Highest Test partnerships by Indians in Australia

#1 353 runs 4th wicket stand between Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman at Sydney, 2004

Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman (file photo)

The 2003-04 remains one of India’s most memorable trips to the country, due to the way in which the team competed with the hosts and in the last Test at Sydney, they completely dominated the game. India batted first and the top order laid a nice platform when VVS Laxman came in to join Sachin Tendulkar with the score at 194 for 3.

Tendulkar had got out by trying to play offside strokes throughout the series and in this game, he decided to completely avoid playing shots on that side of the wicket. Instead, all his runs came on the onside and with Laxman as his partner, the two batsmen gave the Australian bowlers no chances at all.

Laxman made 178 in 298 deliveries and hit as many as 30 boundaries. The paid added 353 runs for the 5th wicket and by the time Laxman departed, India had made 547. Tendulkar went on to make an unbeaten 241 and India eventually declared for a mammoth 705 runs.

The match ended in a draw but India did have the chance to win the game after they had reduced Australia to 342 for 6 in the last evening.