Laxman hit 281 - an Indian record

Indeed, it is so unusual that before the game, the feat of winning a match after being asked to bat again had only been achieved twice before, by England in 1981 and 1894.

The 1981 Headingley Test is legendary.

England were playing Australia in the third Test and needed a victory to level the series.

But it all seemed to go wrong.

Australia had declared on 401/9 near the end of the second day and managed to skittle England out for just 174.

No faith

England were forced to bat again and all-rounder Ian Botham stepped up for one of his finest innings when he hit Lillee, Lawson et al around the pitch for his unbeaten 149.

England were all out for 356 - leaving Australia needing just 130 for victory.

The bookmakers didn't have any faith in England - pricing the home side at 500-1 to win the match at one stage.

But in a brilliant bowling spell, fast bowler Bob Willis claimed eight wickets for just 43 runs in 15.1 overs.

Australia were all out for 111, England clinching victory by 18 runs.

Botham on his way to 149no in 1981

The only other time victory has been achieved from a follow-on was in 1894, again between England and Australia.

The match in question was the first of a five-Test series in Sydney.

Australia batted first and made an impressive 586 - thanks to 201 from Sydney Gregory and 161 from George Giffen.

England could only muster 325 in response and were forced to bat again.

Albert Ward, who had hit 75 in the first innings, again top-scored for England with 117 in the second.

But England were all out for 437 meaning Australia needed only 177 runs for first blood in the Test series.

Their batting collapsed after clever bowling from Robert Peel, who finished with figures of 6 for 67 off 30 overs, and Australia were all out for 166.

England won the first Test by a nail-biting 10 runs in an amazing turnaround.