imported>StAnselm: Undid revision 1285571579 by Servite et contribuere (talk) - my objection still stands: this is massively undue weight for this article; there was no consensus anywhere to perform such a merge

2025-04-14T13:41:48Z

Undid revision 1285571579 by Servite et contribuere (talk) - my objection still stands: this is massively undue weight for this article; there was no consensus anywhere to perform such a merge

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{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox cricket series
|series= 2008–09 Border–Gavaskar Trophy
|image=
|caption=
|date= 27 September – 10 November 2008
|place= {{flagicon|IND}} [[India]]
|result= India won the 4-match series 2–0
|player of series= {{flagicon|IND}} [[Ishant Sharma]]
|team1={{cr|AUS}}
|team2={{cr|IND}}
|captain1= [[Ricky Ponting]]
|captain2= [[Anil Kumble]]
|runs1= [[Michael Hussey]] (394)
|runs2= [[Gautam Gambhir]] (463)
|wickets1= [[Mitchell Johnson (cricketer)|Mitchell Johnson]] (13)
|wickets2= [[Ishant Sharma]] (15)<br> [[Harbhajan Singh]] (15)
|previous = [[Indian cricket team in Australia in 2007–08| 2007–08 series]]
|next= [[Australian cricket team in India in 2010–11| 2010–11 series]]
}}

The [[Australian cricket team]] toured [[India]] from 27 September to 10 November 2008 and played four test matches, for the [[Border–Gavaskar Trophy]].<ref>[http://content-ind.cricinfo.com/indvaus2008/content/series/345666.html?template=schedule Schedule of the series]</ref> During the second test match in Mohali [[Sachin Tendulkar]] became the first person to make 12,000 runs in Test cricket breaking [[Brian Lara]]'s record of 11,953 runs.<ref>
{{cite web |url=http://content-www.cricinfo.com/india/content/story/373748.html |title=Tendulkar breaks Lara's record |date=17 October 2008 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=17 October 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/10/17/2394610.htm |title=Tendulkar makes history in Mohali |date=17 October 2008 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=17 October 2008 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081019063907/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/10/17/2394610.htm |archive-date=19 October 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Sachin described "It is definitely the biggest achievement in 19 years of my career" on the day he achieved the record.<ref name="Tendulkar scales another peak">{{cite news |author= |date=18 October 2008 |title=Tendulkar scales another peak |url=http://www.hindu.com/2008/10/18/stories/2008101857830100.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081020224212/http://www.hindu.com/2008/10/18/stories/2008101857830100.htm |archive-date=20 October 2008 |access-date=18 October 2008 |work=[[The Hindu]] |location=India}}</ref> India's 320 run victory in the second test match was also their biggest win against Australia in terms of runs, eclipsing the 222-run victory that came in Melbourne in 1977 and their biggest test win ever in terms of runs.<ref name="India win Mohali Test by 320 runs">{{cite news|url=http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/India-win-Mohali-Test-by-320-runs/376062/|title=India win Mohali Test by 320 runs|date=21 October 2008|work=Agencies|access-date=21 October 2008| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081024013229/http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/India-win-Mohali-Test-by-320-runs/376062/| archive-date= 24 October 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref> In the first innings of the third test match in Delhi, [[Gautam Gambhir]] and [[V. V. S. Laxman]] became the first Indian players to both score a double century in a test innings.<ref name="India due punish Australian attack">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/7699173.stm|title=India v Australia 3rd Test|date=30 October 2008|work=BBC News |access-date=30 October 2008|first=Oliver|last=Brett| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081102082550/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/7699173.stm| archive-date=2 November 2008| url-status= live}}</ref> This series also witnessed the last Tests of two Indian cricketers – [[Anil Kumble]] and [[Sourav Ganguly]].<ref>{{cite news|title='I want to cherish this for a long period'|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/story/377719.html|work=ESPNcricinfo|date=10 November 2008}}</ref>

==Security concerns and controversy before the tour==
Before the [[Australian cricket team]] was scheduled to tour [[India]] and play a series of Test matches, one-day internationals and Twenty20 matches, it was doubtful if the Australian cricket team would tour India after the [[2008 Delhi bombings|terror attacks in Delhi]] and the press briefing given by India's [[National Security Advisor (India)|National Security Advisor]] M. K. Narayan that raised issues of security concern in the minds of Australia's cricketers.


On 13 September 2008, [[13 September 2008 Delhi bombings|serial bomb blasts]] took place in India's capital city [[Delhi]] in which 30 people died and over 100 people were injured.<ref name="Times">{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Serial-blasts-rock-Delhi-30-dead-90-injured/articleshow/3479914.cms|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021190146/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-09-14/india/27916717_1_serial-blasts-rock-delhi-ghaffar-market-first-blast|url-status=live|archive-date=21 October 2012|title=Serial blasts rock Delhi; 30 dead, 90 injured|date=14 September 2008|location=India|access-date=13 September 2008|first1=Rahul|work=[[The Times of India]]|last1=Tripathi}}</ref> The very next day after the blasts, [[Cricket Australia]] (CA) issued a statement saying that it would review the security situation in the wake of the blasts and make its decision the next week after performing a [[risk assessment]].<ref name="CA_review_security">{{cite news|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/CA-to-review-security-situation-in-India-following-blasts/1/15291.html|title=CA to review security situation in India following blasts|work=Press Trust of India|publisher=India Today|access-date=17 September 2008}}</ref> The [[Board of Control for Cricket in India]], however, asserted that the blast would have no bearing on the cricket tour which would go ahead as scheduled.<ref name="australia_nothreat">{{cite news|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/PoliticsNation/No_threat_to_Australia_tour_BCCI/articleshow/3481919.cms|title=No threat to Australia tour: BCCI |date=14 September 2008|work=Economic Times|location=India|access-date=17 September 2008}}</ref> However, a conflicting report made on 15 September claimed that the CA had briefed that the tour was on track.<ref name="australia_tourontrack">{{cite news|url=http://www.tehrantimes.com/news/178028/Australia-condemns-Delhi-bombings-cricket-tour-on-track|title=Australia condemns Delhi bombings, cricket tour on track|date=15 September 2008|work=Tehran Times|access-date=17 September 2008}}</ref> Following these reports, the [[Pakistan Cricket Board]] (PCB) lashed at the Australian cricket establishment for agreeing to tour India while postponing their tour to [[Pakistan]] in early 2008 and accused the Board of adopting double standards.<ref name="PCB_doublestandards">{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/india-in-australia/top-stories/PCB-blasts-Cricket-Australia-for-double-standard/articleshow/3486547.cms|title=PCB blasts Cricket Australia for double standard|date=15 September 2008|work=The Times of India |location=India|access-date=17 September 2008| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080916082809/http://cricket.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/PCB_blasts_CA_for_double_standard/articleshow/3486547.cms| archive-date= 16 September 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref> One PCB official even called the Australians "lilly-livered cowards"<ref name="lily_livered_cowards">{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/india-in-australia/top-stories/PCB-calls-Australians-lily-livered-cowards-Report/articleshow/3493075.cms|title=PCB calls Australians 'lily-livered cowards': Report|date=17 September 2008|work=The Times of India|location=India|access-date=17 September 2008}}</ref> But Ricky Ponting issued a statement vindicating CA's stand by saying that the circumstances accompanying the cancellation of Australia's tour of Pakistan were entirely different.<ref name="india_not_pakistan">{{cite news
|url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24362352-5001505,00.html
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080918090104/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0%2C25197%2C24362352-5001505%2C00.html
|url-status=dead
|archive-date=18 September 2008
|title=India not Pakistan, Ricky Ponting says of tour
|last=Todd
|first=Mark
|date=18 September 2008
|work=The Australian
|access-date=20 September 2008
}}</ref> before adding on 17 September that the tour was not confirmed yet<ref name="tour_not confirmed">{{cite news|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/Ponting-says-tour-of-India-not-confirmed/1/15539.html|title=Ponting says tour of India not confirmed|date=17 September 2008|work=PTI|publisher=India Today|access-date=17 September 2008}}</ref> and that it could go either way.<ref name="security_supperaustralia">{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2008-09-18/security-may-yet-scupper-india-tour-ponting/514030|title=Security could still scupper Australia tour of India: Ponting|date=17 September 2008|agency=AFP|publisher=ABC Online|access-date=18 September 2008}}</ref>

==Squads==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan=2 | Test Squads
|-
! {{cr|IND}}
! {{cr|AUS}}
|-
| [[Anil Kumble]] ([[Captain (cricket)|c]])|| [[Ricky Ponting]] ([[Captain (cricket)|c]])
|-
| [[MS Dhoni]] ([[Captain (cricket)|vc]]) ([[Wicket-keeper|wk]])|| [[Brad Haddin]] ([[Wicket-keeper|wk]])([[Captain (cricket)|vc]])
|-
| [[Virender Sehwag]] || [[Michael Clarke (cricketer)|Michael Clarke]]
|-
| [[Rahul Dravid]] || [[Matthew Hayden]]
|-
| [[Sourav Ganguly]] || [[Shaun Marsh]]
|-
| [[V. V. S. Laxman]] || [[Michael Hussey]]
|-
| [[Harbhajan Singh]] || [[Cameron White]]<ref>Called up due to McGain injury.</ref>
|-
| [[R. P. Singh|Rudra Pratap Singh]] || [[Simon Katich]]
|-
| [[Munaf Patel]] || [[Shane Watson]]
|-
| [[Zaheer Khan]] || [[Doug Bollinger]]
|-
| [[Gautam Gambhir]] || [[Peter Siddle]]
|-
| [[Sachin Tendulkar]] || [[Jason Krejza]]
|-
| [[Subramaniam Badrinath]] || [[Mitchell Johnson (cricketer)|Mitchell Johnson]]
|-
| [[Amit Mishra]] || [[Stuart Clark]]
|-
| [[Ishant Sharma]] || [[Brett Lee]]
|-
| [[Murali Vijay]]<ref>Called up due to suspension to Gambhir for Fourth Test.</ref> || [[Bryce McGain]]<ref>Sent home due to injury, replaced by White</ref>
|}

== Tour matches ==
=== Two-day: Rajasthan Cricket Association XI v Australians ===
{{Two-innings cricket match
| date = 27–28 September 2008
| team1 = {{cr-rt|AUS|name=Australians}}
| team2 = [[Rajasthan Cricket Association|Rajasthan Cricket Association XI]]

| score-team1-inns1 = 218 (77.1 overs)
| runs-team1-inns1 = [[Simon Katich]] 73 (105)
| wickets-team1-inns1 = [[Gajendra Singh (cricketer)|Gajendra Singh]] 5/58 (22.1 overs)

| score-team2-inns1 = 122 (52.2 overs)
| runs-team2-inns1 = [[Robin Bist]] 34 (92)
| wickets-team2-inns1 = [[Doug Bollinger]] 3/9 (9.2 overs)

| score-team1-inns2 =
| runs-team1-inns2 =
| wickets-team1-inns2 =

| score-team2-inns2 =
| runs-team2-inns2 =
| wickets-team2-inns2 =

| result = Match drawn
| report = [https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/13874/scorecard/369454/rca-centre-of-excellence-vs-australians-tour-match-australia-tour-of-india-2008-09 Scorecard]
| venue = [[Sawai Mansingh Stadium]], [[Jaipur]]
| umpires = [[Kamlesh Sharma (umpire)|Kamlesh Sharma]] and [[Vijendra Yadav]]
| motm =
| toss = Australians won the toss and elected to bat.
| rain =
| notes = Rajasthan Cricket Association XI played with 13 players (11 to bat and field) and Australians with 15 (11 to bat and field).
}}

=== Four-day: Indian Board President's XI v Australians ===
{{Two-innings cricket match
| date = 2–4 October 2008
| team1 = [[Board President's XI (India)|Indian Board President's XI]]
| team2 = {{cr|AUS|name=Australians}}

| score-team1-inns1 = 455 (108.4 overs)
| runs-team1-inns1 = [[Rohit Sharma]] 105 (144)
| wickets-team1-inns1 = [[Mitchell Johnson (cricketer)|Mitchell Johnson]] 4/75 (23.4 overs)

| score-team2-inns1 = 314 (120.3 overs)
| runs-team2-inns1 = [[Michael Hussey]] 126[[not out|*]] (302)
| wickets-team2-inns1 = [[Piyush Chawla]] 5/89 (40 overs)

| score-team1-inns2 = 292/4[[Declaration and forfeiture#Declaration|d]] (70 overs)
| runs-team1-inns2 = [[Yuvraj Singh]] 113 (143)
| wickets-team1-inns2 = [[Stuart Clark]] 3/33 (13 overs)

| score-team2-inns2 = 127/2 (38 overs)
| runs-team2-inns2 = [[Ricky Ponting]] 58[[not out|*]] (97)
| wickets-team2-inns2 = [[Manpreet Gony]] 1/20 (4 overs)

| result = Match drawn
| report = [https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/13874/scorecard/345668/indian-board-presidents-xi-vs-australians-tour-match-australia-tour-of-india-2008-09 Scorecard]
| venue = [[Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium]], [[Hyderabad]]
| umpires = [[Amiesh Saheba]] and [[Shavir Tarapore]]
| motm =
| toss = Indian Board President's XI won the toss and elected to bat.
| rain =
| notes =
}}

==Test series==

===1st Test===
{{Test match
| date = 9–13 October
| team1 = {{cr-rt|AUS}}
| team2 = {{cr|IND}}

| score-team1-inns1 = 430 (149.5 overs)
| runs-team1-inns1 = [[Michael Hussey]] 146 (276)
| wickets-team1-inns1 = [[Zaheer Khan]] 5/91 (29.5 overs)

| score-team2-inns1 = 360 (119 overs)
| runs-team2-inns1 = [[Zaheer Khan]] 57[[not out|*]] (121)
| wickets-team2-inns1 = [[Mitchell Johnson (cricketer)|Mitchell Johnson]] 4/70 (27 overs)

| score-team1-inns2 = 228/6[[Declaration and forfeiture#Declaration|d]] (73 overs)
| runs-team1-inns2 = [[Shane Watson]] 41 (72)
| wickets-team1-inns2 = [[Ishant Sharma]] 3/40 (14 overs)

| score-team2-inns2 = 177/4 (73 overs)
| runs-team2-inns2 = [[Sachin Tendulkar]] 49 (126)
| wickets-team2-inns2 = [[Stuart Clark]] 1/12 (11 overs)

| result = Match Drawn
| venue = [[M. Chinnaswamy Stadium]], [[Bangalore]]
| umpires = [[Asad Rauf]] (Pak) and [[Rudi Koertzen]] (SA)
| motm = [[Zaheer Khan]] (Ind)
| report = [http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/345669.html Scorecard]
| notes = [[Cameron White]] (Aus) made his Test debut.
| rain = Rain delays on days 2 & 3, bad light on day 5
}}
Australia batted first and centuries from [[Ricky Ponting]] and [[Michael Hussey]] makes them put a score of 430 Indian pacer [[Zaheer Khan]] took five wickets. India reply with 360 with half centuries from [[Zaheer Khan]] and [[Harbhajan Singh]] . Australia declared their second innings at 228/6 setting up India a target of 299 in the final day of play and India batsmen played carefully to end the match to draw.

[[Zaheer Khan]] was awarded Man Of the Match for his all-round performance in the match.

===2nd Test===
{{Test match
| date = 17–21 October
| team1 = {{cr-rt|IND}}
| team2 = {{cr|AUS}}

| score-team1-inns1 = 469 (129 overs)
| runs-team1-inns1 = [[Sourav Ganguly]] 102 (225)
| wickets-team1-inns1 = [[Mitchell Johnson (cricketer)|Mitchell Johnson]] 3/85 (27 overs)

| score-team2-inns1 = 268 (101.4 overs)
| runs-team2-inns1 = [[Shane Watson]] 78 (156)
| wickets-team2-inns1 = [[Amit Mishra]] 5/71 (26.4 overs)

| score-team1-inns2 = 314/3[[Declaration and forfeiture#Declaration|d]] (65 overs)
| runs-team1-inns2 = [[Gautam Gambhir]] 104 (138) <br> [[Mahendra Singh Dhoni]] 68[[not out|*]] (84)
| wickets-team1-inns2 = [[Cameron White]] 1/48 (8 overs)

| score-team2-inns2 = 195 (64.4 overs)
| runs-team2-inns2 = [[Michael Clarke (cricketer)|Michael Clarke]] 69 (152)
| wickets-team2-inns2 = [[Harbhajan Singh]] 3/36 (20 overs)

| result = India won by 320 runs
| venue = [[Punjab Cricket Association Stadium]], [[Mohali]]
| umpires = [[Asad Rauf]] (Pak) and [[Rudi Koertzen]] (SA)
| motm = [[Mahendra Singh Dhoni]] (Ind)
| report = [http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/345670.html Scorecard]
| notes = [[Amit Mishra]] (Ind) and [[Peter Siddle]] (Aus) both made their Test debuts.
}}
Prior to the Second Test starting on 17 October in [[Mohali]], Australian opening batsman [[Phil Jaques]] (who did not play in the opening Test) was sent home after failing to overcome a back injury. He was replaced in the squad by [[Shaun Marsh]], who had opened the batting in the recently concluded One Day Internationals [[Australian cricket team in the West Indies in 2008|against the West Indies]] and had been the leading run-scorer in the [[2008 Indian Premier League]].<ref name="Ponting Captain's Diary 2009 27">Ponting and Armstrong (2009), p. 27.</ref> Victorian fast-bowler [[Peter Siddle]] made his international debut, after [[Stuart Clark]] injured his elbow.
Heavy rains interrupted pitch preparations for the Test, and curator Daljit Singh said, "Heavy rains came down as recently as 4 October and water, two and a half feet deep, collected on the surface which initially affected our ground preparations." The tourists had never played a Test at the venue; however, Indian batsmen Laxman, Sehwag, Dravid, Ganguly and Tendulkar all averaged over 50 at the [[Punjab Cricket Association Stadium]].<ref name="Rain affects ground preparation">{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/story/374103.html|title=Rain affects ground preparation | publisher=ESPN| work=ESPNcricinfo|date=15 October 2008|access-date=3 November 2009}}</ref><ref name="Not much for spin, especially from overseas">{{cite web|url=http://www.cricinfo.com/indvaus2008/content/story/374136.html|title=Not much for spin, especially from overseas | publisher=ESPN| work=ESPNcricinfo| last=Talya|first=Siddhartha |date=16 October 2008|access-date= 5 November 2009}}</ref>

Winning the toss and batting, India reached 5/311 by stumps on the opening day, and despite the rain, the pitch was flat with "hardly any swing or movement", enabling the batsmen to hit through the line of the ball. During the day, [[Sachin Tendulkar]] became Test cricket's highest run-scorer when he steered a Siddle delivery down to third-man for three. He overtook former West Indian batsman [[Brian Lara]]'s previous record of 11,953 runs.<ref name="Tendulkar breaks Lara's record">{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/story/373748.html|title=Tendulkar breaks Lara's record | publisher=ESPN| work=ESPNcricinfo|date=17 October 2008|access-date= 5 November 2009}}</ref>
However, Australia struggled and managed 268 only after the last three wickets put on more than 100. India dominated for the rest of this match and Australia could barely keep up in this record-setting match.

===3rd Test===
{{Test match
| date = 29 October – 2 November
| team1 = {{cr-rt|IND}}
| team2 = {{cr|AUS}}

| score-team1-inns1 = 613/7 [[declaration and forfeiture|dec]] (171 overs)
| runs-team1-inns1 = [[Gautam Gambhir]] 206 (380)
| wickets-team1-inns1 = [[Mitchell Johnson (cricketer)|Mitchell Johnson]] 3/142 (32 overs)

| score-team2-inns1 = 577 (179.3 overs)
| runs-team2-inns1 = [[Michael Clarke (cricketer)|Michael Clarke]] 112 (253)
| wickets-team2-inns1 = [[Virender Sehwag]] 5/104 (40 overs)

| score-team1-inns2 = 208/5 [[declaration and forfeiture|dec]] (77.3 overs)
| runs-team1-inns2 = [[V. V. S. Laxman]] 59[[not out|*]] (130)
| wickets-team1-inns2 = [[Brett Lee]] 2/48 (17 overs)

| score-team2-inns2 = 31/0 (8 overs)
| runs-team2-inns2 = [[Matthew Hayden]] 16[[not out|*]] (29)
| wickets-team2-inns2 = [[Amit Mishra]] 0/2 (2 overs)

| result = Match Drawn
| venue = [[Feroz Shah Kotla]], [[Delhi]]
| umpires = [[Aleem Dar]] (Pak) and [[Billy Bowden]] (NZ)
| motm = [[VVS Laxman]] (Ind)
| report = [http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/345671.html Scorecard]
| rain =
}}
India batted for almost two days to set themselves up in a dominant position. However the Australians were able to bat for another two days and save the test. The Indians declared late on the final day to give the retiring [[Anil Kumble]] a few final overs.

===4th Test===
{{Test match
| date = 6–10 November
| team1 = {{cr-rt|IND}}
| team2 = {{cr|AUS}}

| score-team1-inns1 = 441 (124.5 overs)
| runs-team1-inns1 = [[Sachin Tendulkar]] 109 (188)
| wickets-team1-inns1 = [[Jason Krejza]] 8/215 (43.5 overs)

| score-team2-inns1 = 355 (134.4 overs)
| runs-team2-inns1 = [[Simon Katich]] 102 (189)
| wickets-team2-inns1 = [[Harbhajan Singh]] 3/94 (37 overs)

| score-team1-inns2 = 295 (82.4 overs)
| runs-team1-inns2 = [[Virender Sehwag]] 92 (107)
| wickets-team1-inns2 = [[Shane Watson]] 4/42 (15.4 overs)

| score-team2-inns2 = 209 (50.2 overs)
| runs-team2-inns2 = [[Matthew Hayden]] 77 (93)
| wickets-team2-inns2 = [[Harbhajan Singh]] 4/64 (18.2 overs)

| result = India won by 172 runs
| venue = [[Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium]], [[Nagpur]]
| umpires = [[Aleem Dar]] (Pak) and [[Billy Bowden]] (NZ)
| motm = [[Jason Krejza]] (Aus)
| report = [http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/345672.html Scorecard]
| notes = [[Jason Krejza]] (Aus) and [[Murali Vijay]] made their Test debuts. [[Sourav Ganguly]] (Ind) played his last test.
}}
This game see-sawed throughout and going into the final day Australia were chasing a large target for victory, however in spite of some good early batting from [[Matthew Hayden]] amongst others, the target and the fifth day pitch proved too much for the Australians. The match also saw some unusual (and controversial) tactics on the fourth day by the Australians.<ref>"Cricket writers and commentators were stunned by what they saw as [Ponting's] efforts to improve Australia's sluggish over rate rather than going for broke to try and win the vital Nagpur Test." "[http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jtLgZ1cpWeC9J6j0VQHtrJQswR4Q Aussie press slams Ponting tactics] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100914214059/http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jtLgZ1cpWeC9J6j0VQHtrJQswR4Q |date=14 September 2010 }}", ''AFP'' 9 November 2008.</ref> Following the Tea Break, they were in a dominant position, however they were a long way behind on their [[List of cricket terms#O|over rate]]. So to prevent a one match suspension to captain [[Ricky Ponting]], they chose to bowl their [[All-rounder|part-time]] bowlers such as [[Michael Clarke (cricketer)|Michael Clarke]] and [[Mike Hussey]] (who were both unsuccessful in capturing a wicket), to make it up. This drew strong criticism from [[List of cricket commentators|many]] [[Sportscaster|commentators]], who suggested that their [[fast bowling|faster bowlers]] could have bowled from a shorter run-up{{Citation needed|date=November 2008}}. This was also the last test match for Sourav Ganguly.
* Man of the Series – [[Ishant Sharma]] – equal top-wicket taker (with [[Harbhajan Singh]]) 15 wickets

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

{{International cricket tours of India}}
{{International cricket in 2008-09}}

[[Category:Australian cricket tours of India|2008-09]]
[[Category:Indian cricket seasons from 2000–01]]
[[Category:2008 in Australian cricket]]
[[Category:2008 in Indian cricket]]
[[Category:International cricket competitions in 2008–09]]

2008–09 Border–Gavaskar Trophy - Revision history

imported>StAnselm: Undid revision 1285571579 by Servite et contribuere (talk) - my objection still stands: this is massively undue weight for this article; there was no consensus anywhere to perform such a merge