Numbers Don't Lie: Why it's almost impossible for India to make a comeback in Australia

After losing at Adelaide and Brisbane, India can at best level the series against Australia now. However, the chances of India doing so are very slim. [caption id=“attachment_1844975” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Kohli ups his game in Australia. AP[/caption] That’s because of one simple fact: No side in test history has come back to level a four-match series after being 0-2 down. Here’s a statistical lowdown before the third Test starts on Boxing Day: Head-to-head: Form guide (most recent listed first) India: Lost, Lost, Lost, Lost, Lost Australia: Won, Won, Lost, Lost, Won India have lost last five previous Tests at MCG, spanning over 23 years Australia-India Tests at MCG Overall: Matches - 11, India - 2, Australia - 8, Drawn - 1 Last five: India 0, Australia 5 This is how the batsmen from both sides have performed in the series: This is how the bowlers from both sides have performed in the series India: Australia: The following table gives details of Indian batsmen’s performance in Test cricket vis-à-vis in Australia. Only Murali Vijay and Virat Kohli tend to raise their game while playing in Australia, while all others under-perform. MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma are the biggest disappointments. Indian batsmen’s performance… Note: Suresh Raina has not yet played a Test in Australia This is how Indian bowlers have performed in Test cricket vis-à-vis in Australia. All of them tend to under-perform with Ishant Sharma and R Ashwin being the biggest letdowns. Indian bowlers’ performance… Note: Bhuvneshwar Kumar has not yet played a Test in Australia. Bat first or second at MCG Overall: Matches - 106 Won by side batting 1st – 53 (50%) Won by side batting 2nd – 38 (36%) Drawn - 15 (14%) Since 2000: Matches - 14 Won by side batting 1st – 6 (43%) Won by side batting 2nd - 8 (57%) Average scores for each day at MCG (since 2000)