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South Africa in Australia, 2005-06
When declarations attack
Kanishkaa Balachandran
January 6, 2006
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Ricky Ponting's unique double
© Getty Images
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When the Number 11 never ventured out
South Africa is only the second team in history to lose a Test match after declaring both innings. The first such instance was in 1967-68 when West Indies lost the fourth Test against England at Trinidad. However, in 1986, Australia's decision to declare both innings nearly backfired in the famous Tied Test against India at Madras.
A record spread over 106 years
Australia achieved the highest successful run chase at the Sydney Cricket Ground when they chased 287 set by South Africa in the third Test at Sydney. Australia figure in all the run chases above 200 runs in the fourth innings at this venue. The complete list is given below.
Highest run chases at Sydney
| Final score |
Target |
By |
Against |
Year |
| 288/2 |
287 |
Australia |
South Africa |
2005/06 |
| 276/4 |
275 |
Australia |
England |
1897/98 |
| 275/8 |
274 |
Australia |
England |
1907/08 |
| 260/6 |
260 |
Australia |
New Zealand |
1985/86 |
| 275/8 |
274 |
Australia |
England |
1907/08 |
| 219/4 |
216 |
Australia |
England |
1979/80 |
| 214/5 |
214 |
Australia |
England |
1946/47 |
Ponting's run riot
Ricky Ponting set a world record for being the first batsman to score centuries in both innings of his 100th Test. Ponting hit 120 and 143* respectively and his match aggregate of 263 runs is also the highest for a batsman playing in his 100th Test match. Inzamam-ul-Haq is next on the list when he aggregated 215 runs (184 and 31*) against India at Bangalore in 2004-05.
Kanishkaa Balachandran is editorial assistant of Cricinfo
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