The Australian cricket team toured India in the 1984–85 season to play a five-match one day international series against India. The series was to help celebrate the Golden Jubilee of the Ranji Trophy.
Australia won the series 3–0 with two matches abandoned for rain. It was Australia's first ever victory in a one-day series on the subcontinent, and especially notable considering India had just won the 1983 Cricket World Cup. It was the only time Kim Hughes captained Australia to a series victory overseas.
Australian squad edit
Australia had just lost a test series against the West Indies 3–0. The tour was relatively last minute with the Indian Cricket Board not requesting a team until June 1984.[1]
The original squad was selected by a brand-new selection panel, Lawrie Sawle, Greg Chappell and Rick McCosker. It was as follows:
- Batsmen – Kim Hughes (captain), Allan Border (vice captain), Kepler Wessels, Graeme Wood, Steve Smith, Graham Yallop, Greg Ritchie
- Fastbowlers – Geoff Lawson, Carl Rackemann, John Maguire, Rodney Hogg
- Spinners – Tom Hogan, Murray Bennett
- Wicketkeepers – Wayne B. Phillips
- Manager – Bob Merriman
Australia's selectors would be Hughes, Border and Rodney Hogg.[2]
Surprise omissions from the tour were David Hookes and Greg Matthews. They were also excluded from a 16-person list of cricketers to be offered playing contracts by the ACB.[3]
ODI series edit
Sunil Gavaskar was reinstated as captain of India following a series of defeats under Kapil Dev.
1st ODI edit
2nd ODI edit
3rd ODI edit
3 October 1984
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- Australia won the toss and chose to field.
- Play started three hours late because the truck carrying the player's kit had gone missing [4]
4th ODI edit
5 October 1984
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- Australia won the toss and chose to field.
- Australia won prize money of 25,000 rupees, most of which they donated to a home for crippled children in Ahmedabad.[5]
5th ODI edit
Tour Game edit
Tour Match: Mumbai vs. Australia edit
8 October 1984
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Mumbai
190/6 (47 overs) |
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- Australia won the toss and chose to field.
- Mumbai played this match as Ranji Trophy holders and Australian captain Kim Hughes was presented with a replica of the Ranji Trophy
Mike Coward, who covered the tour, wrote that the series victory "was a triumph for [Kim] Hughes who meticulously planned each of the matches and ensured that this young team played the limited-over game at a more sophisticated level."[6] Rodney Hogg returned early due to bronchitis.[7]
South African Rebel Tours edit
On the way back from the tour, several Australian players met up with representatives of the South African Cricket Board in Singapore. This led to the South African rebel tours.[5]
References edit
- ^ "Indian tour hoped for". The Canberra Times. 5 June 1984. p. 20. Retrieved 16 December 2014 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ Mike Coward, 'Little rest for the tourists', Sydney Morning Herald, 28 September 1984 accessed 22 July 2012
- ^ "Surprises in Australian cricket contract list and squad for India tour Hookes, Matthews dropped". The Canberra Times. 17 July 1984. p. 18. Retrieved 16 December 2014 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ 3rd ODI match report at Wisden
- ^ a b Australian cricket team in India in 1984-85 at Wisden
- ^ Mike Coward, "Aussie Power in India", Sydney Morning Herald, 7 October 1984 accessed 22 July 2012
- ^ Mike Coward, 'Hughes Tourists Privy to Priceless Piece of History', Sydney Morning Herald 10 October 1984 accessed 22 July 2012
External links edit
- Australian cricket team in India in 1984-85 at ESPNcricinfo
- Australian cricket team in India in 1984-85 at CricketArchive