More galling than Galle
Sri Lanka bounced back from a 192-run deficit in the first innings to win in Galle. We take a look at six Tests when teams came back from a bigger deficit
ESPNcricinfo staff
16-Aug-2015
India v Australia, Kolkata, 2001 First-innings deficit: 274
Match summary: India 171 and 657 for 7 dec beat Australia 445 and 212 by 171 runs
Men of the Turnaround: VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid put on 376 in one of the most famous partnerships in Test cricket•AFP
Match summary: India 171 and 657 for 7 dec beat Australia 445 and 212 by 171 runs
Men of the Turnaround: VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid put on 376 in one of the most famous partnerships in Test cricket•AFP
England v Australia, 1894, Sydney First-innings deficit: 261
Match summary: England 325 and 437 beat Australia 586 and 166 by ten runs
Men of the Turnaround: England's players reportedly went drinking the evening before the final day - Australia were 113 for 2 chasing 177 - but overnight rain on an uncovered pitch helped Bobby Peel rip through Australia•Getty Images
Match summary: England 325 and 437 beat Australia 586 and 166 by ten runs
Men of the Turnaround: England's players reportedly went drinking the evening before the final day - Australia were 113 for 2 chasing 177 - but overnight rain on an uncovered pitch helped Bobby Peel rip through Australia•Getty Images
Australia v South Africa, 1950, Durban First-innings deficit: 236
Match summary: Australia 75 and 336 for 5 beat South Africa 311 and 99 by five wickets
Men of the Turnaround: Australia, in their first series after Don Bradman's retirement, pulled off the second-highest chase at the time, with Neil Harvey scoring 151 not out•Getty Images
Match summary: Australia 75 and 336 for 5 beat South Africa 311 and 99 by five wickets
Men of the Turnaround: Australia, in their first series after Don Bradman's retirement, pulled off the second-highest chase at the time, with Neil Harvey scoring 151 not out•Getty Images
England v Australia, 1981, Leeds First-innings deficit: 227
Match summary: England 174 and 356 beat Australia 401 and 111 by 18 runs
Men of the Turnaround: England were still 122 behind when Ian Botham came in to bat in the second innings, and his brutal 149 not out was the inspiration for a 500-1 odds win•Adrian Murrell/Getty Images
Match summary: England 174 and 356 beat Australia 401 and 111 by 18 runs
Men of the Turnaround: England were still 122 behind when Ian Botham came in to bat in the second innings, and his brutal 149 not out was the inspiration for a 500-1 odds win•Adrian Murrell/Getty Images
Australia v Pakistan, 2010, Sydney First-innings deficit: 206
Match summary: Australia 127 and 381 beat Pakistan 333 and 139 by 36 runs
Men of the Turnaround: A defeat looked imminent with Australia 51 ahead and eight down in their second innings, but Michael Hussey and Peter Siddle put on 123 runs, aided by a bunch of Kamran Akmal missed chances•Getty Images
Match summary: Australia 127 and 381 beat Pakistan 333 and 139 by 36 runs
Men of the Turnaround: A defeat looked imminent with Australia 51 ahead and eight down in their second innings, but Michael Hussey and Peter Siddle put on 123 runs, aided by a bunch of Kamran Akmal missed chances•Getty Images
The two Tests not considered in this list are the infamous Centurion Test of 2000, when England and South Africa forfeited an innings each, and the 2006 Oval Test between England and Pakistan, the first and only forfeit in Test cricket till date.