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| November 13, 2001 | Tuesday | Shaba’an 26, 1422 |
Win-or-lose Record thwarted
BRISBANE, Nov 12: Australia’s draw in the first Test against New Zealand Monday was their first in 24 matches, ending a record sequence dating back more than two years.
Skipper Steve Waugh has revolutionised his team’s approach since taking over from Mark Taylor in early 1999, always looking to win games rather than settling for safe draws, even at the risk of defeat.
Before Brisbane, they had not drawn since being held to a rain-affected stalemate in Colombo by Sri Lanka in September 1999, losing that series 1-0.
Waugh then led his team to 16 wins in a row, a world record and with most matches failing to reach the fifth or even fourth day, before going down 2-1 in a thrilling series in India in March of this year.
Waugh’s ambitious approach was duplicated by stand-in captain Adam Gilchrist during the Ashes earlier this year. With Waugh injured, Gilchrist spurned a draw with a bold declaration in the fourth Test at Leeds which allowed England to narrowly avoid a 5-0 whitewash.
The longest previous streak of matches without a draw was 22, achieved by England between 1884-1892.
Australia’s recent results:
1999:
Colombo, Sept 30-Oct 4: Drew with Sri Lanka (lost series 1-0).
Harare, Oct 14-17: Bt Zimbabwe by 10 wkts.
Brisbane, Nov 5-9: Bt Pakistan by 10 wkts.
Hobart, Nov 18-22: Bt Pakistan by 4 wkts.
Perth, Nov 26-28: Bt Pakistan by innings and 20 runs.
Adelaide, Dec 10-14: Bt India by 285 runs.
Melbourne, Dec 26-30: Bt India by 180 runs.
2000:
Sydney, Jan 2-4: Bt India by innings and 141 runs.
Auckland, March 11-15: Bt New Zealand by 62 runs.
Wellington, March 24-27: Bt New Zealand by 6 wkts.
Hamilton, March 31-Apr 3: Bt New Zealand by 6 wkts.
Brisbane, Nov 23-25: Bt West Indies by innings and 126 runs.
Perth, Dec 1-3: Bt West Indies by innings and 27 runs.
Adelaide, Dec 15-19: Bt West Indies by 5 wkts.
Melbourne, Dec 26-29: Bt West Indies by 352 runs.
2001:
Sydney, Jan 2-6: Bt West Indies by 6 wkts.
Mumbai, Feb 27-March 1: Bt India by 10 wkts (world record 16th win in a row).
Kolkata, March 11-15: Lost to India by 171 runs.
Chennai, March 18-22: Lost to India by 2 wkts.
Edgbaston, July 5-8: Bt England by innings and 118 runs.
Lord’s, July 19-22: Bt England by 8 wkts.
Trent Bridge, Aug 2-4: Bt England by 7 wkts.
Headingley, Aug 16-20: Lost to England by 6 wkts.
The Oval, Aug 23-27: Bt England by innings and 25 runs (20th win in 23 matches).
Brisbane, Nov 8-12: Drew with New Zealand.—Reuters
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