(Cricket news) Apart from the World Test Championship final against New Zealand, the Indian Test team has achieved unparalleled success over the past year. A second consecutive away win against Australia is something which not many teams achieve. India broke Australia's unbeaten record at the Gabba at the beginning of the year with many prominent players out injured. Just a few days ago, India won an almost unwinnable at the Lord's to take a 1-0 series win. Both the victories were significant in their own way, but which one was better? Let's have a look.
Premath
At Lord's there was no real pre-match drama. The first game was a draw which India were more likely to win if it wasn't for rain but at the Gabba, India had been bowled out for 36 in the first Test match and then lost their captain. India comfortably won the 2nd Test and then produced a great escape in the 3rd. There was an off the pitch controversy where India refused to travel to the Gabba which set the tone for the match.
The Match
If we look at the match itself both the games were balanced after the first innings. It was the 3rd innings where India's opposition took the advantage. At the Gabba, India were never fully struggling in the 4th innings as Shubhman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Rishabh Pant and Washington Sundar all contributed with the bat. Whereas at Lord's India were at a heavy disadvantage after Rishabh Pant had been dismissed. The lower order batsmen who didn't have any prior success with the willow got runs out of nowhere. When India declared their innings, a draw looked the most likely result but India's pace quadrant managed to pick up 10 wickets on a flat pitch with 8 overs to spare. The match at Lord's was just a tad better than the one at the Gabba.
The Series
In the context of the series the Gabba has a huge significance because the win meant that India won a series in Australia. The significance of the Lord's win will be discovered once the series is over, but a win in the series decider will always feel better.
Also read: How Jasprit Bumrah's 10-ball over to James Anderson influenced India's win at Lord's
Verbal exchanges
The game at Lord's had some very heated battles. Jasprit Bumrah who is usually a very cool customer showed a different side to him. There were verbal exchanges prior to the Gabba match in Sydney where Tim Paine abused Ravichandran Ashwin but at Lord's everyone got into the act. When Ollie Robinson walked into bat in the 4th innings everyone especially Virat Kohli and Mohammed Siraj absolutely flew at him. Bouncers and balls to the body were always accompanied by a few words.
Historical context
Australia hadn't lost a Test match at the Gabba 1998. The Gabba was called the Australian cricket team's 'Fortress' which India conquered. India became the first team to beat Australia at the Gabba since Viv Richards' West Indies. When it comes to Lord's, it is the Mecca of cricket and a venue where India had only won 3 matches before this one but England's overall record at Lord's wasn't the best. So the significance of breaking Australia's unbeaten streak is very high.
Fight and Grit
At Lord's India won the game against the odds on the final day but India were favourites to win before the game started. During the Gabba victory India were without their captain Virat Kohli. Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma and Mohammed Shami. The bowling attack in particular was inexperienced and had many players playing their first series. At Lord's before the 4th innings, Virat Kohli in the team huddle gave a fiery speech where he said "These 60 overs should feel like hell for them (England batsman)". To do it without Kohli and others at Gabba proved that India can win games with their big boys.
To sum it up, both the wins are better in some parts. The Gabba win showed the world that the Indian Test side can win a game from any situation and the Lord's win further proved the point.
