Deja vu of test disasters

What’s happening at Lahore is strongly reminiscent of scenes played out on India’s tours abroad in the past three years. In each c...

What’s happening at Lahore is strongly reminiscent of scenes played out on India’s tours abroad in the past three years. In each case how India won a Test match, won the toss in the next Test, batted first, but lost the match…

Sri Lanka 2001

Lost first Test at Galle by 10 wickets
Won second Test at Kandy by 7 wickets

At Colombo: India won the toss in the series decider and chose to bat. But the match was lost when India scored just 234 in the first innings, and allowed Sri Lanka to take a 376-run lead. India eventually lost by an innings and 77 runs

Zimbabwe 2001

Won first Test at Bulawayo by 8 wickets

At Harare: India won the toss again, and chose to bat, like at Colombo. But despite the relatively weak Zimbabwe bowling, they managed just 237, gave the hosts a 78-run lead and managed just 234 in the second essay, losing the match by 4 wickets

Australia 2003-04

Won second Test at Adelaide by 4 wickets

At Melbourne: India won the toss and batted first, putting up a decent 366 on the board. But then the Aussies scored a formidable 558 in quick time, which the Indians failed to fight against, losing by 9 wickets

West Indies, 2002

The scene was similar, though not the same. India won the second of the five-match series at Port of Spain, but lost the third at Barbados after losing the toss. The decider at Jamaica was expected to be closely fought, but India strangely chose to field, and lost the initiative when West Indies scored 422. They eventually lost by 155 runs