No cricket side has been historically as dominant as Australia. India have played 98 Tests against Australia, winning 28 and losing 42. Having played their first Test against Australia in the 1947-48 season, it was only after the introduction of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in 1996 that India began scaled up. India have won 20 of their 28 Tests against Australia since 1996.
Border-Gavaskar Trophy Results
| Season | Host | Captains | Result | Holder | Player of the Series |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996-97 | India | S Tendulkar (IND); M Taylor (AUS) | India 1-0 (1) | India | N Mongia (IND) |
| 1997-98 | India | M Azharuddin (IND); M Taylor (AUS) | India 2-1 (3) | India | S Tendulkar (IND) |
| 1999-00 | Australia | S Waugh (AUS); S Tendulkar (IND) | Australia 3-0 (3) | Australia | S Tendulkar (IND) |
| 2000-01 | India | S Ganguly (IND); S Waugh (AUS) | India 2-1 (3) | India | Harbhajan Singh (IND) |
| 2003-04 | Australia | S Waugh (AUS); S Ganguly (IND) | Draw 1-1 (4) | India | R Dravid (IND) |
| 2004-05 | India | S Ganguly, R Dravid (IND); R Ponting, A Gilchrist (AUS) | Australia 2-1 (4) | Australia | D Martyn (AUS) |
| 2007-08 | Australia | R Ponting (AUS); A Kumble (IND) | Australia 2-1 (4) | Australia | B Lee (AUS) |
| 2008-09 | India | A Kumble, MS Dhoni (IND); R Ponting (AUS) | India 2-0 (4) | India | Ishant Sharma (IND) |
| 2010-11 | India | MS Dhoni (IND); R Ponting (AUS) | India 2-0 (2) | India | S Tendulkar (IND) |
| 2011-12 | Australia | M Clarke (AUS); MS Dhoni, V Sehwag (IND) | Australia 4-0 (4) | Australia | M Clarke (AUS) |
| 2012-13 | India | MS Dhoni (IND); M Clarke (AUS) | India 4-0 (4) | India | R Ashwin (IND) |
| 2014-15 | Australia | M Clarke, S Smith (AUS); V Kohli, MS Dhoni (IND) | Australia 2-0 (4) | Australia | S Smith (AUS) |
| 2016-17 | India | V Kohli, A Rahane (IND); S Smith (AUS) | India 2-1 (4) | India | R Jadeja (IND) |
| 2018-19 | Australia | T Paine (AUS); V Kohli (IND) | India 2-1 (4) | India | C Pujara (IND) |
India have gone on to win eight out of the 14 completed series, losing five. India, the current holders of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy have held on to the silverware nine times.
Head-to-head, India hold a 20-18 edge over Australia in the 48 Tests contested under Border-Gavaskar Trophy. However, in Australia, India have won four of their 23 Tests and lost 13. It was during the 2018-19 tour when India won a Test series in Australia for the first time.
Stat-Fest
Most runs in Border-Gavaskar Trophy
| Player | Tests | Runs | NO | Ave | SR | HS | 100s | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sachin Tendulkar (1996-2013) | 34 | 3,262 | 7 | 56.2 | 59.4 | 241* | 9 | 16 |
| Ricky Ponting (1996-2012) | 29 | 2,555 | 4 | 54.4 | 57.7 | 257 | 8 | 12 |
| VVS Laxman (1998-2012) | 29 | 2,434 | 5 | 49.7 | 54.3 | 281 | 6 | 12 |
| Rahul Dravid (1996-2012) | 32 | 2,143 | 6 | 39.7 | 39.5 | 233 | 2 | 13 |
| Michael Clarke (2004-14) | 22 | 2,049 | 2 | 53.9 | 56.6 | 329* | 7 | 6 |
| Matthew Hayden (2001-08) | 18 | 1,888 | 3 | 59 | 65.9 | 203 | 6 | 8 |
| Virender Sehwag (2003-13) | 22 | 1,738 | 1 | 41.4 | 75.2 | 195 | 3 | 9 |
| Cheteshwar Pujara (2010-19) | 16 | 1,622 | 2 | 60.1 | 45.8 | 204 | 5 | 7 |
| Virat Kohli (2011-2019) | 19 | 1,604 | 1 | 48.6 | 53.2 | 169 | 7 | 4 |
| Steve Smith (2013-17) | 10 | 1,429 | 3 | 84.1 | 56 | 192 | 7 | 3 |
Steve Smith’s numbers look really scary, isn’t it?
Highest individual scores | India-Australia Tests
- Michael Clarke 329 (468)* | Sydney, 2012
- VVS Laxman 281 (452) | Kolkata, 2001
- Ricky Ponting 257 (458) | Melbourne, 2003
- Ricky Ponting 242 (352) | Adelaide, 2003
- Sachin Tendulkar 241 (446)* | Sydney, 2003
- Most prolific Indian batsmen in Australia (Tests)
| Player | Tests | Runs | NO | Ave | HS | 100s | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sachin Tendulkar (1991-2012) | 20 | 1,809 | 4 | 53.2 | 241* | 6 | 7 |
| Virat Kohli (2012-19) | 12 | 1,274 | 0 | 55.4 | 169 | 6 | 3 |
| VVS Laxman (1999-2012) | 15 | 1,236 | 1 | 44.1 | 178 | 4 | 4 |
| Rahul Dravid (1999-2012) | 15 | 1,143 | 4 | 44 | 233 | 1 | 6 |
Most wickets in Border-Gavaskar Trophy
| Player | Tests | Wickets | Ave | Econ | SR | Best | 5w+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anil Kumble (1996-2008) | 20 | 111 | 30.3 | 3.1 | 58.7 | 8 for 141 | 10 |
| Harbhajan Singh (1998-2013) | 18 | 95 | 29.9 | 2.9 | 61.1 | 8 for 84 | 7 |
| Nathan Lyon (2011-19) | 18 | 85 | 32.6 | 3.2 | 60.2 | 8 for 50 | 7 |
| R Ashwin (2011-18) | 15 | 77 | 31.9 | 2.7 | 69.5 | 7 for 103 | 5 |
| Zaheer Khan (2001-12) | 19 | 61 | 35.6 | 3.4 | 63.2 | 5 for 91 | 3 |
| Ishant Sharma (2008-18) | 25 | 59 | 42.2 | 3.1 | 80.1 | 4 for 41 | 0 |
| Ravindra Jadeja (2013-19) | 10 | 56 | 19.3 | 2.2 | 53 | 6 for 63 | 3 |
| Brett Lee (1999-2008) | 12 | 53 | 32 | 3.3 | 57.1 | 5 for 47 | 2 |
| Glenn McGrath (1996-2004) | 11 | 51 | 18.6 | 2.2 | 50.1 | 5 for 48 | 2 |
| Mitchell Johnson (2007-14) | 14 | 50 | 36.7 | 3.3 | 66.5 | 5 for 64 | 1 |
Best bowling figures | India-Australia Tests
- Jasu Patel 35.5-16-69-9 | Kanpur, 1959
- Nathan Lyon 22.2-4-50-8 | Bangalore, 2017
- Harbhajan Singh 41.5-20-84-8 | Chennai, 2001
- Kapil Dev 38-6-106-8 | Adelaide, 1985
- Anil Kumble 46.5-7-141-8 | Sydney, 2004
Most wicket-takers from India in Australia (Tests)
| Player | Tests | Wickets | Ave | Econ | SR | Best | 5w+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kapil Dev (1981-92) | 11 | 51 | 24.6 | 2.4 | 61.5 | 8 for 106 | 5 |
| Anil Kumble (1999-2008) | 10 | 49 | 37.7 | 3.5 | 65.3 | 8 for 141 | 4 |
| Bishan Bedi (1968-78) | 7 | 35 | 27.5 | 2.4 | 68.3 | 5 for 55 | 3 |
| Mohammed Shami (2014-19) | 7 | 31 | 30.8 | 3.6 | 50.9 | 6 for 56 | 2 |
| Erapalli Prasanna (1967-78) | 8 | 31 | 31.1 | 2.3 | 82.6 | 6 for 104 | 2 |
| Ishant Sharma (2008-18) | 13 | 31 | 48.5 | 3.3 | 87.9 | 4 for 41 | 0 |
The Pink-Ball Test
The Adelaide Test marks India’s first-ever day and night Test away from home. Last year, India played one against Bangladesh at Eden Gardens that they comprehensively won. In the warm-up games, India did gain some experience playing with the pink Kookaburra ball under the lights.
On the eve of the Test, India have named their XI for the Adelaide Test.
India XI: Prithvi Shaw, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (c), Ajinkya Rahane (vc), Hanuma Vihari, Wriddhima Saha (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah
Despite his off form with the bat, India have backed Shaw for the opening slot ahead of KL Rahul and Shubman Gill. Also, Saha has been picked to keep wickets ahead of Pant, who got a hundred in the warm-up match. Pant also has a century the last time he played a Test in Australia (Sydney 2019). With the ball swinging under lights, it’s a fair call considering Saha possesses better skills behind the stumps.
Trivia: Virat Kohli is the only Indian cricketer with a Test hundred in a pink-ball Test.
Apart from their opening woes, Australia have a pretty settled line-up. The absence of David Warner has made Matthew Wade a frontrunner for the opening slot. With Will Puckovski out with a concussion, Joe Burns, despite his horrendous form in First-Class cricket, is likely to retain a spot. If fit, all-rounder Cameron Green is set for his Test debut. If that happens, Australia will have five regular bowling options.
Australia likely XI: Matthew Wade, Joe Burns, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green (if fit), Tim Paine (c & wk), Pat Cummins (vc), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood
Historically, the pink-ball Tests have favoured bowlers with the challenge being negotiating the twilight period. This is expected to be no different. With an in-form Smith back in the side and with their full-strength bowling armoury, Australia start clear favourites for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Test Rankings: Australia 1; India 3;
Australia are also leading the ICC World Test Championship Points Table with India at the second spot.
Batting – Smith (1), Kohli (2), Labuschagne (4), Warner (6), Pujara (7), Rahane (10)
Bowling –Cummins (1), Starc (6), Bumrah (8), Ashwin (10)