Test Cricket is all about patience. More the patience, the greater the chances of a team performing well on a consistent basis. But sometimes, if a team has to go for an outright win on the final day of a Test match while defending a target, the meaning of Test Cricket gets changed. Runs are scored at a brisk pace and the best of the Test is seen.
The same was seen today in the fourth Test between India and Australia at Sydney. Leading by 97 runs, Australia scored 251 runs in just 40 overs at 6.27 RPO (Runs Per Over) and became the second team in the history of Test Cricket to score at more than 6 RPO (6.27). Joe Burns, Steven Smith and Chris Rogers lead the charge and scored at a strike rate of 80.00, 101.42 and 169.23 respectively.
Australia broke their own record which they had made against South Africa in 1902 (they scored at 5.80 RPO) at Johannesburg.
South Africa hold the record of scoring at the fastest pace. They did it against Zimbabwe at Cape Town in 2005 when they scored at 6.80 RPO.
Stat: Teams who have scored at a fast pace in Test History (min. 40 overs)
|
Team |
Score |
Overs |
RPO |
Innings |
Opposition |
Ground |
Year |
|
South Africa |
340/3d |
50.0 |
6.80 |
Second |
Zimbabwe |
Cape Town |
2005 |
|
Australia |
251/6 |
40.0 |
6.27 |
Third |
India |
Sydney |
2015 |
|
Australia |
296 |
51.0 |
5.80 |
Second |
South Africa |
Johannesburg |
1902 |
|
England |
447/3d |
78.0 |
5.73 |
Second |
Bangladesh |
Chester-le-Street |
2005 |
|
West Indies |
246/2d |
43.0 |
5.72 |
Third |
England |
St John’s |
1986 |
*Stats updated till January 9th, 2015
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