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The first series to be played between these two nations took place in
1947-48in Australia
where India crumbled to a 4-0 whitewash against a powerful Australia team. Australia had the upper hand in the early series recording successive victories in 1956-7 and 1959-60, however India gained a creditable 1-1 draw in the home series 1964-65. The long wait for an India series victory had to wait until 1979-80in India
This was Australia' first tour of India in ten years, six months after the dispute with Kerry Packer's World Series had been settled and the home side won an exciting contest 2-0.
This two great sides have continued to fight out close fought matches and the
2000-01series in India turned out to be one of the greatest Test-Series the game had witnessed. The Last Frontier proved unconquerable for a red-hot Australia in arguable the best series of all time. Australia wrapped up the first Test at Mumbai in three days, with Matthew Hayden and Adam Gilchrist thumping counter-attacking hundreds, and at Kolkata India were staring at defeat after following-on. Enter Laxman, who scripted a flawless, unbeaten 281 in a 376-run stand with Rahul Dravid, whose 180 was perhaps the best supporting act in history. A zestful Harbhajan Singh, who took India's first hat-trick in the first innings, took 6 for 73 in the second to spin India to the most unbelievable of wins. India carried their new-found mojo into the decider at Chennai, Harbhajan taking 15 wickets and Tendulkar hitting 126 after Hayden's first double-century, in a pulsating two-wicket win. It was the series to beat and Australia's barren 31-year run on Indian soil continued. India won the Test-series 2-1 while Australia exacted some revenge with a 3-2 success in the ODIs.
The last series
2004-05in India saw Australia regain the advantage over India with a 2-1 Test Series success. Australia won the first Test at Bangalore by 217 runs thanks to debutant Michael Clarke's 151 and Gilchrist's murderous 104 and some tight bowling. Harbhajan excelled with 11 wickets in the match but India could not force a win. Rain scuppered a classic as the teams moved to Chennai. The match was delicately poised as India, needing 229 to win, finished the fourth day on 19 for 1 but heavy overnight rain deprived the Test of a result, which it deserved. Australia conquered that frontier with a big win at Nagpur that was highlighted by Martyn and Clarke. The final Test, on a minefield of a pitch at the Wankhede Stadium, went India's way as Australia were bowled out for 93 in a low-scoring thriller. Tendulkar and Laxman scripted fighting half-centuries before Clarke nipped out six wickets, but Harbhajan and Murali Kartik pulled off a scarcely credible 13-run victory.