On this day in 1986: Only the second-tied Test

There have only been two ties in the 2,515 Tests played since 1877 - the first was in 1960, and the other in 1986. The Australian cricket team was part of both the tied Test matches. The first game involved the West Indies while the second engaged India.

The only person to participate in both tied tests was Bob Simpson, who played for Australia in the first and coached the Kangaroos in the second. The second-tied match took place on this day (September 22) in 1986, when the two teams tied the opening game of the three-match Test series at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

Speaking of the game, Australia won the toss and opted to bat first. The tourists declared at 574 for 7 early on Day 3. Dean Jones scored 210 off 330 balls, which was then the highest score by an Australian in a Test in India. Meanwhile, David Boon scored 122, and the then-Australian captain, Allan Border, amassed 106. 

By the end of the third day, India had lost seven wickets for a total of 270 runs and were eventually dismissed for 397, trailing by 177. Then India skipper Kapil Dev scored 119 runs, and Greg Matthews claimed a five-wicket haul for 103 runs. Batting legend Sunil Gavaskar has reached a milestone during the match, becoming the first cricketer to make 100 consecutive appearances in Test cricket.

Australia then declared at 170 for 5 in the second innings and gave India a target of 348 to win. Starting the second innings on a positive note, India scored 204 for 2 before Gavaskar was third out for 90. When Chandrakant Pandit got out, the hosts reached 291 for 6. India were at 344 for 9 in the penultimate over, with four runs needed to win the game.

In the final over, Matthews was bowling to Ravi Shastri with Maninder Singh at the bowler's end. Shastri managed to score two runs in the second ball and one in the third, tying the score after missing the opening ball. 

India failed to acquire a run in the fourth ball while the final one struck Singh on his back leg, umpire Vikramraju declared him out leg before wicket (LBW). India were all out for 347 as both Matthews (5/146) and Ray Bright (5/94) picked five-wicket hauls.