Two decades since 'the final frontier' was conquered: How young gun's debut sparked Australia's iconic 2004 win in India
Updated . First published
Start of an era
Darren Lehmann made way for a young Michael Clarke after the latter belted 151 runs in his debut Test innings. It kickstarted an incredible - and rare - feat for the Aussies in India.
It's a feat Australia has not replicated in the two decades since.
Steve Waugh once dubbed it "the final frontier" - winning a Test series in India.
Unfortunately 'Tugger' never got to conquer it. Few teams have managed to do so, and Australia has only done it twice in the last 65 years.
The latest was in 2004, when a captain's injury sought to derail the campaign, before a wonder-kid's debut stunned the Indians.
These are the 13 players who wore the baggy green in that triumphant series, which Australia won 2-1.
Ricky Ponting
Batting: 23 runs at 11.50, high score 12
Bowling: NA
Ponting had by this stage taken over as captain of the Test team from Steve Waugh, and took the squad to India hoping to achieve what his predecessor never could.
But 'Punter' broke a thumb prior to the series and was forced to sit out the first three Tests. Adam Gilchrist replaced him as skipper.
When Ponting did return in the fourth match, the series was already won, with the Aussies leading 2-0.
Ponting managed only 11 (19) and then 12 (15) as India won the dead rubber match.
Michael Clarke
Batting: 400 runs at 57.14, high score 151
Bowling: 6 wickets at 2.16, best innings 6-9
The retirement of the legendary Steve Waugh opened the door for Clarke to make his Test debut, and he came into the side with plenty of buzz. And rightfully so.
The Aussies were 4-149 at Bengaluru after winning the toss and opting to bat, when Clarke strode to the middle for the first time in the national whites.
He proceeded to score 151 from 248 deliveries before being caught behind. He put on a 167-run partnership with stand-in captain Adam Gilchrist to turn the tide of the match.
The Aussies won the first Test on the back of the centuries to Clarke and Gilchrist.
In the third match - which Australia also won - Clarke scored 91 and 73. It was in the fourth where he showed his prowess with the ball, too, taking 6-9 to stun India, although the hosts won the match.
Adam Gilchrist
Batting: 218 runs at 31.14, high score 104
Keeping: 16 catches, 0 stumpings
Having been lumped with the responsibility of captaining the team after Steve Waugh's retirement and Ricky Ponting's injury, Gilchrist stood up with a proper skipper's knock in the series opener.
He blasted 104 runs off 109 balls in Bengaluru to aid Michael Clarke in steering the visitors to a first-innings total of 474, which set the foundations for victory.
Gilchrist struggled to make a huge impact with the bat for the remainder of the series, other than a second-innings 49 when promoted to No.3 in the order during the drawn second match.
Jason Gillespie
Bowling: 20 wickets at 16.15, best innings 5-56
Batting: 66 runs at 13.20, high score 26
Australia's second and series-deciding win - in the third match in Nagpur - was set up by a Damien Martyn ton followed by a pace bowling clinic from Jason Gillespie and Glenn McGrath.
The lanky right-armers tore through India's batting line-up to roll the hosts for a measly 185 - still 213 runs short of the first-innings Aussie total.
Gillespie took an astonishing 5-56 including trapping Sachin Tendulkar lbw for 8. He then cleaned up the tail by taking three of the last four scalps to finish the innings.
Gillespie was also instrumental in the first win in Bengaluru, taking five wickets including 3-33 in the second innings.
Simon Katich
Batting: 276 runs at 39.42, high score 99
Bowling: 0 wickets (2 overs)
Katich was instrumental in setting up Australia's first innings of 474 in Bengaluru which ultimately won them the match and gave the tourists an early series lead.
He hit 81 batting at No.3, and put on 107 runs with debutant Michael Clarke before being bowled by Anil Kumble.
Katich also hit 39 in the second innings of that match. He posted a 99 in the second innings in Nagpur, top-scoring for the team as the Aussies put the series to bed by winning the third match and taking a 2-0 lead.
Darren Lehmann
Batting: 132 runs at 26.40, high score 70
Bowling: 0 wickets (11 overs)
'Boof' struggled for runs in the first two matches of the tour, before a handy first-innings 70 helped Australia to victory in the third and decisive game in Nagpur.
The veteran left-hander subsequently made way for the return of Ricky Ponting in the fourth match.
Lehmann was to play his 27th and final Test match later that year, retiring with an average of 44.95.
Shane Warne
Bowling: 14 wickets at 30.07, best innings 6-125
Batting: 38 runs at 7.60, high score 31
India was never a happy hunting ground for the "Spin King", with Warne taking only 34 wickets in nine matches there for a career average of 43.11.
So, by comparison, the 2004 series was not too bad for him.
In the second match in Chennai he tore the opposition apart with 6-125 - including their top three batters - but the match ended in a draw.
Warne missed the fourth match due to a hand injury.
Matthew Hayden
Batting: 244 runs at 30.50, high score 58
Bowling: NA
It was a solid series from the hulking opening batter, who made a start in almost every innings but failed to convert them into big scores.
The third match in Nagpur was his only real fail, where Hayden was out for 23 and for 9 in the Australian win.
Justin Langer
Batting: 228 runs at 28.50, high score 71
Bowling: NA
Much like his opening partner Matthew Hayden, Langer enjoyed a solid tour to India without reaching triple figures.
A first-innings half-century in the opening match in Bengaluru helped set up the victory, and he followed it up with a first-innings 71 in the second match.
He failed to surpass 50 in the remaining two matches of the tour.
