Published: Sep 22, 2025, 03:53 PM (IST)
Edited: Sep 22, 2025, 03:53 PM (IST)
A tie is considered incredibly rare. In fact, the probability of both teams finishing on the same score in a match is only 1 in 100. In a Test match, this probability drops to 0.001%. This illustrates how difficult it is for a Test match to be tied. In 148 years, 2,599 Test matches have been played, but only two have been tied. The first tied Test was Test No. 498, played between Australia and West Indies at Brisbane in 1960-61, while the second Test, Test No. 1052, was contested between Australia and India in Madras on this day, September 22nd. This Test is remembered not only for the thrilling final moments, but also for the historic LBW decision that led to a tie. This decision was so controversial that the umpire who gave it ended his career with the match.
The thrill of needing just one run in the final over
In the Madras Test, only one over remained, and India needed just one run to win, having already scored 347 of their target of 348. At the crease was 21-year-old Maninder Singh, India’s last batsman. Standing at the other end was Team India’s vice-captain Ravi Shastri, who had achieved the rare all-round milestone of 100 Test wickets and 2,000 Test runs in this match. Australian off-spinner Greg Matthews, better known for his on-field altercations than his bowling, was in charge of the final over.
The second ball of the over made history
The entire MA Chidambaram Stadium reverberated with the noise of the spectators, who, convinced that Team India’s victory was certain, were preparing for celebration. Maninder Singh tried to defend the second ball of Matthews’ over by stepping forward. The ball deflected off his bat and hit his pad, and the appeals of the Australian players echoed across the field. Maninder was trying to take a run, while Shastri, from the other end, was urging him to return. Even the Australian fielder on the boundary was appealing for LBW. After a brief pause, the umpire raised his right index finger, and the entire stadium fell into pin-drop silence, with every breath audible. The umpire who raised his finger was V. Vikramraju, whose LBW decision led to the Test match ending in a tie and forever etched himself in cricket history.
Maninder protested, Shastri claimed the ball hit the bat
With the umpire’s decision, the Australian team began celebrating the result, while batsman Maninder Singh was protesting to the umpire. Maninder insisted the ball had first touched the bat before hitting the pad. Shastri, standing right next to the umpire at the other end, also believed it had touched the bat. However, Vikramraju, in only his second Test as an umpire, upheld his decision. leg umpire Dara Dotiwala had a poor view from his position. This caused an uproar but the decision was ultimately upheld, marking only the second tied Test in cricket history.
Career ended, but the decision was never wrong
V. Vikramraju never umpired another international match after this, as the BCCI did not give him another opportunity, but he never admitted his decision was wrong. Speaking to Australian broadcaster ABC in 2007, Vikramraju said that the bat was nowhere near the pad and never even came close to the ball. “I was completely confident, and he (Maninder) was right in front of the wicket.” India didn’t accept the tie decision. They wanted to win the match, and because of that, we were made scapegoats. Greg Matthews, who bowled this historic delivery, described Vikramraju as “the bravest umpire on earth.”
“The umpire was nervous and raised his finger as soon as the ball was bowled.”
Maninder Singh, who was the victim of the umpire’s decision, always maintained that the ball hit his pad after touching his bat. In a 2001 interview, he said that Australian captain Allan Border was fielding very close and questioned the decision. “I’m sure the umpire got nervous. I was very surprised because I saw him raise his finger before I even played the ball.” It shows they were nervous, but that’s part of the game. I lost my temper at that moment. Ravi (Shastri) also got angry, but it was our fate and it had to happen that way. Thinking about it now, I realize how much pressure the umpire was under.
Team India was all out for 347 from 6/331
In the first innings of the 1986 Madras (now Chennai) Test, Australia declared their innings at 574 for 7. Despite this, the combined performance of the Indian players brought the team to the brink of victory. On the final day, the Indian team needed just 17 runs with four wickets remaining. From 331/6, India collapsed and were all out for 347. Australian spinner Ray Bright took three wickets in quick succession, and then Matthews bowled the historic delivery that resulted India being all out and the match ending in a tie.
These were also highlights of the Madras tied Test:
23-year-old Dean Jones contributed 210 runs to Australia’s first innings total of 574.
Jones, who played for 8.5 hours in 45-degree heat, vomited on the pitch. He later had to be taken to the hospital and put on a drip.
Matthews achieved match figures of 10/249, the only 10-wicket haul of his career.
Opening batsman David Boon scored 122 runs for Australia in the first innings, and Allan Border also scored 106 runs.
Indian captain Kapil Dev scored 119 runs from 138 balls with 21 fours, which is considered his career-best Test innings.
This was the 100th consecutive Test match without a single absence in the legendary batsman Sunil Gavaskar’s career, a significant record.
India scored 397 runs in the first innings, and Australia declared their second innings at 170 for 5.
In this Test match, a total of 32 wickets fell in four innings, and 1488 runs were scored, which remains the highest total in India-Australia matches to date.
