Finished at the start? Not really

Okay, things were bad at the Gaddafi Stadium. But history shows it doesn8217;t mean that the series will go badly 8212; nor, indeed, very ...

Okay, things were bad at the Gaddafi Stadium. But history shows it doesn8217;t mean that the series will go badly 8212; nor, indeed, very well. The tour opener is rarely a bellwether for what lies ahead, as records of the past five overseas tours show. Only pattern: Tendulkar usually scores in that first match

SOUTH AFRICA OCTOBER, 2001

The team played a one-day match against diamond merchant Nicky Oppenheimer8217;s XI on October 1, 2001 at Randjesfontein winning fairly easily by five wickets. Chasing 244-3 decl in 52 overs, India took 48.2 overs to reach the target, Shiv Sunder Das 59, Rahul Dravid 48 and Sachin Tendulkar 45 looking in good nick.

FINAL RESULT: Test series: Lost 0-1; Tri-series: Lost in final.

WEST INDIES APRIL, 2002

India were up against the Guyana Board President8217;s XI in a three-day match at Georgetown, Guyana. A nine-wicket victory was built around strong performances from Harbhajan Singh 4-37 in the first innings, Sourav Ganguly 52, Sanjay Bangar 76 and VVS Laxman 43, while Anil Kumble finished with a five-wicket haul in the second 5-50

FINAL RESULT: Test series: Lost 1-2; ODI series: Won 2-1.

ENGLAND JUNE, 2002

Ashish Nehra 4-27 and Tendulkar 75 off 82 balls set the tone for the tour to help India polish off a three-wicket win against Sussex in a day-night 50 overs match at Hove.

FINAL RESULT: Test series: Drew 1-1, Tri-series: Champions

NEW ZEALAND DECEMBER, 2002

The forgettable tour of New Zealand was inaugurated with the pop version of ODI cricket 8212; the Super Max Internationals at Jade Stadium, Christchurch. The Indians found it difficult to adjust to the 20-over format and crazy field restrictions remember the max-zone in the V behind the bowler?. The Kiwis smashed 123 runs off 10 overs. The Indians replied with 133 with Tendulkar cracking 72 off 27 balls. In their second outing, needing another 109 runs, the Indians folded up for 87

FINAL RESULT: Test series: Lost 0-2; ODI: Lost 2-5

AUSTRALIA NOVEMBER, 2003

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Brad Hodge 264 put the Indian bowling to the sword in the three-day tour opener against a Victoria XI at the MCG. The Indians escaped with a draw, steady batting performances from Sadagoppan Ramesh 87, Tendulkar 80 and Parthiv Patel 52 providing some succour to the beleagured visitors

FINAL RESULT: Test series: Drew 1-1, ODI: Lost tri-series