India v Australia: Five flashpoints from Tests gone by

India and Australia will renew their rivalry in Pune when the first Test gets underway on Sky Sports, this Thursday at 3.50am on Sky Sports 1.

Here are five flashpoints the series has thrown up in previous years…

Sunny's strop

Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar threatened to forfeit the 1981 Melbourne Test after being given out lbw on 70 to Dennis Lillee. Gavaskar was adamant that the ball had hit his bat first and remonstrated with both Lillee and the umpire before reluctantly starting his walk from the crease while shaking his head vehemently. He instructed bemused fellow opener Chetan Chauhan to leave with him and the pair headed for the boundary.

A swift intervention from then Indian manager Shahid Durrani prevented Chauhan from leaving the field which would have resulted in the visitors conceding the match and incurring a suspension. Gavaskar later said he regretted his "inexcusable behaviour".

Tendulkar out 'shoulder before'

During the 1999 Adelaide Test, the great Sachin Tendulkar dismissed effectively for "shoulder before wicket". 'The Little Master' attempted to duck a Glenn McGrath bouncer, only for the ball to keep low and hit his left shoulder.

Umpire Daryl Harper had no hesitation in giving Tendulkar out lbw. Some replays suggested the ball may have clipped the top of the stumps but most were inconclusive. Tendulkar was out for a duck and played down the decision, merely saying his dismissal was a bit disappointing.

Ganguly keeps Waugh waiting

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly so enraged his opposite number Steve Waugh during India's 2001 tour that the Australian skipper accused him of a "lack of respect". Waugh was furious that Ganguly kept turning up late for the toss.

Waugh wrote in his autobiography that he was "wound up" by the left-handed batsman's "continued petulance". Ganguly initially maintained that his tardiness had been a mistake. Years later though he revealed that he had turned up a few minutes late on purpose each time to teach the Aussies a lesson for their rude behaviour.

'Monkeygate' erupts

Australia all-rounder Andrew Symonds accused spinner Harbhajan Singh of calling him a "monkey" during the 2008 New Year Test in Sydney. Singh, who denied any wrong-doing, was suspended for three matches for the alleged racist slur.

The ban was overturned when India threatened to quit the tour, claiming Singh had been wrongly accused. The allegations prompted India captain Anil Kumble to say that only one team was playing with the spirit of the game. Australia won the match and went on to take the series 2-1.

Kohli shows the middle finger

Four years after 'Monkeygate' came 'Fingergate' when Virat Kohli, fielding in the deep, was on the receiving end of some unpleasant chants from the Sydney Test crowd. He responded by flashing the middle finger. It was caught on camera and Kohli was fined 50 per cent of his match fee for bringing the game into disrepute.

He later defended his response on Twitter: "I agree cricketers don't have to retaliate. what (sic) when the crowd says the worst things about your mother and sister. the worst I've heard."

Watch India take on Australia in the first Test in Pune, live on Sky Sports 2 from 3.50am on Thursday.