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Stats: India's poor overseas record continues

December 29, 2011 15:12 IST

India's poor showing in Test matches away from home in 2011 continued as they slumped to a 122-run defeat against Australia in the first Test, in Melbourne, on Thursday. They have now lost five overseas Test matches in a row, including the 4-0 whitewash in England.

A look at India's record in Test cricket in the last ten years throws up some interesting facts.

While the Indians have been dominant at home, they record outside the sub-continent is poor with a win-loss ratio of 0.75 in 44 Tests, while in top Test nations like Australia, South Africa and England the win-loss ration dips further to 0.50.

India in Test cricket in the last 10 years:

Mts Won Lost Drawn Win-Loss Ratio
at home (overall) 47 23 6 18 3.83
away (overall) 63 21 21 21 1.00
away (outside the sub-continent) 44 12 16 17 0.75
away in Aus, SA and England 26 6 12 8 0.50

India are traditionally slow starters when it comes to playing away from home. Since 2001, they have won the first match of an away series only four times out of 14. Those wins have come against Zimbabwe, New Zealand, West Indies and South Africa.

India in first Test of a series in last 10 years (Outside the sub-continent):

Opponents Venue Series Result
West Indies Georgetown 2001-02 Drawn
England Lord's 2002 Eng won by 170 runs
New Zealand Wellington 2002-03 NZ won by 10 wickets
Australia Brisbane 2003-04 Drawn
Zimbabwe Bulawayo QSC 2005-06 Ind won by inns and 90 runs
West Indies St. John's 2006 Drawn
South Africa Johannesburg 2006-07 Ind won by 123 runs
England Lord's 2007 Drawn
Australia Melbourne 2007-08 Aus won by 337 runs
New Zealand Hamilton 2008-09 Ind won by 10 wickets
South Africa Centurion 2010-11 SA won by inns and 25 runs
West Indies Kingston 2011 Ind won by 63 runs
England Lord's 2011 Eng won by 196 runs
Australia Melbourne 2011-12 Aus won by 122 runs

The signs are not encouraging for India as far as the current four-match Test series against Australia is concerned. Since 2001, India have never won a series outside the sub-continent after losing the first Test. Twice they have been whitewashed -- 2-0 and 4-0 against New Zealand and England respectively.

India after losing the first Test of a series in last 10 years (Outside the sub-continent):

Opponents Season Mts Series Result
England 2002 4 Drawn 1-1
New Zealand 2002-03 2 New Zealand 2-0
Australia 2007-08 4 Australia 2-1
South Africa 2010-11 3 Drawn 1-1
England 2011 4 England 4-0
Australia 2011-12 4 In Progress

Rajneesh Gupta