Remembering the 1986 Tied Test

The 1986 Tied Test between India and Australia in Madras, now Chennai, transformed the careers of players on both sides.

Dean Jones's double-century has gone down in history as one of the most courageous ever played.

Greg Matthews finished the match with figures of 10-249, his first and only 10-wicket haul in Test cricket.

And Kapil Dev's rapid-fire century in the first innings is regarded as one of the best of his decorated career.

But while the match made many a career, it also ended that of Indian umpire V. Vikramraju.

It was Vikramraju's raised right finger that confirmed the final wicket and ensured a match was tied for only the second time in Test history.

After left-arm spinner Ray Bright had taken three wickets in quick succession late in the match to have India nine down with scores level, it was Matthews who took the final dismissal when he trapped India's No.11 Maninder Singh leg before wicket.

Vikramraju has always maintained he made the correct call, but he came in for heavy criticism after the match amid claims from Singh that the ball had touched the bat before it cannoned into his pad.

Vikramraju was ostracised and never umpired a Test match again.

"The bat was not near the pad, the bat never came close to the ball," Vikramraju said of the decision in an interview with the ABC in 2007.

"So I was confident, and he was plumb in front of the wicket.

"(India) had a tie, they wanted to win the match and because of that, we are being scapegoated."

Matthews has labelled Vikramraju "the most courageous umpire on the face of the earth", while Singh holds no ill feeling towards him.

But he and batting partner Ravi Shastri have never wavered in their belief that he hit the ball.

Australia captain Allan Border, who was fielding in close, has also indicated that the decision was questionable.

"I am sure the umpire was nervous," Singh said in 2001.

"I was surprised because before I even played the ball, I could see his finger going up. I mean almost before playing the ball.

"That shows he was nervous but that's part of the game.

"At that time I lost my head, Ravi (Shastri) lost his head but if it was destined to be like that, then it had to happen.

"I look at it now and realise how much pressure was on the umpire.

"The nervousness showed on him when he hastened in giving that decision."

Apart from the frantic final overs, which saw India collapse from 6-331 to be all out for 347, the match is best remembered for Jones's incredible innings and the oppressive conditions.

With temperatures hovering around 40 degrees Celsius and with 80 per cent humidity, Jones batted for more than eight hours to score 210 in Australia's first innings of 7-574.

David Boon (122) and skipper Allan Border (106) also passed three figures, but it was the footage of Jones being sick several times on the field that has seen his innings go into folklore.

The searing temperatures were made worse by the concrete MA Chidambaram Stadium, which players say seemed to radiate heat onto them.

The stench that emanated from a canal that snaked around the ground also added to the unbearable playing conditions.

Jones was so ill after his innings that he had to be taken to hospital.

"I don't think they would play today in those conditions," Steve Waugh told the ABC.

"I'd say they would claim it was harmful to your health.

"It really was quite ridiculous when you look back on it.

"It really was so hot and so humid that you'd step outside and it was like walking into a furnace."