Twenty-six years after Brisbane, cricket produced only its second tied Test — Dean Jones's heroic 210 through crippling heat and Dean Jones's fever, Ravi Shastri's unbeaten 48 and India needing 2 off the last over, only for Maninder Singh to be out lbw off the final ball.
Australia batted first and made 574/7 declared, anchored by Dean Jones's extraordinary 210. Jones was severely dehydrated during his innings, vomiting several times on the field, and at one point pleaded to be allowed to retire hurt — Bob Simpson famously told him he would be replaced by 'a tough Victorian' if he did, and Jones batted on. India replied with 397, then Australia declared their second innings at 170/5, setting India 348 to win in 87 overs.
India's chase began confidently. Sunil Gavaskar made 90, Mohinder Amarnath 51, and India kept the required run rate manageable. With 10 overs remaining India needed 118, then 56 off the last 5, then it all came down to the final over.
Maninder Singh, India's last recognized batsman, came to the crease with 5 needed off the final over. He scrambled 4. Last ball: India needed 1 to tie, 2 to win. Greg Matthews bowled. Maninder was struck on the pad — Matthews erupted. Umpire Vikramraju raised the finger. LBW. The second tied Test in history.
Ravi Shastri had batted brilliantly for 48 not out — stranded at the non-striker end. The crowd at Chepauk fell into stunned silence. Both teams were engulfed by the enormity of what had just happened. Two tied Tests in 1,087 matches — both decided by a single run, both on the final ball.
Dean Jones batting through illness and dehydration for 210 — one of the great innings of endurance
India needing 2 off the last ball to win — the margin between victory and tie
Maninder Singh lbw off the final delivery — Greg Matthews' appeal upheld
September 18, 1986
Australia bat first — Dean Jones 210, Australia 574/7 declared
September 20, 1986
India reply with 397, Australia declare 2nd innings 170/5
September 22, 1986 (final day)
India chase 348 — Gavaskar 90, Amarnath 51
Final over
India need 5 off last over, score 4 — last ball, Maninder lbw — TIED
Dean Jones's innings became one of the defining individual performances in Australian cricket history. The tied result was seen as a moral victory for both sides, and the series finished 0-0 — both teams content knowing they had played some of the best cricket of the decade.
A Test match for the ages — Australia's courage in setting up the game, India's near-miraculous chase, and a finish decided on the last ball of the last over. A result that would have seemed impossible to script.
The Madras tied Test cemented the rarity and magic of tied Tests. Together with Brisbane 1960, it forms cricket's most exclusive club — only two such results in the sport's entire history. Dean Jones's 210 remains the benchmark for mental fortitude under physical adversity.
Australia vs West Indies
1960-12-14
The first tied Test in 86 years of cricket history — Australia and West Indies finished level on 737 runs each after five days of breathless cricket in Brisbane, producing one of the most dramatic finishes the game has ever seen.
Australia vs South Africa
1999-06-17
Lance Klusener smashed Australia to the brink of elimination, then ran out Allan Donald off the penultimate ball to tie the match — but Australia advanced to the final on superior run rate, ending South Africa's greatest World Cup campaign in devastating fashion.
England vs New Zealand
2019-07-14
The most extraordinary finish in World Cup history — the final tied, the Super Over tied, and England were declared World Champions on boundary count. New Zealand were devastated. The boundary countback rule was subsequently abolished.