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Team India, led by Rohit Sharma, would be entering the New Year Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on the back of an 184-run loss in the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
A win in Sydney would keep India’s hopes of WTC Final qualification alive. However, it would be a complex task for Rohit Sharma’s men as Australia have an exceptional record at the SCG.
The last time Australia played a Test match at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) was against Pakistan in January 2024. Hosts went on to bag an eight-wicket win against men in green with the skipper Pat Cummins securing six wickets and Josh Hazlewood bagging five wickets.
Moving into the details of the match, Pakistan scored a total of 313 runs in the first innings. However, Australia could score only 299 in return.
Interestingly, the Aussie bowlers turned the tables in the second innings, restricting the visitors to 115. The hosts went on to chase down the target of 130 quite comfortably. Notably, despite Australia winning the match, Pakistan's Aamer Jamal secured the player of the match award for his 82 runs and 6/69.
A look at the few Test records at the SCG
That said, India holds the highest team score at the Sydney Cricket Ground when they scored 705/7 in the first innings of the 2003-04 Test series. This was the match when Sachin Tendulkar smacked an iconic 241 runs while VVS Laxman scored 178 runs.
While India holds the highest team score, it is Australia that holds the lowest team score at the venue when they got bowled out for 42 runs against England in the only Test in 1888.
Former Australian skipper Michael Clarke holds the highest individual score at the SCG with 329* against India in 2012. On the other hand, England’s George Lohmann’s 8/35 are the best bowling figures at the SCG, recorded in 1887.
In conclusion, the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) has been a fortress for Australia, making it a challenging venue for any visiting team. As India prepares for the New Year Test, they face the daunting task of overcoming Australia's strong record at the SCG. The last Test match at this venue saw Australia secure a convincing win against Pakistan, showcasing their dominance. With historical records and recent performances in mind, the upcoming match promises to be a thrilling contest.
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