Very few teams come to the Western Australian capital and inflict heavy defeat on the Australians. The West Indies did that, 16 years ago, when Curtly Ambrose' inspired spell of 7 wickets for 1 run destroyed the Aussies. But, that was a different era. India, came into this match with a big point to prove. Bruised and battered in the previous two test matches in the series, they left the baggage of controversy behind and moved on to Freemantle territory to put up a spirited performance in the Third Test and clinch a historic victory by 72 runs.

The Indians had a single digit number in the minds as they took the field in the morning - 8 i.e. the number of wickets needed to claim victory. And eight, they got after some inspired captaincy decisions by Kumble, superb bowling by the quicks and luck. Their charge to victory came to a pause, when the ninth wicket partnership between Stuart Clark and Mitchell Johnson had other intentions for a while, but it only looked as though they were delaying the inevitable.