Longest innings by a batter for Australia in India by balls faced

To play long innings in Test cricket requires a lot of grit, patience, and determination. Occupying the crease for a long time just shows the caliber and the excellence that a batter possesses. Over the years, it has not been easy for the visiting teams to come to India and perform against quality bowlers, especially in these spinning conditions. Still, a few of the high-class Aussie batters have managed to face a sizeable numbers of deliveries as they showcased their resilience.

Let’s take a look at the longest innings played by an Australian batter on Indian soil:

3. Steven Smith (361)

Australia’s ever-consistent Steven Smith occupies the third position in this chart. The right-handed batter faced 361 deliveries for his magnificent knock of 178* in Ranchi in 2017. Skippering the side, Smith, who batted at no. three, batted for 512 minutes as he struck 17 fours against quality Indian bowlers like R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Umesh Yadav. The Aussies reached a total of 451 in their first innings courtesy of Smith’s fine innings. The match eventually ended up in a draw with Smith showing his class and grit.

2. Graham Yallop (392)

Former Aussie Graham Yallop finds himself in the second position on this list. The left-handed player faced 392 deliveries for his solid knock of 167 at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata in 1979. In the fifth match of the series, the visitors batted first and Yallop opened the innings. He occupied the crease of 520 minutes, which also included 15 fours. The Kangaroos posted 442 on the board in their first innings thanks to Yallop’s brilliant century. The game ended up in a draw, with Yallop playing a marathon innings.

1. Usman Khawaja (422)

Usman Khawaja broke Yallop’s record as he faced 422 deliveries in the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in Ahmedabad. In the fourth and final Test, the tourists batted first and Khawaja displayed his determination and rear-guard action. He scored his first Test hundred against India as he smashed 180 in

611 minutes with the help of 21 fours. The team reached a total of 480 with the match ending up in a stalemate.