took an early lead.
The fans were not overly worried, for India had conceded leads thrice during these 12 years but had bounced back keep the streak going. This time, however, it was not to be. India surrendered against Mitchell Santner at Pune and Ajaz Patel at Mumbai to be whitewashed in a three-Test series at home for the first time.
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