Kolkata 2001, India vs Australia at Eden Gardens: Relive the Follow-On Miracle
Australia arrived having won a record 16 Tests in a row. India were made to follow on 274 behind. Five days later India had won by 171 runs, only the third time a team had won a Test after following on.
Steve Waugh made 110 as Australia reached 445. Harbhajan Singh took 7/123, including the first Test hat-trick by an Indian bowler: Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist and Shane Warne off successive balls. India then collapsed to 171, VVS Laxman top-scoring with 59 and Glenn McGrath taking 4/18, and Waugh enforced the follow-on.
In the second innings Laxman was joined by Rahul Dravid at 232/4. The two batted through the whole of the fourth day without being dismissed, taking India to 589/4, a lead of 315. By the time they were parted they had added 376: Laxman made 281, Dravid 180.
India declared on 657/7 early on the final day, setting Australia 384 in a minimum of 75 overs. Harbhajan took 6/73 and Australia were bowled out for 212. Laxman was Player of the Match.
The moments
- Following on, 274 behind. The point at which almost every Test is lost.
- Harbhajan’s hat-trick. Ponting, Gilchrist and Warne off successive balls on the first day: the first Test hat-trick by an Indian.
- A whole day without a wicket. Laxman and Dravid batted all of day four.
- 281 and 180. A stand of 376, and Australia’s 16-Test winning run ended.
- The greatest of the century. In 2025 an ESPNcricinfo poll voted it the greatest Test match of the 21st century so far.
Where to watch it now (legally)
| What | Video | Uploaded by |
|---|---|---|
| Full replay | No official full replay of this Test is available online. | |
| Highlights | No official match highlights are available online either: a bilateral Test from 2001 was never part of the ICC’s video archive, and the broadcasters have not published it. Unofficial uploads exist; we do not link them. | |
| Feature | Re-live one of the GREATEST test matches in history | 2001 Kolkata ↗ A feature told through Australian players, not match highlights. Free. | Fox Cricket (official YouTube) Checked 3 Oct 2026 |
| Read | Legends Month: The best of VVS Laxman ↗ Cricket Australia’s own look back at Laxman, the batter who turned this Test. | Cricket Australia (cricket.com.au) Checked 4 Oct 2026 |
Questions
Is there a full replay or highlights of the 2001 Kolkata Test?
Not officially. We have found no full replay or official highlights online. Fox Cricket’s official YouTube channel has a feature on the match.
What happened in the 2001 Kolkata Test?
Australia made 445 and bowled India out for 171. Following on 274 behind, India made 657/7 declared, with Laxman scoring 281 and Dravid 180 in a stand of 376, then bowled Australia out for 212 to win by 171 runs.
How many runs did Laxman and Dravid add in Kolkata?
376, with Laxman making 281 and Dravid 180. They batted through the whole fourth day.
Who took a hat-trick in the 2001 Kolkata Test?
Harbhajan Singh, dismissing Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist and Shane Warne in Australia’s first innings: the first Test hat-trick by an Indian bowler.
Sources
- Wikipedia, Second Test, 2000–01 Border–Gavaskar Trophy ↗ (scorecard and day-by-day account, with its references) — checked 3 Oct 2026
- Fox Cricket, Kolkata 2001 feature on YouTube ↗ (uploader confirmed as the Fox Cricket channel) — checked 3 Oct 2026