Closest Draws

This is not the first time that the Aussies have managed a draw after being 9 wickets down. In fact, they have done it three times in the past.

1. Vs the West Indies in 1961 at the Adelaide Oval. Needing 460 to win in 120 overs, the Aussies were reeling at 31/3 at End of day 4. They were then down to 207 for 9 with more than 25 overs left on the last day. KD Mackay (62 no) and last man LF Kline (15 no) hung on for 109 minutes to hold on to a draw. Ritche Benaud played in the game; he should remember (he took 5 wickets and scored 77 in the first innins, but did not do too well with Bat or Ball in the second).

2. Vs the West Indies in 1968/69 at the Adelaide Oval (again). Needing 360 to win on the last day, the Aussies were 333 for 9 with 10 minutes left. AP Sheahan (11 no) and AN Connolly (6 no) hung on for a draw.

3. Vs New Zealand in 1987/88 at Melbourne. Needing 247 to win on the last day, the aussies were sitting pretty at 209 for 5. Hadlee then took 3 wickets (and Brackewell 1) to reduce the Aussies to 227 for 9. CJ McDermott (10 runs in 49 balls) and MR Whitney (2 runs in 18 balls hung on for a draw).

Against England, their closed draw (prior to OldTrafford 2005) was in 1974/75 in Melbourne. Needing 246 to win, they were 238 for 8 when play ended.

And this is not the first time Old trafford has witnessed a close draw. Back in 1946, needing 278 to win, India hung on to a draw and finished on 152/9.