Australia vs India 2018-19: Sydney has never been kind to India in the past
India are strongly placed with a comfortable lead of 2-1 against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy going into the fourth and final Test at Sydney. For starters, India are the favourites to win the Sydney Test.
The uniqueness of Sydney as a Test venue
1. The Sydney wicket has traditionally been a dry, slow and low wicket aiding the spinners more.
2. The sub-continental nature of the wicket could be misleading. Over the years, it has only given a false sense of safety to the Asian teams of being at home before they were caught napping.
3. Due to inclement weather, there have been more draws at Sydney which doesn’t truly reflect Australia’s total domination at the venue.
4. Sydney traditionally used to host the New Year Test which also happened to be the last Test match of a series. Touring teams would be jaded and plagued with injury by the time they reach Sydney. The players would be both mentally and physically drained and would be in no mood to give their best and their mind would be on the flight back home.
5. Against popular belief, the performances of the Asian teams over the years at Sydney have been poor, to state the obvious.
Team India’s record at Sydney
Matches Played – 11
Matches Won - 1, Win Percentage – 9
Matches Lost – 5 –Loss Percentage – 45
Matches Drawn – 5, Draw percentage – 46
Team India’s solitary win at Sydney
India’s solitary win at Sydney came 40 years back way back in 1978 when Bishan Singh Bedi’s Indians overpowered Bobby Simpson’s Australians by an innings and 2 runs. That Australian team was the weakest ever after Kerry Packer took Australian cricket to ransom.
Team India’s heavy defeats at Sydney
India have lost a total of five matches in Sydney out of which three were by an innings. In the other two matches in 1968 and 2008, India lost by 144 runs and 122 runs respectively.
The 2008 debacle was the match in which on-field umpires Mark Benson and Steve Bucknor and TV umpire Bruce Oxenford joined hands and were in a huddle to adjudicate 10 horrendous decisions against India.
In the end, India lost the match with only a couple of overs left in the day.