Australia vs India 2018-19: Looking at the stats of every '4th Test' of an India-Australia series Down Under
India finds itself in a great position at the end of 2nd days play in the third test against Australia. But irrespective of the outcome of this match, the 4th test will play in important part in determining the result of the series. With the series tied at 1-1, whoever wins this match will be looking for a draw at least in the 4th match to win the series. For the team that loses they will be looking to win the 4th test to level the series and if the 3rd test ends in a draw the 4th test becomes almost like a final of a tournament where the winner will take the trophy.
Let us take a look at the history of the 4th test match of a series played whenever India toured Australia. In the past 11 of India's tour Down Under, there have been only 8 occasions when a 4th test match was played in a series. Australia lead India 4-1 in the 4th test of a series with 3 draws. Adelaide & Sydney are the only two locations where the 4th test of an India Australia series Down Under has been played with both hosting 4 matches each.
It is time now to look at the numbers and the stats.
Past performance
1947/48, Adelaide: Australia won by an innings & 16 runs
1967 /68, Sydney: Australia won by 144 runs
1977/78, Sydney: India won by an innings & 2 runs
1991/92, Adelaide: Australia won by 38 runs
2003/04, Sydney: Draw
2007/08, Adelaide: Draw
2011/12, Adelaide: Australia won by 298 runs
2014/15, Sydney: Draw
Batting performance
528 runs scored by Sachin Tendulkar is the most number of runs scored by a batsman in all fourth Test matches between these two nations Down Under.
241 scored by Sachin Tendulkar in the 2004 Sydney Test is the highest individual score by a player in an innings in the 4th Test.
301 runs scored by Sachin Tendulkar in the 2004 Sydney Test is the most number of runs scored by a player in a single 4th Test Match whenever India have toured Australia.
26 centuries have been scored in all 4th Test matches played whenever India have toured Australia.
2 centuries scored by Vijay Hazare, Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Ricky Ponting & Michael Clarke each is the most number of centuries scored by a player in the 4th Test Match whenever India have toured Australia.
1 is the number of times a player has scored a century in both innings of a match in the 4th Test match whenever India have toured Australia. This was scored by Vijay Hazare (116 & 145) in the 1948 Adelaide Test match.
40 half-centuries have been scored in the 4th Test Match whenever India have toured Australia.
3 half-centuries scored by Virender Sehwag is the most number of half-centuries scored by a player in the 4th Test Match whenever India have toured Australia.
Bowling performance
13 wickets taken by Anil Kumble is the most number of wickets taken by a player in the 4th Test Match whenever India have toured Australia.
8//14 taken by Anil Kumble in the 2004 Sydney Test is the best bowling performance by a player in an innings in the 4th Test Match whenever India have toured Australia.
8 five-wicket hauls have been taken in the 4th Test Match whenever India have toured Australia.
2 five-wicket hauls taken by Craig McDermott is the most number of five-wicket hauls taken by a player in the 4th Test Match whenever India have toured Australia.
12 wickets taken by Anil Kumble in the 2004 Sydney Test is the most number of wickets taken by a player in a single 4th Test Match whenever India have toured Australia.
2 10-wicket hauls in a match have been taken in the 4th Test Match whenever India have toured Australia. These were taken by Craig McDermott (1992) and Anil Kumble (2004).
Wicket-keeping performance
11 dismissals (11 catches) by Brad Haddin is the highest number of dismissals by a wicket-keeper in the 4th Test Match whenever India have toured Australia.
6 dismissals by Adam Gilchrist in the 2008 Adelaide Test match & by Brad Haddin in the 2012 Adelaide test Match is the highest number of dismissals by a wicket-keeper in a single 4th Test match whenever India have toured Australia.
Fielding performance
5 catches by Bob Simpson is the highest number of catches by a player in the 4th Test Match whenever India have toured Australia. It is also the most number of catches taken by a player in a single 4th Test Match whenever India have toured Australia. He took this in the 1968 Sydney Test Match.
Sachin Tendulkar has won the most number of Player of the Match Award in the 4th Test Match whenever India have toured Australia. He won the award twice, first in the 2004 Sydney Test and then in the 2008 Adelaide Test.