Australia are headed for a big chase at Perth: how many times have they surpassed that in the fourth innings?
After being bowled out for 150 in the first Test of the five-match series, at the Perth Stadium, India hit back to bowl out Australia for 104 to secure a 46-run lead. Yashasvi Jaiswal (161) and KL Rahul (77) then added 201, a new Indian record for an opening stand in Australia.
At 313-2, India looked firmly in control before a collapse left them at 324-5 at the time of writing. Even then, they lead by 370. In all Test cricket, Australia have never chased a bigger target to win on home soil. Even away from home, they have successfully chased a bigger target only once – and they needed Don Bradman for that, back in 1948.
However, Australia have got some reasonably big scores batting fourth in Test matches they did not win.
350+ fourth-innings totals by Australia in men’s Test cricket
| Total | Result | Opposition | Venue | Season |
| 406 | lost by 115 runs | England | away – Lord’s | 2009 |
| 404-3 | won by 7 wickets | England | away – Leeds | 1948 |
| 402 | lost by 103 runs | England | away – Manchester | 1981 |
| 381-7 | drew | New Zealand | home – Perth (WACA) | 2001-02 |
| 371-9 | drew | England | away – Manchester | 2005 |
| 369-6 | won by 4 wickets | Pakistan | home – Hobart | 1999-00 |
| 362-7 | won by 3 wickets | West Indies | away – Georgetown | 1977-78 |
| 362-8 | drew | Pakistan | neutral – Dubai | 2018-19 |
| 361 | lost by 177 runs | South Africa | home – Perth (WACA) | 2016-17 |
| 357-6 | drew | India | home – Sydney | 2003-04 |
Note:
The highest fourth-innings total in Australia in Test cricket is 450 by Pakistan at Hobart in 2016-17. They were chasing 489. South Africa made the highest successful chase in the country, back in 2008-09 at Perth: they made 414-4 to beat Australia.
The highest fourth-innings total in Australia in first-class cricket is 572 by New South Wales against South Australia in 1907-08. They were chasing 593. At Adelaide in 1991-92, South Australia made 506-6 to beat Queensland, the highest successful chase in the nation.
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