Rediff.com« Back to articlePrint this article

India face a daunting task

Last updated on: October 09, 2004 16:57 IST

Australia have set India a daunting target of 457 runs to win the second Test in Bangalore on Saturday.

No side has ever scored so many runs in the fourth innings to win a Test. The highest fourth innings winning total is the West Indies' 418 for 7, against Australia at St. John's in 2002-03.

India's highest is 406 for 4 against the West Indies at Port of Spain in 1975-76.

Highest fourth innings totals in Test cricket:

Total Target For Vs Test Venue Series Result
654-5 695 England South Africa 5th Durban 1938-39 Drawn
451 549 New Zealand England 1st Christchurch 2001-02 Lost
445 492 India Australia 5th Adelaide 1977-78 Lost
440 478 New Zealand England 1st Trent Bridge 1973 Lost
429-8 437 India England 4th The Oval 1979 Drawn
423-7 450 South Africa England 5th The Oval 1947 Drawn
418-7 417 West Indies Australia 4th St. John's 2002-03 Won
417 462 England Australia 1st Melbourne 1976-77 Lost
411 604 England Australia 1st Sydney 1924-25 Lost
408-5 835 West Indies England 4th Kingston 1929-30 Drawn
406-4 402 India West Indies 3rd Port-of-Spain 1975-76 Won
404-3 403 Australia England 4th Headingley 1948 Won
402 505 Australia England 5th Old Trafford 1981 Lost

Highest totals in fourth innings of a Test by India:

Total Target For Test Venue Series Result
445 492 Australia 5th Adelaide 1977-78 Lost
429-8 437 England 4th The Oval 1979 Drawn
406-4 402 West Indies 3rd Port-of-Spain 1975-76 Won
397 567 England 1st Lord's 2002 Lost
376 547 England 4th Old Trafford 1959 Lost
364-6 389 Pakistan 2nd Delhi 1979-80 Drawn
355 394 Australia 3rd Brisbane 1967-68 Lost
355-8 360 West Indies 5th Mumbai BS 1948-49 Drawn
347 347 Australia 1st Chennai 1986-87 Tied
343-6 407 England 2nd Old Trafford 1990 Drawn
333 371 Australia 4th Adelaide 1991-92 Lost
325-3 430 West Indies 3rd Kolkata 1948-49 Drawn
324 340 Australia 1st Brisbane 1977-78 Lost
303-3 452 Pakistan 1st Karachi 1989-90 Drawn

Highest totals in fourth innings of a Test by India to win:

Total Target For Test Venue Series
406-4 402 West Indies 3rd Port-of-Spain 1975-76
264-3 263 Sri Lanka 2nd Kandy 2001-02
256-8 253 Australia 2nd Mumbai BS 1964-65
233-6 229 Australia 2nd Adelaide 2003-04
200-5 199 New Zealand 1st Dunedin 1967-68
190-3 189 Zimbabwe 1st Delhi 2000-01
184-2 183 Zimbabwe 1st Bulawayo Q.C. 2001
181-3 180 Australia 3rd Delhi 1969-70
174-6 172 England 3rd The Oval 1971
155-8 154 Australia 3rd Chennai 2000-01
151-2 150 New Zealand 1st Bangalore 1995-96

Highest in fourth innings of a Test against Australia to win:

Total Target For Test Venue Series
418-7 417 West Indies 4th St. John's 2002-03
340-5 334 South Africa 3rd Durban 2001-02
332-7 331 England 3rd Melbourne 1928-29
315-9 313 Pakistan 1st Karachi 1994-95
315-4 314 England 4th Headingley 2001
311-9 307 West Indies 3rd Bridgetown 1998-99

Highest in fourth innings of a Test on Indian soil:

Total Target For Vs Test Venue Series Result
364-6 389 India Pakistan 2nd Delhi 1979-80 Drawn
355-8 360 India West Indies 5th Mumbai BS 1948-49 Drawn
347 347 India Australia 1st Chennai 1986-87 Tied
325-3 430 India West Indies 3rd Kolkata 1948-49 Drawn

Highest in fourth innings of a Test on Indian soil to win:

Total Target For Vs Test Venue Series
276-5 275 West Indies India 1st Delhi 1987-88
256-8 253 India Australia 2nd Mumbai BS 1964-65
208-4 206 England India 1st Delhi 1972-73
195-2 193 Australia India 3rd Bangalore 1997-98
192-4 191 West Indies India 1st Mumbai BS 1966-67
190-3 189 India Zimbabwe 1st Delhi 2000-01
181-3 180 India Australia 3rd Delhi 1969-70
164-6 162 South Africa India 1st Mumbai WS 1999-00
155-8 154 India Australia 3rd Chennai 2000-01
151-2 150 India New Zealand 1st Bangalore 1995-96
127-2 124 England India 2nd Delhi 1984-85
126-6 121 India Zimbabwe 2nd Delhi 2001-02
125-7 124 India West Indies 4th Chennai 1978-79

Rajneesh Gupta