Boxing Day test blues for Team India

How many of you remember last years Durban test? Can you recall Sreesanth’s absolute ripper to get rid of a rock solid Kallis? Can you recall when Harbhajan bowled his first doosra last year? If you can’t, then you better take a look at this match.

That win was India’s first ever Boxing Day test win in 25 years. India played their first ever Boxing Day test against Australia in Australia (26-30 Dec 1985). Till now, they have played 10 boxing day test matches so far, they have drawn their first and won their last but in between, they have lost all the matches.

India boxing day test match stats.

India has scored above 400 runs in an innings only once in all their Boxing Day tests. They scored 445 runs in their 1st innings of the 1st boxing day test match against Australia but since then, it has been an uphill task for Indian batsmen as they have failed to touch that mark again in their next 19 attempts. Out of 20 innings in 10 test matches, India were bowled out 19 times by the opponent on the boxing day test match.

Sachin has played 9 matches and the coming match against Australia will be his 10th boxing day test (I doubt anyone would have played more boxing day test matches then him, atleast for a visiting player) and the only boxing day match he didn’t feature for India was their first in 1985.

The batting averages of India’s stalwart middle order in Boxing Day tests are a clear indication of their struggle to post big scores.

Sehwag blazing 195 at Melbourne in 2003 was the highest score by an Indian in a Boxing Day test match and he has better average among the current crop of Indian batsmen. Against Australia alone, Sachin average shoots up indicating his dominance over the former world champions and is below par record in South Africa.

India’s bowling line-up comprises of two seasoned campaigners, two rookies and one of which is yet to play test cricket at international level . Zaheer has played four Boxing Day test matches which shows his prolonged career and experience he carries through to this Indian attack but the numbers are not bright for him. In 4 matches, he has taken 14 wickets at a strike rate of 60 balls per wicket with no five wicket haul (4 for 46 is his best). India have bowled out their opponents twice in a match only three times (1 drawn, 1 lost and 1 won). So, they need a big effort from their bowlers this time to script yet another win, like they did in Durban.

One positive stat for India is that they have won the toss four out of five times against Australia (Kumble lost the loss on the last tour). With Melbourne hosting the 1st test match of the series, I guess, India will need big Santa favour to win.

Merry Christmas!

Stats from cricinfo