Australia vs India 2018-19: Sydney has never been kind to India in the past

The Test match in 2004

Sachin and Laxman added a massive 353 runs for the fifth wicket in 2004

This was a four-Test series. India had the best chance to win a series for the first time in Australia since they were without their two main bowlers Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne.

India saved the first Test at Brisbane on the back of a sparkling 144 by skipper Sourav Ganguly. India won the second Test at Adelaide by four wickets with Rahul Dravid (233 & 72 not out), VVS Laxman (148 & 32) and Ajit Agarkar (6 for 41) being the heroes for India. In the third Test at Melbourne, India at one stage were 300 for 3 in the first innings before they somehow managed to lose that Test.

The teams reached Sydney for the last Test with the series levelled at 1-1 and everything to play for. It was Steve Waugh’s last Test match. Ganguly won an important toss for India and elected o bat first. The Indian openers Virender Sehwag and Akash Chopra gave India a flying start adding 123 runs.

Sachin Tendulkar, who had a poor series till then, came back to form at Sydney as he scored a scintillating 241 not out with 33 fours. Sachin and Laxman (178) added a colossal 353 runs for the fifth wicket which took the game away from Australia. India reached a massive first innings total of 705 for 7 when they declared their innings closed.

Australia were under tremendous pressure to save the Test and the series. The fact that it was their captain Steve Waugh’s farewell Test added to the pressure. Australia, helped by centuries from Justin Langer (117) and Simon Katich (125) reached 474 in the first innings. For India, Anil Kumble took eight wickets.

Anil Kumble's 12 wickets for the match was not adequate for India to force a win in 2004

Australia were short of the follow-on margin by 27 runs. But, Ganguly chose not to enforce the follow-on since the Indian bowlers were on the field for 117 overs in the first innings.

India went for quick runs in the second innings and declared with the score on 211 for 2. Dravid was on 91 and Sachin on 60 when the declaration came. Sachin made this Test match his own when he scored a total of 301 runs without being dismissed once.

The Australians were set an improbable target of 439 to win. More importantly, India were left with 94 overs to take 10 Australian wickets to win the match and with that the series.

The Australian top-order made useful contributions in the second innings. However, when Australia’s fourth wicket fell with still 50 overs to go, India were in with a very good chance. But, Steve Waugh, playing his last Test innings, came to his team’s rescue one final time.

Steve Waugh (80) and Simon Katich (77 not out) batted through 34 overs to earn Australia a hard fought draw. For India, once again Anil Kumble bowled brilliantly and took four wickets but there was no support for him from the other end.

In the end, the series was levelled 1-1 and India failed to make use of yet another great opportunity to win a series in Australia after scoring 700 in the first innings in that Sydney Test.

To sum up, Sydney, with its inclement weather, has never been kind to India which has denied India some memorable wins in the past. However, in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar series, the shoe is on the other foot with India taking a 2-1 lead in the series going into the Sydney Test.

The Australians are under the pump to win the Sydney Test and save the series. The Indians wouldn’t mind a bit of rain at Sydney this time around as a draw would ensure India their first series win in Australia in 71 years and after 12 series.

India are on the cusp of making history at Sydney