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Ahead of the first India-Australia Test at Optus Stadium in Perth from Friday (November 22), here’s a look at India’s performance in the first Test of the last 13 series played in Australia.
India’s record in first Test of every series played in Australia. (Picture Credit: AFP)
India will face Australia in the first Test of the 2024-25 edition of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Perth. The match is scheduled to take place at Optus Stadium and will start on Friday, November 12. India has toured Australia 13 times for a Test series in the last 77 years but only on one occasion has managed to win the series opener. In the absence of Rohit Sharma, who is yet to arrive in Australia, star pacer Jasprit Bumrah will lead India in the first Test. The 30-year-old fast bowler, who is arguably the best bowler of present times, would like to inspire the Indian team to a big win.
However, it isn’t going to be an easy job for the visitors, who are coming into the away series after losing three matches in a row against New Zealand at home.
Ahead of the start of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, here’s a look at India’s performance in the first Test of series played in Australia:
1947: Australia beat India by an innings and 226 runs in Brisbane
The first ever Test match between India and Australia was played in Brisbane from November 28 to December 4 in 1947, and in that match, Don Bradman’s Australia hammered India by an innings and 226-run margin. The hosts rode on Bradman’s 185 to post a total of 382 runs on the board for the loss of eight wickets, and then Ernie Toshack picked up five and six wickets to dismiss India for 58 and 98 runs in two innings.
1967: Australia won by 146 runs in Adelaide
The first Test of the 1967-68 Test series between India and Australia was played in Adelaide (December 23-28). In that match, the Bob Simpson-led side set a target of 398 runs for India to chase down in the fourth inning, but despite half-centuries from Rusi Surti and Venkataraman Subramanya, the Chandu Borde-led side could only manage to score 251 runs and went on to lose the fixture by 146 runs.
1977: Australia beat India by 16 runs in Brisbane
Bishan Singh Bedi-led Team India gave a tough fight to Australia in the first Test of the 1977-78 series played in Brisbane from December 2-6 but fell short by just 16 runs. Sunil Gavaskar scored a century (113), and Syed Kirmani contributed 55 runs in the second inning, but it all went in vain in the end.
1981: India lose by an innings and 4 runs in Sydney
In the first Test of the 1981 series, played in Sydney, the Baggy Greens got the better of India by an innings and four runs. The Sunil Gavaskar-led side scored 201 runs in both innings, whereas Australia posted a total of 406 runs, which proved to be enough.
1985: Draw in Adelaide
The first Test of the 1985 India-Australia series was played in Adelaide from December 13 to 17, and it ended in a draw. In reply to Australia’s first inning total of 381, India rode on Sunil Gavaskar’s 166* and half-centuries from Kris Srikkanth and Chetan Sharma to score 520 runs.
1991: Australia won by 10 wickets in Brisbane
Australia hammered India by 10 wickets in the first Test of the 1991 series played at The Gabba in Brisbane. The Aussies chased down the target of 58 runs in the fourth inning of the match without losing any wicket. India was only able to draw one of the five Tests played in that series and suffered defeat in the other four.
1999: Australia beat India by 285 runs in Adelaide
The India-Australia Test series was renamed the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in 1996 after the two greats of the game. The first BGT Test in Australia was played at Adelaide Oval from December 10-14 in 1999, and in that match, Steve Waugh’s side defeated Sachin Tendulkar & Co. by 285 runs. The Aussies set up a target of 396 runs for India to chase down in the fourth inning, but the visitors got all out for just 110 runs in 38.1 overs.
2003: Draw in Brisbane
Sourav Ganguly was the captain of the Indian team, which fought hard against Steve Waugh’s Australia in the first Test of the 2003-04 edition of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy played at the Gabba from December 4-8 and managed to draw the game.
2007: Australia won by 337 runs in Melbourne
The 2007-08 Test series between India and Australia kicked off with a Boxing Day Test in Melbourne, and in that fixture, the Ricky Ponting-led side defeated Anil Kumble’s India by 337 runs. Australia scored 343 and 351/7 (declare) in that match, and India could only score 196 and 161 runs.
2011: Australia won by 122 runs in Melbourne
In the first Test of the 2011-12 Border-Gavaskar Trophy played at Melbourne Cricket Ground from December 26 to 29, Australia beat India by 122 runs. The MS Dhoni-led side was dismissed by 169 by the hosts in reply to the 292-run target.
2014: Australia beat India by 48 runs in Adelaide
Virat Kohli made his Test captaincy debut for India in the first match of the 2014-15 Border-Gavaskar Trophy played at Adelaide Oval from December 9 to 13. But despite his twin centuries in the match, India failed to get the better of the hosts and went on to lose the fixture by a narrow margin of 48 runs.
2018: India beat Australia by 31 runs in Adelaide
India won the first Test of the series in Australia for the first time in the 12th attempt. Virat Kohli was the captain of the Indian team that hammered the Kangaroos by 31 runs in the series opener of the 2018-19 Border-Gavaskar Trophy played at Adelaide Oval from December 6-10. Cheteshwar Pujara scored 123 and 71 runs, and Jasprit Bumrah and R Ashwin picked up three wickets each in both innings.
2020: Australia beat India by 8 wickets in Adelaide (D/N)
The first Test of the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy was a day-night match in Adelaide. Virat Kohli’s India took a narrow lead of 53 runs in the first inning but was dismissed for just 36 runs in the second. As a result of India’s shocking collapse, the Aussies were asked to chase down the target of 90 runs in the fourth inning, and they managed to achieve the objective without much fuss.
- Location :
Perth (Australia)
