It has been 58 Tests(111 Inns) spanning 5 years that an opening stand of 100 plus runs has been posted against Australian bowling attack!.
Last time it was in 2013 in India when Australia toured for 4-Test series. It was during 4th and last test match of Border-Gavaskar series at Delhi where openers Murali Vijay and Chetashwar Pujara put on 108 runs (25.1 overs) for first wicket.
Australia although manage to dismiss India cheaply for 272, but lost that test and the series 0-4!.
When Pak opening pair of Hafeez /Imam Ul Haq put on 205 for 1st wicket – on day one of 1st Test match (Oct 7, 2018)it broke the longest period for any team to post a opening hundred stand against Australia, home or away!.
The most amazing part of their bowling is, inspite not having a consistent bowling line-up over the years, they still manage to pick one of the openers quickly. Hence the opening stand averages a moderate 31.01 runs/wkt
Below is opening stand graphic summary against Australian bowling. The first row is the 2013 Border-Gavaskar series in India where Indian openers put two century stand of 289 and 108. Since then there none against their bowling – only 16 fifty plus partnerships.
In 2nd table there is team average in last column, and comparing that with opening stand reflects an interesting comparison.
Australia are currently playing Pakistan in UAE. The ongoing first Test saw host scoring 482, with openers posting huge 1st wkt stand of 205 runs. With 3 days remaining, Australia needs to salvage the game by putting on big or equal score!.
A quick look at pattern and regularity when Australia bowl first and concede > 400 score.
-If Australia bowls first(home and away since 1998) and concede > 400 score in 1st innings, – there is 48.14% chances for them to score 400 plus
….however when you filter their performance in Asia then it has only been one(16.67%) in 6 matches!. That was in 2008 Border-Gavaskar series -3rd Test, Delhi- India batted first and scored 613/7 decl. To which Australia scored 577 all out. The test ended in a draw.
