What is the highest successful run-chase at MCG in Tests before Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25?

India will have an uphill task on Day 5 as Australia have already taken a sizeable lead of 333 runs in their second innings in the ongoing Boxing Day Test in Melbourne. Day 4 turned out to be a topsy-turvy affair as both teams tried to wrestle the momentum in their favour. However, the atmosphere in the Australian camp will be more relaxed as no team has chased a total of more than 250 in the final innings of a Test match at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in this century.

The highest successful Test run-chase here is 332, which came exactly 96 years ago from Sunday, on December 29, 1928. England beat arch-rivals Australia by three wickets to win that encounter.

Apart from this, targets in excess of 250 have been chased in the fourth innings of Tests only on six more occasions. The last such instance came on February 10, 1961, when Richie Benaud-led Australia tracked down a target of 258 against Frank Worrell's West Indies with two wickets to spare.

The highest fourth-innings run-chase of this century was pulled off by Australia in 2013 in the Boxing Day Test of that year’s Ashes. They chased 231 runs in the final essay, having lost just two wickets. Chris Rogers' 116 and Shane Watson’s 83 orchestrated the win for The Baggy Greens.

Last-wicket partnership frustrates India

Jasprit Bumrah bowled a brilliant spell before Tea on Day 4 as Australia lost six wickets for 91 runs. The hosts had a lead of just 196 runs at that stage. India would have hoped to wrap up the Australian innings in quick time but Marnus Labuschagne and Pat Cummins had other ideas. The duo added 57 runs by showing a lot of resolve.

Mohammed Siraj got the better of Labuschagne for 70, while Ravindra Jadeja accounted for Cummins' wicket for 41. Mitchell Starc was run-out in between the wickets of Labuschagne and Cummins. Australia led by 278 runs at this stage with one wicket remaining.

Also Read: AUS vs IND: Jasprit Bumrah becomes India's most successful Test bowler in SENA nations

Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal would have started preparing themselves mentally for a short stint with the bat in the closing stages of the day. However, the unbroken last-wicket partnership between Nathan Lyon and Scott Boland frustrated the tourists as they added 55 runs off 110 balls. At Stumps, the Aussies stretched their lead to 333 and this has given them a great chance of winning the Test match. The five-match series is currently tied at 1-1, with the last Test set to be played in Sydney next month.