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Filed under India tour of Australia

Much goes into crafting a readable article, specially when its on statistics. One of my friend, when I told him I was working on this India vs Australia test match records article - "who has the highest score?" he asked!

I guessed VVS Laxman's 281 at Eden Gardens, which turns out to be true. we've also discussed the tied test match at Chennai couple of decades ago, in our Ind v Aus head to head but can you guess who has taken most wickets when Indians are against Aussies? the surprising list has 6 Indians bowlers before any Australian.

Following list should help you find answers on most important records in test matches played between India and Australia, and you can also ask for some specific records to our experts in Itsonlycricket forums.


Head to Head
68 test matches : Aus 32, India 15, 1 tied, 20 draws.
Last match recorded = India vs Australia at Mumbai 2004.

Highest totals
705/7 dec by India, Sydney 2004
674 alout by Australia, Adelaide 1948
557/7 dec by India, Kolkata 2001
633/5 dec by India, Kolkata 1998
600/4 dec by India, Sydney 1986

Lowest Totals
58 by India, Brisbane 1947
67 by India, Melbourne 1948
83 by Australia, Melbourne 1981
93 by Australia, Mumbai 2004

Largest victory margins
No doubt Australia have had the better to two nations in test matches played recently, winning more matches comprehensively when compared to most Indian wins has been hard fought.

Inn & 226 by Australia, Brisbane 1947
Inn & 219 by India, Kolkata 1998
In runs - 342 run victory by Australia at Nagpur in 2004 remains the biggest winning margin between India and Australia.

Smallest winning margin
This is the kind of test matches we want to watch.. Thrillers as they say! India Australia have already played a tied test match at Chennai, in addition to following close-shaves.

13 runs, India wins at Mumbai 2004
16 runs, Aus wins at Brisbane 1977
38 runs, Aus wins at Adelaide 1992
39 runs, Aus wins at Brisbane 1968
47 runs, Aus wins at Adelaide 1978
59 runs, India wins at Melbourne 1981.
By wickets, India have won by 2 wickets twice (Mumbai & Chennai) whereas once Australia won a test match against India by 2 wickets at Perth 1977.

Most runs by a batsman
Sachin Tendulkar = 1859 runs, 39 innings, seven 100s. Best 241*.
Allan Border = 1567 runs, 35 innings, four 100s. Best 163.
Sunil Gawaskar = 1550 runs, 31 innings, eight 100s. Best 172.
G Vishwanath = 1538 runs, 31 innings, four 100s. Best 161*.
Rahul Dravid = 1480 runs, 33 innings, two 100s. Best 233.
VV Sai Laxman = 1457 runs, 29 innings, four 100s. Best 281.
Dilip Vengsarkar = 1304 runs, 38 innings, two 100s. Best 164.
Ricky Ponting = 1253 runs, 27 innings, four 100s. Best 257.
Mathew Hayden = 1244 runs, 22 innings, three 100s. Best 203.

Highest score by a batsman
VVS Laxman = 281, 452 balls, 44x4 at Kolkata 2001.
Ricky Ponting = 257, 258 balls, 25x4 at Melbourne 2003.
Ricky Ponting = 242, 352 balls, 31x4 at Adelaide 2003.
Sachin Tendulkar = 241*, 436 balls, 33x4 at Sydney 2004.
Rahul Dravid = 233, 446 balls, 23x4 6x1 at Adelaide 2003.
Justing Langer = 223, 355 balls, 30x4 at Sydney 2000.
Kim Hughes = 213, 301 balls, 21x4 at Adelaide 1981.
Dean Jones = 201, 330 balls, 27x4 6x2 at Chennai 1986.
Ravi Shastri = 206, 477 balls, 17x4 6x2 at Sydney 1992.
Greg Chappell = 204, 296 balls, 27x4 at Sydney 1981.
Mathew Hayden = 203, 320 balls, 15x4, 6x6 at Chennai 2001.
Don Bradman = 201, 296 balls, 21x4 6x1 at Adelaide 1948.
Note : list includes all double centuries made in Ind v Aus test matches. Once, Virendra Sehwag reached 195 inside the first day's play at Melbourne with a strike-rate of 91.23, but didn't complete his double ton!

Most wickets
Anil Kumble = 88 wickets in 14 matches, best 8/181.
Kapil Dev = 79 wickets in 20 matches, best 8/109.
Erapali Prasanna = 57 wickets in 13 matches, best 10/174.
Harbhajan Singh = 56 wickets in 08 matches, best 8/84.
Bisen Singh Bedi = 56 wickets in 12 matches, best 7/98.
Note : Shane Warne took 43 wickets against India at an average of 47.18 and economy of 3.15.

Few Record Notes
** The record for most extras conceded in Aus-Ind test matches goes to Australia, for their effort of 46 extras (19b, 15lb, 3wd, 4nb) at Chennai 2004. Once India conceded 45 extras in an innings!

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Records : India v Australia in test cricket

Coming up : India v Australia Twenty20 on 1 February

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