Top 5 spells by an Indian bowler in Tests at the SCG ahead of BGT 2024-25 5th Test ft. Anil Kumble

The action in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 shifts to the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) for the fifth and final Test. Though SCG is known to assist spinners more than any other ground in Australia, Team India have a poor record at the said ground.

Out of 13 Tests played at the SCG, India have triumphed in only one, five have been won by Australia and seven Tests have ended in a draw. India last won a Test at the SCG in 1978.

There have been a few memorable bowling spells by Indian bowlers at the SCG over the years. Here is a look at five such memorable bowling spells:

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#1 Anil Kumble (8/141) in 2004

The leg-spinner bowled a marathon spell at the SCG during India's tour of Australia in 2003-2004. The fourth Test of the said series was played at the SCG, with the series level 1-1.

Riding on Sachin Tendulkar's double century (241*), India piled on 705 runs for the loss of seven wickets before the innings was declared.

On a pitch that was not assisting bowlers, Kumble bowled 46.5 overs in Australia's first innings and picked up eight wickets. His victims included Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer, Ricky Ponting, Damien Martyn, Brett Lee, Simon Katich, Jason Gillespie, and Nathan Bracken. Australia were bundled out for 474 in their first innings.

The match ended in a draw, but Kumble's marathon spell is to date etched in the minds of cricket fans around the globe.

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#2 B.S. Chandrasekhar (4/30) in 1978

India's only Test win at the SCG has been in the year 1978 and Chandrasekhar was one of the architects of the said win.

Australia were bundled out for a paltry score of 131 in the first innings of the Test courtesy a brilliant bowling spell by the Indian leg-spinner.

He picked up four wickets in the first innings including that of the opener John Dyson, the Australian skipper Bob Simpson, Wayne Clark, and Steve Rixon. The Australian batters had no clue whatsoever with respect to the leg spin of Chandrasekhar.

India scored 396 runs in their first innings and Australia were bowled out for 263 in their second winnings. The visitors won the Test by an innings and two runs, and Chandrasekhar picked up two more wickets in Australia's second innings.

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#3 Erapalli Prasanna (4/51) in 1978

Prasanna (on the left) picked up four wickets in Australia's second innings and guided India to a win.

As mentioned earlier, Chandrasekhar was the chief destroyer for Team India in Australia's first innings. It was now the turn of Prasanna to have the Australian batters in his spinning web in the hosts' second innings.

The Australians were 265 runs behind India after the second innings of the Test. Prasanna, with his off-spin, first clean bowled Craig Serjeant. He thereafter picked up the wickets of Bob Simpson (LBW), Anthony Mann (caught and bowled) and Wayne Clark (bowled). The home team was bundled out for 263 and India won the Test by an innings and two runs.

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#4 Kuldeep Yadav (5-99) in 2019

Kuldeep Yadav picked up five wickets against Australia at the SCG in 2019.

Kuldeep Yadav, the chinaman, had the Aussies all over the place at the SCG in 2019. Playing his first Test on Australian soil, Kuldeep Yadav picked up his maiden five-wicket haul outside India in Test wicket.

In a game affected by rain, Team India amassed 622 for the loss of seven wickets and thereafter declared their innings. Australia, in return, were bundled out for 300. Yadav was the chief destroyer, picking up the wickets of Usman Khawaja, Travis Head, Tim Paine, Nathan Lyon, and Josh Hazlewood.

India enforced the follow-on, but the match ended in a draw.

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#5 Vijay Hazare (4/29) in 1947

The medium pacer was at his lethal best against Australia in 1947. India were bowled out for a paltry 188 in their first innings.

Hazare was the pick of the bowlers for India and scalped four Aussie wickets in the first innings. The hosts were bowled out for just 107. His four wickets included Arthur Hassett, the prized scalp of Donald Bradman (bowled), Ray Lindwall, and Donald Tallon.

The match ended in a draw but Hazare's bowling spell was the highlight of the drawn game.