Australian cricket team in Ceylon and India in 1969–70
| Australian cricket team in Ceylon and India in 1969–70 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
||
| Australia | India | ||
| Dates | 31 October – 28 December 1969 | ||
| Captains | Bill Lawry | Nawab of Pataudi | |
| Test series | |||
| Result | Australia won the 5-match series 3–1 | ||
| Most runs | Keith Stackpole (368) | Ashok Mankad (357) | |
| Most wickets | Ashley Mallett (28) | EAS Prasanna (26) | |
The Australia national cricket team toured Ceylon and India in the last three months of 1969. The team, captained by Bill Lawry, played five Test matches against India, captained by the Nawab of Pataudi Jr. The Australians also played first-class matches versus each of the five Indian Zone teams: Central, North, West, East and South. In Ceylon, they played one first-class game against Ceylon and three minor matches. Australia won the Test series in India 3-1 with one match drawn. It was to be Australia's last Test series win in India until Adam Gilchrist's side's victory in the 2004-05 series.
Australia came into the series with a win under its belt against Garfield Sobers' West Indians at home the previous season. They had also retained The Ashes by drawing the 1968 series in England. Prior to the Australians' arrival, India had just managed to draw its home series against New Zealand by drawing the deciding Third Test because of rain; India had been 7/76 chasing 268.
The Australian cricket team played three minor matches in Ceylon before the first-class fixture against the Ceylonese national team on 24 October; the game was drawn. Australia's first match in India was against West Zone on 31 October, also ending in a draw. A highlight of the match was CG Borde's 113 in West Zone's first innings.
The First Test was scheduled between 4–9 November. It was originally scheduled to be played in Ahmedabad, but was moved to Bombay due to riots. India won the toss and batted first, where they made 271, Australia's Graham McKenzie taking 5-69. Australia scored 345 built on Keith Stackpole's 103. In the second innings, Australia dismissed India for 137 with Johnny Gleeson taking 4-56. Australia won by eight wickets, successfully chasing the target of 64. There was rioting in the ground, after Indian player Srinivas Venkataraghavan was given out when his bat did not appear to make contact with the ball. This Test was followed by a tour match against Central Zone on 11 November, with Australia winning by an innings and 32 runs.
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