IND vs AUS 5th Test: Sydney pitch report, India's stats at the SCG

Pitch report by Sunil Gavaskar: "There is a lot of grass on the pitch. The sun is not out and it is very overcast. The new ball will not be easy for the batters"

Ahead of the fifth and final Test in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy between India and Australia, the pitch at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) become a point of focus. With the match set to start on January 3, the pitch curator, Adam Lewis, shared some important details regarding the surface that will be used for the highly anticipated clash.  IND vs AUS 5th Test Sydney pitch report

 

Here's what Gavaskar said about Sydney pitch

 

"There is a lot of grass on the pitch. The sun is not out and it is very overcast. The new ball will not be easy for the batters. Konstas batted well at the MCG. Batting with the new ball won't be easy."

 

A New Year’s Day update with SCG Curator, Adam Lewis ????#PinkTest pic.twitter.com/QfyZQ6Risd

— Sydney Cricket Ground (@scg) January 1, 2025

  Here's what Sydney Pitch curator said about the Sydney pitch before the start of the IND vs AUS match?  “We’re two days out now, getting to the final stages of the prep. We’ve taken the covers off this morning, given a cut of 7mm and giving it a nice roll today, nice pressing. Really happy with where it’s at. Giving it a little flick of water, it's very hot in Sydney today, so we’ll just keep the moisture there just at the top. And then tomorrow, we’ll do a little bit more heavier rolling, take a little bit of the colour out, then we should be ready to go for the third (morning),” Lewis said in a video shared by the SCG’s official X handle.

 

Historically, the SCG pitch has been known for its subcontinent-like characteristics, with spinners often enjoying plenty of turn. The pitch is also considered a batsman-friendly surface once the players get their eye in. This could present a challenge for both sides, as batters will have the opportunity to settle in and make significant contributions, but bowlers will need to work hard to break partnerships. 

India Test record at Sydney Cricket Ground
Matches Played	Matches Won	Matches Lost	Draw	Highest Individual Score
13	1	5	7	Sachin Tendulkar - 241* in 2004

 

As India prepares for the fifth Test, they find themselves trailing Australia 1-2 in the series. India’s chances of holding on to the Border-Gavaskar Trophy are on the line, following a heavy 184-run defeat in the fourth Test in Melbourne. The pressure is mounting on the Rohit Sharma-led side, as they must either win or draw the match in Sydney to avoid relinquishing the prestigious trophy, which they have held since 2017. 

India vs Australia 5th Test: What will toss winning captain do at SCG?

 

 

How teams batting first fared in Sydney Test
Total Matches	114
Matches won batting first	47
Matches won bowling first	43
Average 1st innings Score	318
Average 2nd innings Score	311
Average 3rd innings Score	249
Average 4th innings Score	169
Highest total recorded	705/7 (187.3 Ov) by India vs Australia
Lowest total recorded	42/10 (37.3 Ov) by Australia vs England

Sydney cricket ground key stats and record 

Check key stats and records at The Sydney Cricket Ground ahead of India vs Australia 5th Test, which starts on January 3. 

Sydney Cricket Ground
City	Sydney
Country	Australia
First Test Match	17/02/1882
Last Test Match	03/01/2024
Matches Played	112
Matches Won by Home Side	61 (54.46%)
Matches Won by Touring Side	28 (25.00%)
Matches Won by Neutral Side	0 (0.00%)
Matches Won Batting First	47 (41.96%)
Matches Won Batting Second	42 (37.50%)
Matches Won Winning Toss	42 (37.50%)
Matches Won Losing Toss	47 (41.96%)
Matches Drawn	23 (20.54%)
Matches Tied	0 (0.00%)
Highest Individual Innings	329*	M J Clarke (Australia)	03/01/2012 v India
Best Bowling (Innings)	8/35	G A Lohmann (England)	25/02/1887 v Australia
Best Bowling (Match)	12/87	C T B Turner (Australia)	10/02/1888 v England
Highest Team Innings	705/7 dec (India)	-	02/01/2004 v Australia
Lowest Team Innings	42 (Australia)	-	10/02/1888 v England
Highest Run Chase Achieved	288/2 (Australia)	-	02/01/2006 v South Africa
Average Opening Stand (Runs)	34.56
Average Runs per Wicket	30.85
Average Runs per Over	2.89
Average Score Batting First	320