India have taken firm grip on the ongoing fourth Test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground after end of day two. Starting the day on 303 for 4, India declared after piling up a mammoth 622 for 7. Cheteshwar Pujara starred with the bat, scoring 193 while Rishabh Pant played a stunning knock of 159. Ravindra Jadeja also played a beautiful knock of 81. In reply, Australia ended the day on 24 for no loss.
With the day done and dusted now, we take a look at interesting numbers and stats:
1. After declaring their innings on 622 for 7, India became the first side to declare in three consecutive innings against Australia. They have done it twice – first in 2008 (in Mohali & Delhi) in India and now in this series. India had declared in both the innings of the last Test in Melbourne.
2. For the 5th consecutive Test series in Australia, India’s highest score on the tour has been recorded at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
3. India now have the most 600-plus totals by a visiting team at the Sydney Cricket Ground. They have achieved the feat on three occasions, followed by England and West Indies who did it twice and once respectively.
4. In the last 45 years, Alastair Cook (1438 balls in Ashes, 2010/11) is the only visiting player to face more deliveries in a Test series in Australia than Cheteshwar Pujara (1240* balls in this series).
5. When Nathan Lyon dismissed Pujara for 193, he became the first bowler ever in Test history to have a victim in the 90s, 190s and 290s!
6. Cheteshwar Pujara has batted approximately 1869 minutes in this Test series thus far. It is the third most by an Indian in a Test series. Sunil Gavaskar had batted 1,978 minutes against Windies in 1971 and 1,976 minutes against England in the 1981/82 series.
7. Rishabh Pant has become the first wicketkeeper from Asia with 300-plus runs and 20-plus dismissals in a Test series.
8. Pant became the first Indian keeper to score a Test century in Australia. The previous highest score by an Indian keeper in Australia was 89 by Farokh Engineer in the 1967 Adelaide Test. A few months ago, he had also become the first Indian wicketkeeper to score a Test century in England.