AUS vs IND, 2020-21: 4th Test, Day 3 – Sundar’s record double, End of Natarajan’s run less streak and more stats

India made a sensational comeback in the decider Test match at the Gabba thanks to lower-order contributions which brought down the first-innings deficit to 33 runs. None of India’s top six converted the starts they got as they lost six wickets for 186 on the board. Washington Sundar (62) and Shardul Thakur (67) showed resistance with a 123-run stand for the 7th wicket in 36 overs. Josh Hazlewood ended with up a 5-wicket haul to wrap up the Indian innings to 336. Australia ended the day on 21/0 in the six overs they batted before the stumps.

Here are all the statistical highlights from the eventful 3rd day’s play for India at the Gabba:

India’s record-breaking pair:

62 – Washington Sundar’s 62 is now the highest by a visiting debutant on Australian soil while batting at No.7 and lower position. The previous highest was 59 by Carlos Brathwaite during the 2015 Melbourne Test.

67 – Shardul Thakur’s 67-run knock is the highest Test by an Indian while batting at No.8 or lower at the Gabba. This is also the 4th highest Test score by a visiting player in Brisbane while batting at No.8 or lower.

123 – The 123-run partnership between Sundar and Thakur is India’s first century stand in Test cricket at the Gabba for 7th or lower wicket. This is also the 4th highest partnership for India on Australian soil for the 7th or lower wicket.

Sundar’s record double:

10 – Washington Sundar became only the 10th player to score 50+ runs and pick 3+ wickets in maiden innings on Test debut. He is also the 2nd Indian with this double after Dattu Phadkar (51 & 3/14) during the 1947 Sydney Test against Australia.

21y 104d – Washington Sundar is now the 2nd youngest player in Test history to score a fifty and claim a 3-wicket haul on Test debut. Tim Southee was the youngest player as he was 19 years and 106 days old when he complied this double in the 2008 Napier Test against England.

1 – Sundar is also the first visiting spinner to bag a 3-wicket haul and also score a fifty in the same Test match at the Gabba. As many as six Australian spin bowlers achieved this double at this venue.

Hazlewood @ 50 wickets:

50 – Josh Hazlewood completed 50 wickets in Test cricket against India when he dismissed Mohammed Siraj. He is now only the 6th Australian with 50 Test wickets against India. Hazlewood has 41 wickets in this format at home against India which are the 3rd most behind Nathan Lyon (58) and Brett Lee (45).

4 – The 5-wicket haul in India’s first innings was the 4th fifer in Test cricket for Josh Hazlewood against India. Nathan Lyon (7), Richie Benaud (5) and Graham McKenzie (4) are the other Australians with four or more 5-wicket hauls in Tests against India. Three of the four 5-fers of Hazlewood came at home which are the joint 2nd most behind Lyon’s four fifers.

End of Natarajan’s run less streak:

11 – Thangarasu Natarajan’s maiden run in Test cricket was also his first run in the last 11 innings in first-class cricket. He last scored a run in this format was way back in December 2018. Natarajan’s streak of 10 innings without a run in first-class cricket is the longest for any Indian.