Scoring runs in Indian conditions, especially in Test cricket is not a piece of a cakewalk. In order to score runs and keep the scoreboard ticking, it demands a truckload of concentration from the batsmen in the first place.
When it comes to the Border Gavaskar Trophy series, Team India have looked thoroughly dominant in the last four meetings. The fact that India retained the Border Gavaskar Trophy for a record fourth straight time tells that there has been a massive power shift towards India.
Case in point, the Australian opening batsmen didn’t really find it really comfortable while playing against India in India over the years. History tells us that the Australian openers failed to tackle India’s pace and spin challenge.
Despite all that, some Australian openers braved the challenges and still went on to score runs for the team on some occasions. In this article, let’s take a glimpse at four Australian Test openers who scored 150 in India.
1. Jim Burke
Jim Burke was the first Australian Test opener to score 150-plus runs in India. The former Australian cricketer who operated as a right-handed batsman scored 161 against India in Brabourne in 1956.
2. Graham Yallop
Graham Yallop who played Test and ODI cricket for the Australian cricket team from 1976 to 1984 was the second Australian Test opener to score 150-plus runs in India. He chipped in with 167 at the iconic Eden Gardens in 1979.
3. Matthew Hayden
Matthew Hayden was one of the greatest openers for the Australian cricket team during the playing days of his career. He scored a magnificent 203 against India in Chennai in 2001.
4. Usman Khawaja
Usman Khawaja played a spectacular inning against Team India in the Ahmedabad Test against India in the Border Gavaskar Trophy series 2023. The southpaw is the fourth Australian opening batsman to score 150-plus runs in India. The Pakistan-born Australian cricketer ended up scoring 180 runs.
