On February 22, the Border-Gavaskar trophy will be fought for the 11th time between India & Australia. Here is a look at the last 10 years of this coveted trophy which has presented the Cricketing world with great contests time and time again.

1996-97: Nayan Mongia’s 152

The one-off test match which kickstarted the Border-Gavaskar trophy at Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi, proved to be Nayan Mongia’s rise. Probably regarded as one of the best wicketkeepers after Syed Kirmani then, Mongia doubled up as an opener in order to have 3 spinners included in the team. Notching a brilliant 152 in the first innings against a Mark Taylor led Australian team, Mongia setup Team India’s victory in the first edition of the Border Gavaskar trophy.

1997-98: Clash of the Titans: Sachin vs Warne Rivalry

The 1997-98 series presented a dilapidated Australian fast bowling lineup without Mcgrath and Gillespie, who were left home nursing their injuries. With Paul Reiffel, the only experienced campaigner suffering a recurring shoulder injury after the First Test, It was only becoming a gloomy affair for the visitors. Mcgrath or No-Mcgrath. The stadiums were still jam-packed, as the crowds had paid their money to watch the Clash of the two titans- Warne and Tendulkar, both at their cricketing best.

With Tendulkar’s blitzkrieg innings of 204 notout for Mumbai in the first Australian tour game, , It was only going to create an adrenaline rush for the spectators going to watch him bat against the Aussies. In the end, Tendulkar obliterated the Australian attack scoring 446 runs in the series at a strike rate of 80.65 at a Bradmanesque average of 111.50 in the series. On the other hand, Warne’s ten wickets cost 54 runs apiece; almost twice his career best 23.81 then. Of the five times, the two locked horns, only once did Warne get the better of Tendulkar. The cans of baked beans and spaghetti that flew out from down-under, did not work its charm either on Warne’s appetite or pacify Warne’s Tendulkar nightmares.

1999-2000: India’s poor record on bouncy wickets continued

A 10 wicket loss against any practice side is never encouraging for any visiting team playing their first tour game. That’s exactly what happened, when India played Queensland, in their first practice game of the 1999-2000 tour to Australia. The tour turned out to be a complete whitewash with the Australians winning the series 3-0 against a mediocre Indian side making the cricketing contest rather boring. The massive margins of victories in the 3-Test match series – 285 runs in the First test, 180 runs in the Second Test and Innings and 141 runs in the 3^rd test, only suggested complete annihilation of the Indian team at the hands of their Australian counterparts. The only positive outcome of the series being, the discovery of VVS Laxman’s batting prowess. A brilliant 167 off 198 deliveries in the 3^rd Test , that ripped apart a full-throttle bowling attack to pieces, ensured Laxman’s selection in the next series against the Australians, not knowing that very series two years later would prove to be his calling.

2000-01: The birth of Australia’s future nemesis: Very Very Special Laxman & Turbunator

If there is an India-Australia contest that the world remembers time and time again. It’s got to be the 2000-01 Border-Gavaskar series. Touted as Steve Waugh’s final frontier, the series did start off for the Aussie captain on a fairy tale note. The Australians continued their ruthlessness on the field winning the first test in Mumbai by 10 wickets.

The dream run continued, making it 16 wins in a row for Steve Waugh and his comrades, only to last until their nemesis, VVS Laxman arrived at the crease on the third day of 2^nd Test match. After that moment, what really followed on was one of the best Test Cricket innings and partnership of all time. Eden Gardens which erupted to the cry of Harbhajan Singh when he claimed India’s first-ever Test hat-trick on the first day of play, now exploded with VVS Laxman’s poetic 281 against the very best in the business attack of Warne, McGrath and Gillespie. Barring the Wicketkeeper and the Captain, every possible bowling option was utilized by Steve Waugh to break the 376 run partnership between Dravid and Laxman all proving futile. The final day was reserved for the Turbunator ‘ Harbhajan Singh’ show that demoralized the Aussie spirit with figures of 6-73 snatching victory for team India in the second test drawing the series 1-1.

If the 2^nd Test proved to be Harbhajan Singh’s reckoning, the third only triggered the Beast Mode within the Punjab lad. With figures of 7-133 and hitting the winning runs against a Mcgrath Yorker, Harbhajan Singh sealed his arrival for Team India.

Enjoy this 57 minute compilation by Trevor Byres to relive the moments from the Greatest Test Match of All Time

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2003–04 series: See-saw battle for glory

Of the 10 editions, the 2003-04 series is the only battle that ended in a 1-1 draw. The 4 match Test Series slated to be Steve Waugh’s Farewell series was a display of cricketing dexterity at its best. The very fact, that every other series has produced a result, doesn’t mean there was a lot to choose from either of the sides, but in this particular edition, the margin of error from both sides was equalized by pure free flowing cricket oozing through their willows. With crucial knocks by Langer & Ganguly in the First Test, to scintillating wrist work by Laxman & Dravid in Second Test, to exquisite pull-shots from Ponting in the third Test to the composure of Tendulkar in the 4^th Test were exhibited with the greatest of aplomb. The bowlers were at their lethal best, Kumble leading the pack with 24 wickets, followed by Agarkar with 16 and then Stuart McGill with 14 wickets. With India edging past Australia in the series, the scoreboard still reflected a tame draw.

2004–05 series: Rejoice they conquer: Australia win a Test series in India after 35 years.

Finally the 35 year wait was over. Australia were able to conquer the terrains of the Indian sub-continent winning the series 2-1. Although the Indians won the Final test match, It was hardly a pitch fitting a Test match. Some consolation at the end. The Australians had a plan from the beginning and they executed it to perfection. Leading this time was Australia’s silent assassin, Damien Martyn who 104, 114 and 97 in the 2^nd and 3^rd Test to ensure India did not have the upper hand in the series. But the find for Australia was Michael Clarke who scored a 100 in his debut Test match. Champagne finally filled the Australian dressing room at the end of third test, ensuring a fitting farewell to their bowling legends – Warne & McGrath, playing their final series in India.

2007-08: Series of Trials & Tribulations

If there was a series that left a sour taste in both the countries mind, it was the 2007-08 series played in Australia. A series that would always be remembered for the wrong reasons. It all started on the third day of the 2^nd Test Match being played at SCG, Australia leading the series 1-0, when Andrew Symonds and Harbhajan Singh had the famous altercation about the latter calling him the ‘M’ word. The matter then went to the courts. Then came the lawyers, mercy petitions, hearings. The Aussie spirit of playing the sport was questioned, when dropped catches were claimed, pacts were broken, dubious umpiring decisions were overlooked. All this leading to a lot of bad blood between the two sides. Cricket was no more just a game. If there was a series where you could see players playing for each other’s lives, It was that. Not to forget Michael Clarke’s cameo with nine minutes remaining to wrap up the Indian team’s tail or Sehwag’s bowling Gilchrist round the legs in the 4th Test to give India that win. Even with all these glorious moments, the game of Cricket took a backseat.

2008–09 series: Fab Five breaks apart; Dhoni’s era begins

The Fab Five for the Indian contingent was finally breaking apart. Sourav Ganguly had announced his retirement before the start of the series. The prince was about to roar one last time before hanging up his boots. And boy he did it in style. Scoring a century in the 2^nd Test match, helping India win the Test. And the other surprise was Kumble’s departure which came under unfortunate circumstances, when he ruptured his finger bowling in the 3^rd test passing over the mantle to MSD who had anyways been leading the side in the shorter format of the game. The series went in India’s favor 2-0 winning the 2^nd test & 4^th Test match by 320 runs and 172 runs respectively. What gave me as a Cricket fan that day was seeing Ganguly lead the Indian side one last time with his collar up bringing back memories of the way Indian Cricket had changed under his wings. From being timid to being in their face, from being reserved to being flamboyant and mostly from regretting loss to enjoying victory.

2010–11 series: The return of the Australian Nemesis

The 2010-11 Border Gavaskar series was cut down to two test matches this time around, so It was do or die for both teams from the beginning. What started as Australia’s cruise in the First Test, turned upside down for them. The demons of 2000-01 series came back haunting the Aussies again. With 92 needed and only Ishant Sharma and Pragyan Ojha to follow, It would have seemed to be a cake-walk for the Australians. Not on VVS’s watch. With a hurting back and runner, VVS Laxman marshaled Ishant Sharma and later Ojha to win one of the most dramatic Test matches to have been played between the 2 sides. The second test saw, the majestic Tendulkar take centerstage, once again scoring a 214 to win the Test match for the India. The Indians winning the trophy emphatically for the first time.

2011-12: Total Domination – The Australian Way

If there was a tour the Indians would love to forget, It would have to be the 2011-12 tour of Australia. Fresh from their World cup winning success in the summer of 2011, a lot was expected from the World cup winning team. They were thwarted and punished like school kids, clueless of what was happening around them. It wasn’t 4-0 loss, but the manner in which the Indian team was butchered really showed Australia’s seriousness in preparation and India’s lack of it before the series. The Australians exposed India in all departments. Ever since that tour, the Indians have lost the plot so badly, that nothing seems to be working for the otherwise Midasian regime. Having lost 4-0 to England at home.

The 2012-13 series promises to be probably the last one for India’s master blaster- Sachin Tendulkar. In the current circumstances, It will be interesting to see what Tendulkar’s last act promises to be.