Team India lost the opening Test at Edgbaston to England after possessing a strong grasp on the game at Tea on Day 3. Virat Kohli showed some great tenacity against pacers but as soon as he departed, the Indian tail was wiped off soon enough by the English bowlers to take a 1-0 lead in the series.

Page 1

<div class="layoutArea"><div class="column"><p>Sam Curran was the stand-in performer for England grabbing 5 for 92 and scoring vital 87 runs in his maiden Test against India and was adjudged the Man of the Match. At 20 years, he is the youngest ever England player to achieve this feat.</p><div class="page" title="Page 1"><div class="layoutArea"><div class="column"><p>This was not the first time India lost an overseas Test match despite being in the driver&#8217;s seat. Till date, they have played 17 Test matches in SENA nations (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia) from December 2013 but managed to win only two.</p><div class="page" title="Page 1"><div class="section"><div class="layoutArea"><div class="column"><p>Since India’s tour of South Africa in 2013, there may be some occasions when they smelled the opportunity of winning overseas Test in SENA nations but players like Curran stood in between them and a favourable result.</p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>

The Indian team must figure out how to operate against these players &#8211; should make an organised game with a clearer understanding and learning from the past defeats before going into the second game at Lord&#8217;s as <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/virat-kohli-sarcastically-asks-ollie-pope-not-score-runs-lords/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ollie Pope</strong></a> is set to make his debut against India.

Here is a throwback to some matches when India could have tasted overseas Test victory but budding players dashed the tourist&#8217;s dream.

1. Proteas batted for 136 overs in the fourth innings to fortify Johannesburg

<a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2018/01/Faf-du-Plessis-2.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-210649" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Faf-du-Plessis-2.jpg" alt="Faf du Plessis" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-210649" class="wp-caption-text">Faf du Plessis of South Africa. (Photo by Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images/Getty Images)</figcaption>

India’s tour of South Africa 2013: 1st Test, Johannesburg

It was India&#8217;s first overseas Test without the likes of <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/team-rankings-do-not-matter-in-cricket-says-virender-sehwag-ahead-of-the-second-test/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Virender Sehwag</strong></a>, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman. India had a chancohannesburg against South Africa, the then No.1 ranked team that had never lost a Test series since March 2009.

Vernon Philander &amp; Faf du Plessis were playing their maiden Test match against India. Philander restricted India to 280 by taking 4 for 61 in his very first outing against India. Also, he played a vital knock of 59 (86) batting at no.8 helping South Africa post 244 from 146/6 sharing a partnership of 80 runs with Faf and reduced the deficit to 36 runs.

India asked South Africa to chase a mammoth total of 458, highest ever target to win the Test match or to survive 135 overs in case of a draw on a really difficult Johannesburg wicket. The visitors were favourites in both the cases. While chasing, the Proteas promoted Faf at no.4 ahead of Jacques Kallis and AB de Villiers. He played a rear resilient inning surviving for 395 minutes scoring 134 (309) on the fifth day wicket rescuing South Africa from a certain defeat.

At one point they were in a position to even win that match falling just 16 runs short as du Plessis ran himself out. Philander ensured a draw remaining unbeaten on 25 (37) in the last 30 minutes.

<span class="s1"><b>For all the latest </b><span class="s2"><b>cricket news</b></span><b> and other updates follow </b><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/"><span class="s2"><b>CricTracker</b></span></a><b>.</b></span>

2. India came agonisingly close to winning the first Test at Auckland

<a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2017/12/Neil-Wagner.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-195076" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Neil-Wagner.jpg" alt="Neil Wagner" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-195076" class="wp-caption-text">Neil Wagner of New Zealand. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)</figcaption>

India’s tour of New Zealand 2014: 1st Test, Auckland

After a promising show in South Africa in 2013, India went on to a tour of New Zealand as favourites. The first Test played between the two sides was a great example of why Test cricket is termed the best format of the sport. India had never lost a Test match at Eden Park, Auckland before that game. Corey Anderson &amp; Neil Wagner were amongst the players who made impressive debut against India.

After a poor start being 30/3, New Zealand scored 503 in their first innings. Anderson came in to bat at no.6 and hit some lusty blows around the park along with McCullum. He scored 77 (109) which proved very important for the Black Caps as the match progressed. In reply, India managed to score only 202 where Neil Wagner took 4 wickets.

India came back strongly restricting Kiwis to 105 in the second innings despite Wagner&#8217;s fighting effort of 14 (21) and his partnership of 25 for the 10th wicket to set a target of 406 for visitors. India were off to a flying start in chase at 222/2 before Wagner bowled a 10-over spell which changed the tide in favour of the hosts after lunch on Day 4. He removed Virat Kohli 67 (102) and<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/sunil-gavaskar-reckons-shikhar-dhawan-change-game-order-successful-overseas-test-batsman/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Shikhar Dhawan</strong></a> 115 (211) &amp; handed India a heart-breaking loss with just a margin of 40 runs.

Neil Wagner had figures of 126/8 with an impressive average of 15.75 in that match.

3. Superhuman efforts from New Zealand batting unit to save the match

<a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2018/08/Brendon-McCullum-and-James-Neesham.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-272750" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Brendon-McCullum-and-James-Neesham.jpg" alt="Brendon McCullum and James Neesham" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-272750" class="wp-caption-text">Brendon McCullum of New Zealand encourages teammate James Neesha. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)</figcaption>

India’s tour of New Zealand 2014: 2nd Test, Wellington

After a thrilling first Test at Auckland, both the teams travelled to Wellington where the hosts had managed to win only 2 Tests of their last 10 outings. In this Test, James Neesham turned up against India and was making his Test debut.

At 86/6 in the first innings, Neesham joined <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/joe-root-kane-williamson-combine-pin-jos-buttler/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Kane Williamson</strong></a> in the middle and played nearly a run-a-ball cameo of 33 (35) adding priceless partnerships of 47 with Williamson and shared 32 with Tim Southee to stretch the first innings score to 192 on Day 1. India in reply had a lead of 246 runs and thus emerged a bright possibility of breaking their overseas voodoo at the end of Day 2.

But the hosts produced a splendid recovery, courtesy to Brendon McCullum and BJ Watling who had the highest ever partnership of 352 (738) for the sixth wicket. The visitors were still in a formidable position with a lead of 200 runs but Neesham stitched a commanding partnership of 179 with the skipper to take the game away from India setting a target of 435 in 67 overs which eventually ended as a draw.

James Neesham who scored maiden hundred in his debut match batting at no.8 remained unbeaten on 137 (154).

4. India failed to hold the nerve at Trent Bridge

<a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2018/08/Sam-Robson-Gary-Ballance-Test.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-272751" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Sam-Robson-Gary-Ballance-Test.jpg" alt="Sam Robson &amp; Gary Ballance Test" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-272751" class="wp-caption-text">Gary Ballance and Sam Robson of England. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)</figcaption>

India’s tour of England 2014: 1st Test, Trent Bridge

India were playing successive overseas Test series since December 2013 and they landed in England to play a 5-match affair. England were recovering from the Ashes whitewash and a loss to Sri Lanka. The first match at Trent Bridge was very important for both the teams going into a long series. England included Sam Robson and Gary Ballance, two rookie batsmen at the top against India. The duo went on to justify the captain&#8217;s call.

After a stone-walled innings from Murali Vijay and some late heroics by the tail, the visitors managed to post 457 and asked England to play 17 overs before the end of play on Day 2. Veteran Alastair Cook was perfectly cleaned up by <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/mohammed-shami-pins-dawid-malan-corker-delivery/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mohammed Shami</strong></a> and left England 9/1.

The other opener, Sam Robson along with Gary Ballance played some good old school cricket and build a partnership of 125 batting 45 overs. Sam scored 59 (142) while Ballance went on to contribute 71 (167) which shifted the pendulum towards England on Day 3. Further England managed a lead of 39 runs. India in return posted 391/9 in 123 overs and in the end, it was a draw.

5. India let the hosts bounce back at Gabba

<a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2017/12/Josh-Hazlewood-2.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-199686" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Josh-Hazlewood-2.jpg" alt="Josh Hazlewood" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-199686" class="wp-caption-text">Josh Hazlewood of Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)</figcaption>

India’s tour of Australia 2014: 2nd Test, Brisbane

India came close to winning the first Test at Adelaide with a valiant effort but ended up short of the target by 48 runs. Aussie legend <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/glenn-mcgrath-is-convinced-about-batsman-kohli-but-no-so-much-about-captain-kohli/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Glenn McGrath</strong></a> handed the Baggy Green to Josh Hazlewood who was all set to fire at the Gabba.

Hazlewood made a tremendous debut washing out all the hard work done by the Indian batsman in the first session. He damaged India from 100/1 to 137/3 trapping the two big fishes Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli. The right-arm pacer continued his heroics and tore the Indian middle order apart bagging a five-wicket haul in the first session on Day 2.

Australia posted a total of 505 after struggling from 247/6 with the tail wagging for 195 runs. Hazlewood was involved in a partnership of 51 runs with Mitchell Starc for the 10th wicket and helped Australia extend the lead to 97 runs in first innings.

India did not recover from this blow and were shot out for a total of 224 setting a trifling target of 128. Australia chased it down at cost of 6 wickets and armed a 2-0 lead in the series. Hazlewood bagged 7 wickets at an average of 20.28 destroying India&#8217;s dream of winning a Test series down under.

Here are the rookie batsmen who&#8217;ve done well against India:

Here are the new bowlers who got the better of the Indian batsmen:

<em><strong>~ Written by Swapnil Dongare</strong></em>

<p>Team India lost the opening Test at Edgbaston to England after possessing a strong grasp on the&nbsp;game at Tea on Day 3. Virat Kohli showed some great tenacity against pacers but as soon as he departed, the Indian tail was wiped off soon enough by the English bowlers to take a&nbsp;1-0 lead in the series.</p>
<div class="page" title="Page 1">
<div class="layoutArea">
<div class="column">
<p>Sam Curran was the stand-in performer for England grabbing 5 for 92 and scoring vital 87 runs in his maiden Test against India and was adjudged the Man of the Match. At 20 years, he is the youngest ever England player to achieve this feat.</p>
<div class="page" title="Page 1">
<div class="layoutArea">
<div class="column">
<p>This was not the first time India lost an overseas Test match despite being in the driver’s seat. Till date, they have played 17 Test matches in SENA nations (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia) from December 2013 but managed to win only two.</p>
<div class="page" title="Page 1">
<div class="section">
<div class="layoutArea">
<div class="column">
<p>Since India’s tour of South Africa in 2013, there may be some occasions when they smelled the opportunity of winning overseas Test in SENA nations but players like Curran stood in between them and a favourable result.</p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<p>The Indian team must figure out how to operate against these players – should make an organised game with a clearer understanding and learning from the past defeats before going into the second game at Lord’s as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/virat-kohli-sarcastically-asks-ollie-pope-not-score-runs-lords/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ollie Pope</strong></a> is set to make his debut against India.</p>
<p>Here is a throwback to some matches when India could have tasted overseas Test victory but budding players dashed the tourist’s dream.</p>
<h3>1. Proteas batted for 136 overs in the fourth innings to fortify Johannesburg</h3>
<figure id="attachment_210649" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-210649" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2018/01/Faf-du-Plessis-2.jpg"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-210649" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Faf-du-Plessis-2.jpg" alt="Faf du Plessis" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-210649" class="wp-caption-text">Faf du Plessis of South Africa. (Photo by Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>India’s tour of South Africa 2013: 1st Test, Johannesburg</p>
<p>It was India’s first overseas Test without the likes of <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/team-rankings-do-not-matter-in-cricket-says-virender-sehwag-ahead-of-the-second-test/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Virender Sehwag</strong></a>, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman. India had a chancohannesburg against South Africa, the then No.1 ranked team that had never lost a Test series since March 2009.</p>
<p>Vernon Philander &amp; Faf du Plessis were playing their maiden Test match against India. Philander restricted India to 280 by taking 4 for 61 in his very first outing against India. Also, he played a vital knock of 59 (86) batting at no.8 helping South Africa post 244 from 146/6 sharing a partnership of 80 runs with Faf and reduced the deficit to 36 runs.</p>
<p>India asked South Africa to chase a mammoth total of 458, highest ever target to win the Test match or to survive 135 overs in case of a draw on a really difficult Johannesburg wicket. The visitors were favourites in both the cases. While chasing, the Proteas promoted Faf at no.4 ahead of Jacques Kallis and AB de Villiers. He played a rear resilient inning surviving for 395 minutes scoring 134 (309) on the fifth day wicket rescuing South Africa from a certain defeat.</p>
<p>At one point they were in a position to even win that match falling just 16 runs short as du Plessis ran himself out. Philander ensured a draw remaining unbeaten on 25 (37) in the last 30 minutes.</p>
<h4 class="p1"><span class="s1"><b>For all the latest&nbsp;</b><span class="s2"><b>cricket news</b></span><b>&nbsp;and other updates follow&nbsp;</b><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/"><span class="s2"><b>CricTracker</b></span></a><b>.</b></span></h4>
<p></p>
<h3>2. India came agonisingly close to winning the first Test at Auckland</h3>
<figure id="attachment_195076" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-195076" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2017/12/Neil-Wagner.jpg"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-195076" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Neil-Wagner.jpg" alt="Neil Wagner" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-195076" class="wp-caption-text">Neil Wagner of New Zealand. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>India’s tour of New Zealand 2014: 1st Test, Auckland</p>
<p>After a promising show in South Africa in 2013, India went on to a tour of New Zealand as favourites. The first Test played between the two sides was a great example of why Test cricket is termed the best format of the sport. India had never lost a Test match at Eden Park, Auckland before that game. Corey Anderson &amp; Neil Wagner were amongst the players who made impressive debut against India.</p>
<p>After a poor start being 30/3, New Zealand scored 503 in their first innings. Anderson came in to bat at no.6 and hit some lusty blows around the park along with McCullum. He scored 77 (109) which proved very important for the Black Caps as the match progressed. In reply, India managed to score only 202 where Neil Wagner took 4 wickets.</p>
<p>India came back strongly restricting Kiwis to 105 in the second innings despite Wagner’s fighting effort of 14 (21) and his partnership of 25 for the 10th wicket to set a target of 406 for visitors. India were off to a flying start in chase at 222/2 before Wagner bowled a 10-over spell which changed the tide in favour of the hosts after lunch on Day 4. He removed Virat Kohli 67 (102) and<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/sunil-gavaskar-reckons-shikhar-dhawan-change-game-order-successful-overseas-test-batsman/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Shikhar Dhawan</strong></a> 115 (211) &amp; handed&nbsp;India a heart-breaking loss with just a margin of 40 runs.</p>
<p>Neil Wagner had figures of 126/8 with an impressive average of 15.75 in that match.</p>
<h3>3. Superhuman efforts from New Zealand batting unit to save the match</h3>
<figure id="attachment_272750" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-272750" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2018/08/Brendon-McCullum-and-James-Neesham.jpg"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-272750" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Brendon-McCullum-and-James-Neesham.jpg" alt="Brendon McCullum and James Neesham" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-272750" class="wp-caption-text">Brendon McCullum of New Zealand encourages teammate James Neesha. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>India’s tour of New Zealand 2014: 2nd Test, Wellington</p>
<p>After a thrilling first Test at Auckland, both the teams travelled to Wellington where the hosts had managed to win only 2 Tests of their last 10 outings. In this Test, James Neesham turned up against India and was making his Test debut.</p>
<p>At 86/6 in the first innings, Neesham joined <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/joe-root-kane-williamson-combine-pin-jos-buttler/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Kane Williamson</strong></a> in the middle and played nearly a run-a-ball cameo of 33 (35) adding priceless partnerships of 47 with Williamson and shared 32 with Tim Southee to stretch the first innings score to 192 on Day 1. India in reply had a lead of 246 runs and thus emerged a bright possibility of breaking their overseas voodoo at the end of Day 2.</p>
<p>But the hosts produced a splendid recovery, courtesy to Brendon McCullum and BJ Watling who had the highest ever partnership of 352 (738) for the sixth wicket. The visitors were still in a formidable position with a lead of 200 runs but Neesham stitched a commanding partnership of 179 with the skipper to take the game away from India setting a target of 435 in 67 overs which eventually ended as a draw.</p>
<p>James Neesham who scored maiden hundred in his debut match batting at no.8 remained unbeaten on 137 (154).</p>
<h4 class="p1"><span class="s1"><b>For all the latest&nbsp;</b><span class="s2"><b>cricket news</b></span><b>&nbsp;and other updates follow&nbsp;</b><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/"><span class="s2"><b>CricTracker</b></span></a><b>.</b></span></h4>
<p></p>
<h3>4. India failed to hold the nerve at Trent Bridge</h3>
<figure id="attachment_272751" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-272751" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2018/08/Sam-Robson-Gary-Ballance-Test.jpg"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-272751" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Sam-Robson-Gary-Ballance-Test.jpg" alt="Sam Robson &amp; Gary Ballance Test" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-272751" class="wp-caption-text">Gary Ballance and Sam Robson of England. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>India’s tour of England 2014: 1st Test, Trent Bridge</p>
<p>India were playing successive overseas Test series since December 2013 and they landed in England to play a 5-match affair. England were recovering from the Ashes whitewash and a loss to Sri Lanka. The first match at Trent Bridge was very important for both the teams going into a long series. England included Sam Robson and Gary Ballance, two rookie batsmen at the top against India. The duo went on to justify the captain’s call.</p>
<p>After a stone-walled innings from Murali Vijay and some late heroics by the tail, the visitors managed to post 457 and asked England to play 17 overs before the end of play on Day 2. Veteran Alastair Cook was perfectly cleaned up by <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/mohammed-shami-pins-dawid-malan-corker-delivery/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mohammed Shami</strong></a> and left England 9/1.</p>
<p>The other opener, Sam Robson along with Gary Ballance played some good old school cricket and build a partnership of 125 batting 45 overs. Sam scored 59 (142) while Ballance went on to contribute 71 (167) which shifted the pendulum towards England on Day 3. Further England managed a lead of 39 runs. India in return posted 391/9 in 123 overs and in the end, it was a draw.</p>
<h3>5. India let the hosts bounce back at Gabba</h3>
<figure id="attachment_199686" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-199686" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2017/12/Josh-Hazlewood-2.jpg"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-199686" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Josh-Hazlewood-2.jpg" alt="Josh Hazlewood" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-199686" class="wp-caption-text">Josh Hazlewood of Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>India’s tour of Australia 2014: 2nd Test, Brisbane</p>
<p>India came close to winning the first Test at Adelaide with a valiant effort&nbsp;but ended up short of the target by 48 runs. Aussie legend <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/glenn-mcgrath-is-convinced-about-batsman-kohli-but-no-so-much-about-captain-kohli/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Glenn McGrath</strong></a> handed the Baggy Green to Josh Hazlewood who was all set to fire at the Gabba.</p>
<p>Hazlewood made a tremendous debut washing out all the hard work done by the&nbsp;Indian batsman in the&nbsp;first session. He damaged India from 100/1 to 137/3 trapping the two big fishes Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli. The right-arm pacer continued his heroics and tore the Indian middle order apart bagging a five-wicket haul in the first session on Day 2.</p>
<p>Australia posted a total of 505 after struggling from 247/6 with the tail wagging for 195 runs. Hazlewood was involved in a partnership of 51 runs with Mitchell Starc for the 10th wicket and helped Australia extend the&nbsp;lead to 97 runs in first innings.</p>
<p>India did not recover from this blow and were shot out for a total of 224 setting a trifling target of 128. Australia chased it down at cost of 6 wickets and armed a 2-0 lead in the series. Hazlewood bagged 7 wickets at an average of 20.28 destroying India’s dream of winning a Test series down under.</p>
<h3>Here are the rookie batsmen who’ve done well against India:</h3>
<p><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2018/08/Team-Indias-woes-against-budding-players-in-overseas-Tests.png"><amp-img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-272766" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Team-Indias-woes-against-budding-players-in-overseas-Tests.png" alt="Team-India's-woes-against-budding-players-in-overseas-Tests" width="700" height="432" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img></a></p>
<h3>Here are the new bowlers who got the better of the Indian batsmen:</h3>
<p><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2018/08/Bowlers-troubled-India-by-taking-22-wickets-at-average-of-18.png"><amp-img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-272767" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Bowlers-troubled-India-by-taking-22-wickets-at-average-of-18.png" alt="Bowlers-troubled-India-by-taking-22-wickets-at-average-of-18" width="698" height="431" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img></a></p>
<p>*Stats updated on 8 August 2018</p>
<p><em><strong>~ Written by Swapnil Dongare</strong></em></p>
<h4 class="p1"><span class="s1"><b>For all the latest&nbsp;</b><span class="s2"><b>cricket news</b></span><b>&nbsp;and other updates follow&nbsp;</b><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/"><span class="s2"><b>CricTracker</b></span></a><b>.</b></span></h4>

<p>Team India lost the opening Test at Edgbaston to England after possessing a strong grasp on the game at Tea on Day 3. Virat Kohli showed some great tenacity against pacers but as soon as he departed, the Indian tail was wiped off soon enough by the English bowlers to take a 1-0 lead in the series.</p>
<div class="page" title="Page 1">
<div class="layoutArea">
<div class="column">
<p>Sam Curran was the stand-in performer for England grabbing 5 for 92 and scoring vital 87 runs in his maiden Test against India and was adjudged the Man of the Match. At 20 years, he is the youngest ever England player to achieve this feat.</p>
<div class="page" title="Page 1">
<div class="layoutArea">
<div class="column">
<p>This was not the first time India lost an overseas Test match despite being in the driver&#8217;s seat. Till date, they have played 17 Test matches in SENA nations (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia) from December 2013 but managed to win only two.</p>
<div class="page" title="Page 1">
<div class="section">
<div class="layoutArea">
<div class="column">
<p>Since India’s tour of South Africa in 2013, there may be some occasions when they smelled the opportunity of winning overseas Test in SENA nations but players like Curran stood in between them and a favourable result.</p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<p>The Indian team must figure out how to operate against these players &#8211; should make an organised game with a clearer understanding and learning from the past defeats before going into the second game at Lord&#8217;s as <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/virat-kohli-sarcastically-asks-ollie-pope-not-score-runs-lords/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ollie Pope</strong></a> is set to make his debut against India.</p>
<p>Here is a throwback to some matches when India could have tasted overseas Test victory but budding players dashed the tourist&#8217;s dream.</p>
<h3>1. Proteas batted for 136 overs in the fourth innings to fortify Johannesburg</h3>
<figure id="attachment_210649" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-210649" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2018/01/Faf-du-Plessis-2.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-210649" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Faf-du-Plessis-2.jpg" alt="Faf du Plessis" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-210649" class="wp-caption-text">Faf du Plessis of South Africa. (Photo by Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>India’s tour of South Africa 2013: 1st Test, Johannesburg</p>
<p>It was India&#8217;s first overseas Test without the likes of <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/team-rankings-do-not-matter-in-cricket-says-virender-sehwag-ahead-of-the-second-test/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Virender Sehwag</strong></a>, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman. India had a chancohannesburg against South Africa, the then No.1 ranked team that had never lost a Test series since March 2009.</p>
<p>Vernon Philander &amp; Faf du Plessis were playing their maiden Test match against India. Philander restricted India to 280 by taking 4 for 61 in his very first outing against India. Also, he played a vital knock of 59 (86) batting at no.8 helping South Africa post 244 from 146/6 sharing a partnership of 80 runs with Faf and reduced the deficit to 36 runs.</p>
<p>India asked South Africa to chase a mammoth total of 458, highest ever target to win the Test match or to survive 135 overs in case of a draw on a really difficult Johannesburg wicket. The visitors were favourites in both the cases. While chasing, the Proteas promoted Faf at no.4 ahead of Jacques Kallis and AB de Villiers. He played a rear resilient inning surviving for 395 minutes scoring 134 (309) on the fifth day wicket rescuing South Africa from a certain defeat.</p>
<p>At one point they were in a position to even win that match falling just 16 runs short as du Plessis ran himself out. Philander ensured a draw remaining unbeaten on 25 (37) in the last 30 minutes.</p>
<h4 class="p1"><span class="s1"><b>For all the latest </b><span class="s2"><b>cricket news</b></span><b> and other updates follow </b><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/"><span class="s2"><b>CricTracker</b></span></a><b>.</b></span></h4>
<p></p>
<h3>2. India came agonisingly close to winning the first Test at Auckland</h3>
<figure id="attachment_195076" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-195076" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2017/12/Neil-Wagner.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-195076" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Neil-Wagner.jpg" alt="Neil Wagner" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-195076" class="wp-caption-text">Neil Wagner of New Zealand. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>India’s tour of New Zealand 2014: 1st Test, Auckland</p>
<p>After a promising show in South Africa in 2013, India went on to a tour of New Zealand as favourites. The first Test played between the two sides was a great example of why Test cricket is termed the best format of the sport. India had never lost a Test match at Eden Park, Auckland before that game. Corey Anderson &amp; Neil Wagner were amongst the players who made impressive debut against India.</p>
<p>After a poor start being 30/3, New Zealand scored 503 in their first innings. Anderson came in to bat at no.6 and hit some lusty blows around the park along with McCullum. He scored 77 (109) which proved very important for the Black Caps as the match progressed. In reply, India managed to score only 202 where Neil Wagner took 4 wickets.</p>
<p>India came back strongly restricting Kiwis to 105 in the second innings despite Wagner&#8217;s fighting effort of 14 (21) and his partnership of 25 for the 10th wicket to set a target of 406 for visitors. India were off to a flying start in chase at 222/2 before Wagner bowled a 10-over spell which changed the tide in favour of the hosts after lunch on Day 4. He removed Virat Kohli 67 (102) and<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/sunil-gavaskar-reckons-shikhar-dhawan-change-game-order-successful-overseas-test-batsman/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Shikhar Dhawan</strong></a> 115 (211) &amp; handed India a heart-breaking loss with just a margin of 40 runs.</p>
<p>Neil Wagner had figures of 126/8 with an impressive average of 15.75 in that match.</p>
<h3>3. Superhuman efforts from New Zealand batting unit to save the match</h3>
<figure id="attachment_272750" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-272750" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2018/08/Brendon-McCullum-and-James-Neesham.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-272750" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Brendon-McCullum-and-James-Neesham.jpg" alt="Brendon McCullum and James Neesham" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-272750" class="wp-caption-text">Brendon McCullum of New Zealand encourages teammate James Neesha. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>India’s tour of New Zealand 2014: 2nd Test, Wellington</p>
<p>After a thrilling first Test at Auckland, both the teams travelled to Wellington where the hosts had managed to win only 2 Tests of their last 10 outings. In this Test, James Neesham turned up against India and was making his Test debut.</p>
<p>At 86/6 in the first innings, Neesham joined <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/joe-root-kane-williamson-combine-pin-jos-buttler/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Kane Williamson</strong></a> in the middle and played nearly a run-a-ball cameo of 33 (35) adding priceless partnerships of 47 with Williamson and shared 32 with Tim Southee to stretch the first innings score to 192 on Day 1. India in reply had a lead of 246 runs and thus emerged a bright possibility of breaking their overseas voodoo at the end of Day 2.</p>
<p>But the hosts produced a splendid recovery, courtesy to Brendon McCullum and BJ Watling who had the highest ever partnership of 352 (738) for the sixth wicket. The visitors were still in a formidable position with a lead of 200 runs but Neesham stitched a commanding partnership of 179 with the skipper to take the game away from India setting a target of 435 in 67 overs which eventually ended as a draw.</p>
<p>James Neesham who scored maiden hundred in his debut match batting at no.8 remained unbeaten on 137 (154).</p>
<h4 class="p1"><span class="s1"><b>For all the latest </b><span class="s2"><b>cricket news</b></span><b> and other updates follow </b><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/"><span class="s2"><b>CricTracker</b></span></a><b>.</b></span></h4>
<p></p>
<h3>4. India failed to hold the nerve at Trent Bridge</h3>
<figure id="attachment_272751" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-272751" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2018/08/Sam-Robson-Gary-Ballance-Test.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-272751" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Sam-Robson-Gary-Ballance-Test.jpg" alt="Sam Robson &amp; Gary Ballance Test" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-272751" class="wp-caption-text">Gary Ballance and Sam Robson of England. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>India’s tour of England 2014: 1st Test, Trent Bridge</p>
<p>India were playing successive overseas Test series since December 2013 and they landed in England to play a 5-match affair. England were recovering from the Ashes whitewash and a loss to Sri Lanka. The first match at Trent Bridge was very important for both the teams going into a long series. England included Sam Robson and Gary Ballance, two rookie batsmen at the top against India. The duo went on to justify the captain&#8217;s call.</p>
<p>After a stone-walled innings from Murali Vijay and some late heroics by the tail, the visitors managed to post 457 and asked England to play 17 overs before the end of play on Day 2. Veteran Alastair Cook was perfectly cleaned up by <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/mohammed-shami-pins-dawid-malan-corker-delivery/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mohammed Shami</strong></a> and left England 9/1.</p>
<p>The other opener, Sam Robson along with Gary Ballance played some good old school cricket and build a partnership of 125 batting 45 overs. Sam scored 59 (142) while Ballance went on to contribute 71 (167) which shifted the pendulum towards England on Day 3. Further England managed a lead of 39 runs. India in return posted 391/9 in 123 overs and in the end, it was a draw.</p>
<h3>5. India let the hosts bounce back at Gabba</h3>
<figure id="attachment_199686" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-199686" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2017/12/Josh-Hazlewood-2.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-199686" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Josh-Hazlewood-2.jpg" alt="Josh Hazlewood" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-199686" class="wp-caption-text">Josh Hazlewood of Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>India’s tour of Australia 2014: 2nd Test, Brisbane</p>
<p>India came close to winning the first Test at Adelaide with a valiant effort but ended up short of the target by 48 runs. Aussie legend <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/glenn-mcgrath-is-convinced-about-batsman-kohli-but-no-so-much-about-captain-kohli/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Glenn McGrath</strong></a> handed the Baggy Green to Josh Hazlewood who was all set to fire at the Gabba.</p>
<p>Hazlewood made a tremendous debut washing out all the hard work done by the Indian batsman in the first session. He damaged India from 100/1 to 137/3 trapping the two big fishes Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli. The right-arm pacer continued his heroics and tore the Indian middle order apart bagging a five-wicket haul in the first session on Day 2.</p>
<p>Australia posted a total of 505 after struggling from 247/6 with the tail wagging for 195 runs. Hazlewood was involved in a partnership of 51 runs with Mitchell Starc for the 10th wicket and helped Australia extend the lead to 97 runs in first innings.</p>
<p>India did not recover from this blow and were shot out for a total of 224 setting a trifling target of 128. Australia chased it down at cost of 6 wickets and armed a 2-0 lead in the series. Hazlewood bagged 7 wickets at an average of 20.28 destroying India&#8217;s dream of winning a Test series down under.</p>
<h3>Here are the rookie batsmen who&#8217;ve done well against India:</h3>
<p><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2018/08/Team-Indias-woes-against-budding-players-in-overseas-Tests.png"><img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-272766" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Team-Indias-woes-against-budding-players-in-overseas-Tests.png" alt="Team-India's-woes-against-budding-players-in-overseas-Tests" width="700" height="432" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px"></a></p>
<h3>Here are the new bowlers who got the better of the Indian batsmen:</h3>
<p><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2018/08/Bowlers-troubled-India-by-taking-22-wickets-at-average-of-18.png"><img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-272767" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Bowlers-troubled-India-by-taking-22-wickets-at-average-of-18.png" alt="Bowlers-troubled-India-by-taking-22-wickets-at-average-of-18" width="698" height="431" sizes="(max-width: 698px) 100vw, 698px"></a></p>
<p>*Stats updated on 8 August 2018</p>
<p><em><strong>~ Written by Swapnil Dongare</strong></em></p>
<h4 class="p1"><span class="s1"><b>For all the latest </b><span class="s2"><b>cricket news</b></span><b> and other updates follow </b><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/"><span class="s2"><b>CricTracker</b></span></a><b>.</b></span></h4>

England's Sam Curran denied India a victory in the Birmingham Test with his brilliant all-round effort.