The much-awaited 5-match India-Australia ODI series is all set to begin at Hyderabad from the 2nd of March. This will be a significant series for both the sides as it will the last time they can finalize their combinations for the ICC 2019 World Cup.
The two teams share a rich ODI history and had played their first ODI way back in December 1980 at Melbourne during the Benson & Hedges World Series Cup. Before the series begins, here is a look at some interesting stats and numbers from India-Australia ODIs.
Most runs
India’s batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar had produced some truly epic performances against Australia; they always brought out the best in him. Sachin is also the leading run-getter in ODIs between the two teams with 3077 runs in 71 matches at an average of 44.59 along with 9 hundreds and 15 fifties. The next on the list is Ricky Ponting with 2164 runs in 59 ODIs.
Most wickets
Australian speedster leads this chart with 55 wickets in 32 ODIs at an average of 21.00 and an economy rate of 4.49. The next best is by India’s Kapil Dev who has 47 wickets in 41 ODIs against Australia.
Highest individual score
Rohit Sharma’s epic 209 in Bengaluru in November 2013 remains the highest individual score by a batsman in India-Australia ODIs. In fact, no other batsman is yet to score a double hundred in ODIs between the two teams. The next best score is 175 by Sachin Tendulkar in 2008 at Hyderabad.
Most sixes
India’s ‘Hit Man’ Rohit Sharma tops this list with 66 sixes in 31 matches against Australia. He is well ahead of anyone else by a significant distance as the next best on this list is Sachin Tendulkar who had 35 sixes in 71 ODIs. Given that Rohit is only going strong, he is likely to be at the number one of this list for a long time to come.
Highest team total
India’s mammoth 383-6 in 50 overs at Bengaluru in November 2013 is the highest team total in India-Australia ODIs’. India reached that total courtesy an incredible 209 by opener Rohit Sharma. The next highest team total is India’s 362-1 in 43.3 overs at Jaipur in October 2013 when they were chasing Australia’s 359-5.
Best bowling figures
Indian off-spinner Murali Kartik leads this list with his outstanding spell of 6-27 that dismantled the Australian batting in an ODI at Mumbai in October 2007. Before Kartik, the record for the best bowling figures in India-Australia ODIs was held by Australian seam bowler Ken MacLeay with his spell of 6-39 at Nottingham in the 1983 World Cup.
Highest ever partnership
Steve Smith and George Bailey’s massive 242-run stand in the 1st ODI at Perth is the highest ever partnership in India-Australia ODIs. While chasing India’s 309-3, Australia was in trouble at 21-2. But Smith (149) and Bailey (112) came together to stitch a record-breaking partnership and win the game for Australia.
Most successful captain
Australia’s Ricky Ponting stamped his authority as a leader in India-Australia ODIs as well being the most successful captain in ODIs between the two sides. He captain Australia in 35 ODIs against India and won 21 games while losing only 10, thus ending with win percentage of 67.74.