The Australians might be down a bit psychologically after losing the first Test match against India in Chennai last week. But, they can take some solace from the fact that they never lost to India in the city in the three one-dayers they played since 1986-87.
One was abandoned and the other two the visitors won. And, tomorrow’s Test is the first-ever between the two teams here.
Incidentally, the first ever Australian to lead a side in Hyderabad was Jack Ryder in the Moin-ud-Dowla Gold Cup in 1934-35, according to P. R. Man Singh. Later, some of the Australians also led the then famous Commonwealth XI teams in the city too.
It was also interesting to see BCCI vice-president and former India off-spinner N. Shivlal Yadav spend a lot of time in pitch preparation and also engaged in a long chat with Sachin Tendulkar and captain M.S. Dhoni in the nets. “The Aussies are fighters and can never be written off,” he said to a query insisting that the pitch would play good on the first two days and then start taking turn.
Scores
The scores of ODIs between India and Australia in city: 1986-87: (LB Stadium): Australia 242 for six (Geoff Marsh 30, Dean Jones 48, Greg Ritchie 75, Ravi Shastri two for 36) Vs India 41 for one in 10.4 overs. Play abandoned due to rain.
2007-08: (Uppal stadium): Australia 290 (Mathew Hayden 60, Michael Clarke 59, Andrew Symmonds 89, Zaheer Khan two for 61, Sreesanth two for 58, Pathan two for 57) bt India 243 (Sachin Tendulkar 43, Yuvraj Singh 121, M. S. Dhoni 33, Brett Lee three for 37, Brad Hogg three for 46).
2009: (Uppal stadium) Australia 350 for four (Shane Watson 93, Shaun Marsh 112) bt India 347 (Sachin Tendulkar 175, Shane Watson three for 43).
