In March 2001, on the grand stage of Eden Gardens, John Wright – the first foreigner to coach India – witnessed the highs and lows of the Test, its drama, emotion and sheer impossibility. Twenty-five years later, the New Zealander spoke to The Times of India in Christchurch about the pressure, tactical decisions and far-reaching impact of beating Australia.
When you look back on the Eden Test 25 years later, what stands out to you most?
I can’t believe it’s been 25 years! I’ve never seen a crowd like this before. It was packed with people. Things were looking bleak for us on day three. But the next two days saw an incredible turn of events, thanks in no small part to the blockbuster collaboration between VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid. Ultimately, Harbhajan Singh culminated in a heroic performance of bowling on the final day. The pressure on us is enormous. Australia are world champions and they have won everything.
What was the situation like for the Indian team ahead of this match?
It was still early days when I was the first foreign coach of the Indian team and Sourav Ganguly was also a relatively new captain. The odds are stacked against us. Before the series started, we had a preparatory camp in Chennai with our physiotherapist Andrew Leipus. The big question we keep asking ourselves is simple: How do we beat Australia? I think we are well prepared for this challenge.
How does Anil Kumble’s absence affect the team’s plans?
Our most experienced spinner Anil Kumble is injured and unavailable. The selectors settled on a young off-spinner named Harbhajan Singh, and the series ended up defining his career. Looking back, I would compare the importance of this series to the 2004 series against Pakistan.
The turning point in the Test was VVS Laxman’s promotion. How was this decision made?
After the first innings, we were asked to continue the game but Laxman had played brilliantly and scored 59 runs. We’re also down 1-0 in the series, so in a sense, we have nothing to lose. I remember hearing Ian Chappell speak on TV commentary. He is a commentator whose views I value greatly. Ian suggested that India should upgrade Laxman as he is in very good form. What he said makes sense.
We want someone who can play aggressively and put pressure on Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne. Sourav and I sat down after the first game and agreed that promotion to VVS (Laxman) was the best way forward. I have always believed that the captain is the core figure of a team. Coaching is more on the periphery. But in this case, our collective decision worked perfectly.
What makes VVS Laxman’s innings so great?
What fascinated me the most was the way he played Shane Warne. He often plays him against spin and reaches the height of the ball effortlessly. This is a master class in how to play spin. After tea that day, he played two great passes on the field: one to McGrath and the other to Jason Gillespie. I remember thinking: How the hell does he play? It was so magnificent.
Apart from batting, what contribution has Laxman made to the dynamics and development of the team?
Laxman is the bridge between the younger and older players in the team. If I remember correctly, he shared a room with Zaheer Khan. We had a policy at that time that the bowlers had to live with the batsmen. Laxman spent a lot of time giving advice to Zak (Zaher) about batting. In the early stages of my coaching career, Sourav and I focused on three key areas: improving close-catching ability, improving running between the wickets and improving overall fitness. We also want the lower orders to contribute more so we don’t collapse after hitting 200/5. The only thing missing from this team is a true all-around player.
How important is Rahul Dravid’s contribution?
Absolutely. Rahul deserves huge credit. He was pushed to sixth in the second inning. It was a relegation but he was a sportsman. His 180th year was monumental. Laxman and Dravid make a great partnership. They also had another great run with Australia in Adelaide in 2003. Rahul was in an extremely productive phase of his career at that time. Be it Headingley in 2002, Adelaide in 2003 or Lahore in 2004. He is truly our rock.
Harbhajan Singh’s bowling on the final day was legendary. Who are the other unsung heroes?
Harbhajan’s performances, including that famous hat-trick, are rightly remembered. But we should not forget Sachin Tendulkar’s mantra either. He took three crucial wickets. The final day was a thrilling one as Sourav delivered the ball to Sachin which was a stroke of genius. I also remember SS Das achieving two outstanding results. Everyone contributed in that game.
Do you remember that crazy last day?
The atmosphere was very tense. I watched the plot unfold from a distance. The Garden of Eden became a cauldron. The ebb and flow make it fascinating. I have always believed that India has the best cricket fans in the world and they deserve every bit of entertainment.
How important is this win to the team?
The win at Eden Gardens gave us a huge confidence going into the third Test in Chennai and we ended up winning it. This also extended my tenure as coach of Team India. I stayed with the team for another four years. If we had lost that series, I would have packed up and gone home. At that time, everything happened so fast that you didn’t have time to fully absorb it. Looking back, I think this win instilled confidence in the team. This also paved the way for subsequent overseas success.
