Final frontier: India snatch series win as Aussies falter (2001)

Harbhajan Singh was named man of the match and man of the series having taken 32 wickets in the series as India secured a 2-1 series win against the odds.

Harbhajan whose previous best Test figures were only 3-30 was entrusted with a heavy burden having been recalled at the behest of captain Sourav Ganguly after previous instances of indiscipline. He was to lead the spin attack against an Australian team which had set a world record with 15 consecutive Test victories and was searching for its first ever series victory on Indian soil since 1969.

1st Test

Australia recorded a 10 wicket win winning their 16th consecutive Test victory.

Sourav Ganguly was booed off the ground and Steve Waugh hailed an "outstanding team performance" by Australia. Gilchrist was named man of the match with 122 and six catches.

2nd Test

Harbhajan eventually finished with 7-123 as Australia were bowled out for 445. India batted poorly and were forced to followon but a 376run partnership between V. V. S. Laxman and Rahul Dravid who batted together for an entire day.

Australia appeared to be safely batting out the match for a draw until losing 756 in the final session collapsing from 166-3 to be bowled out for 212. Harbhajan claimed four of the wickets to finish with 6-73 for the innings and a match tally of 13-196. India ended Australia's 16 match world record winning streak and became only the third team to win a Test after being forced to follow on.

3rd Test

After India's batsmen gained a firstinnings lead of 110 the Australian batsmen were again unable to cope with Harbhajan in the second innings who took 884 to end with match figures of 15217. India appeared to be heading for an easy victory at 1012 chasing 155 before losing 650 to be 1518. Perhaps fittingly Harbhajan walked to the crease and struck the winning runs.