The 5th and last test match is underway Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 between Australia and India it will not only include thriller and excitement of the best level but will also be remembered for a noble cause. New Year’s test in Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) will be a pink Test match as Australia’s players show off their pink caps in a team photo at the SCG – a change from their traditional green Test caps.
What is the Pink Test?
The Pink Test started in in 2009 when the Australian legend Glenn McGrathwoman Jane McGrath died of breast cancer. McGrath founded The Glenn McGrath Foundation 2005 for financial support for breast cancer patients and raising awareness of this disease. The foundation partnered with Cricket Australia achieve their goals that year and it has been a tradition ever since. According to the foundation’s website, the Pink Test has grown over 22 billion dollars to support cancer patients and survivors.
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3 memorable Pink Test matches played by Australia at the SCG
(3) Australia v South Africa (2009)
The first Pink Test was remembered for being the start of a partnership between Cricket Australia and the Glenn McGrath Foundation. But apart from that, the match was action-packed with 5 days of elite Test cricket action between two of the best cricketing nations in the world. The South Africans arrived in Sydney after defeating the mighty Aussies in the WACA and Melbourne taking an insurmountable 2-0 lead in the 3-match Test series.
The Aussies started the match in great fashion adding a total of 445 runs in their first innings. Emphasized century from Michael Clarke he was instrumental in helping Australia reach a huge number. South Africa in reply they were bowled out for 327 runs giving the home side a lead of 118 runs. Determined to post a respectable total, the Aussies declared their innings at 257 runs for the loss of 4 wickets, giving the Proteas a target of 376 runs. South African captain Graeme Smithwho came in 11th due to a broken left arm, faced a pace attack of 29 minutes with Makhaya Ntini but the onslaught proved too much for the Proteas captain and he gave away his wicket with 5 minutes to go to give the home team a consolation series win.
(2) Australia v England (2011)
The Ashes match between Australia and England in Sydney is memorable in the sense that it is the only occasion so far that Australia have lost a Pink Test in the 15 meetings they have played so far. The English not only won the match against the Australians, but also humiliated the home team. The Australians scored 280 runs in its first changes. In reply, the visiting side smashed the Australian bowling line-up and succeeded 644 runs hitting for 177.5 overruns. 3 centuries came from the English batsmen, including an outstanding knock of 189 runs from Alastair Cook which provided a strong base and centuries from Matt Prior and Ian Bell which helped England reach a gigantic total. In response, the Australians succumbed to pressure and were easily bowled out for a meager sum 281 running. England won the match by an innings and 83 runs.
(1) Australia v India (2021)
India’s tour of Australia 2020-21. she was memorable in many ways. Now he is remembered for his famous victory at Gabba. However, India would not have achieved a historic series win had they not been held to an outrageous draw in the Pink Test in Sydney. Both sides clashed and dominated once before the meeting in Sydney. Australia hoped that his fast attack would prove detrimental to the Indians. However, the visiting side had their own plans.
The Australians started the game strongly, scoring with the bat 338 runs and bowling India for 244 take a lead of 94 runs in the match. In their second innings, the home team further consolidated their lead declaring their innings at 312/6 giving the Indians a big target 407 runs. The away side, in their second innings, held on with the bat in their quest to salvage their hopes of winning Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2020-21. Especially, Cheteshwar Pujara continued to bat in total 277 minutes and faced 176 balls on the last day of the match to wear out the schedule towards a draw.
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