Statistical Highlights: Day 1

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October 26, 2004 20:19 IST

· Australia's total of 362 (for the loss of seven wickets) is the highest total ever achieved by any side on Indian soil on the opening day of a Test match. West Indies had made 359 (for the loss of three wickets) at Calcutta in 1958-59, which was the previous highest total achieved on opening day of a Test on Indian soil.

Interestingly Australia just missed the opportunity to aggregate most runs in ANY day's play against India on Indian soil. The record is still held by the West Indies, who scored 374 runs for the loss of six wickets at Delhi on the second day during the 1974-75 series. West Indies four for one at the end of first day's play reached 378 for 7 at the end of second day.

· Sourav Ganguly was missing a Test for the sixth time in his career. The other Tests missed by Ganguly : versus South Africa at Ahmedabad in November 1996, v West Indies at Georgetown in April 1997, v New Zealand at Mohali in October 2003 and v Pakistan at Multan and at Lahore in April 2004.

· Rahul Dravid was captaining India for the fourth time in his career. Interestingly his all captaincy assignments had come when Ganguly had to sit out because of injury.

· Aleem Dar became first Pakistani umpire to officiate in a Test on Indian soil.

· Glenn McGrath was playing his 100th Test. He became eighth Australian and 30th player to do so.

· Justin Langer (44) completed 1,000 runs against India when his score reached 39. He became the seventh Australian after Allan Border (1567 runs in 20 Tests), Ricky Ponting (1230 in 14), David Boon (1204 in 11), Matthew Hayden (1176 in 10),Bob Simpson (1125 in 11) and Steve Waugh (1090 in 18) and 28th player overall to aggregate 1,000 runs in a career against India. It was Langer's 13th Test and 23rd innings against India.

· The wicket of Simon Katich was 80th for Anil Kumble against Australia. He now holds the record of taking most wickets against Australia for India. Kumble was earlier at level with Kapil Dev with 79 wickets.

· When Rahul Dravid held on to Darren Lehmann's edge off the bowling of Murali Kartik, he equalled Sunil Gavaskar's record tally of 108 catches - highest by any Indian fieldsman. Dravid took only 81 Tests as against Gavaskar's 125 to equal his record.

· Damien Martyn (114) scored his second successive century (after his 104 at Chennai). He became fourth Australian batsman to score back-to-back centuries against India after Don Bradman (1947-48), Bob Simpson (1967-68) and David Boon (1991-92).

Bradman, in fact, scored centuries in three consecutive innings. Martyn, however, is the only one to perform this feat on Indian soil

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