It is not often that the opposition openers themselves account for the entire Indian total. When it does happen on rare occasions, there are alarm bells all over the place. 173 MCG 1967/68 (191 by B Lawry - B Simpson) India had lost the first test match at Adelaide by 146 runs on their tour of Australia in 1967/68. The team batted first in the second test match but was able to manage just 173 runs as Garth McKenzie picked up 7 wickets.
Australia in reply piled on 529 runs. Their openers Bob Simpson and Bill Lawry combined for 173 runs. Both of them scored centuries as they themselves accounted for more than the entire Indian total.
It was not a surprise all the more after Ian Chappell made an eye-catching 151 that the home team went on to win the match by an innings and four runs.
76 Ahmedabad 2007/08 (78 by G Smith - N McKenzie) India were bowled out for just 76 runs within 24 overs in the second test match of the South Africa tour of the country in 2008. South Africa then batted extremely well with openers Graeme Smith and Neil McKenzie adding 78 runs for the opening partnership.
Remarkably, the opening partnership itself overhauled the entire Indian total. South Africa finally declared at 494 for 7. India were then bowled out for 328 in the second innings as they lost the match by an innings and 90 runs.
161 Perth 2011/12 (214 by D Warner - Ed Cowan) After losing the first two matches of the four match affair by 122 runs and an innings and 68 runs, Team India reached Perth for the third test match on their tour of Australia in 2011-12.
Perth, as many would know, is notorious for its pace and bounce. The Indian team over the years have struggled to come to terms with the quick nature of the WACA surface. History repeated itself as India were bowled out for 161 in their first innings.
In reply, Ed Cowan and David Warner added 214 runs for the first wicket, with Cowan making 74 and Warner blasting 180 off just 159 deliveries. Australia won the match by an innings and 37 runs.
