India’s woeful ODI record at SCG: 17 games, only 4 wins

MS Dhoni in serious talks with coach Duncan Fletcher ahead of the semi-final. (Source: AP)

India start their semi-final against Australia with a severe handicap, thanks to their woeful record at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). Since December 1980, India have played 17 ODIs at the SCG, winning just four. The last match for India at SCG, incidentally against Australia in January 2015, had to be abandoned due to rain.

Three of the four wins for India at SCG have come against neutral opponents, whereas just one has come against Australia.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHxwTVk9-AI?version=3&rel=1&fs=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&wmode=transparent&w=640&h=390]

Out of the three wins, two came in the World Championship of Cricket in 1985. The first was against England by 86 runs in the league stage of that tournament, whereas the second came in the semi-final of the tournament, against New Zealand by seven wickets. The third win came seven years later in the league stage of the World Cup 1992 over arch-rivals Pakistan by 43 runs.

India’s only win over Australia came during the first final of the 2007-08 tri-series. India were inspired by a Sachin Tendulkar special, who was supported well by the then young turk Rohit Sharma. In the end India won by six wickets. Incidentally, there are just two survivors from that playing XI in 2008, Rohit himself and the captain MS Dhoni. The only member from that squad in Australia is Suresh Raina.

But what should give India hope is that the last time they played a semi-final of a World event at SCG, during the World Championship of Cricket in 1985, they won. Then their opponents were New Zealand. A key member of that squad, Ravi Shastri, is now with the current Indian squad as Team Director.

Source:: Indian Express