It was that arch-propagandist Joesph Goebbels himself whose mantra was that if you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it.
We're not sure that the Reich Minister of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda had cricket in mind when he devised his theory but it could arguably be applied to the hitherto considered stellar Indian batting line-up.
Following their meek submission for just 191 in Sydney today after MS Dhoni opted to bat after winning the toss, India have now failed to pass 400 in their last 18 completed overseas Test innings.
For the record and in reverse order the sorry tale of inepitude against Australia, England, West Indies and South Africa reads: 191, 169, 282, 283, 300, 244, 224, 158, 288, 261, 286, 347, 201, 252, 246, 364, 228 and 205.
The last time India passed 400 overseas was when they totalled 459 in the 2nd innings of the Centurion Test in December 2010, but given they faced a 1st innings deficit of 484 after being shot out for a dismal 136 in the 1st innings there wasn't much to crow about.
During this sorry run these are the averages of India's top seven: Gambhir 25.00, Sehwag 20.54, Dravid 47.66, Tendulkar 42.71, Laxman 32.15, Dhoni 27.00, Raina 25.92 and Kohli 13.75.
That is underperformance on a massive scale with only Dravid and Tendulkar having creditable returns - all those averages are significantly below their career Test figures.
Of course Sehwag, Dravid, Tendulkar and Laxman are all great batsmen and have proved themselves time and time again over a long period.
Or is Goebbel's adage of the big lie true in this case after all?
Where next?
Read our Cricket Review of 2011
1st Test: Australia vs India - Australia marks out of 10
1st Test: Australia vs India - India marks out of 10
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Sorry tale indeed. Inability to occupy the crease, playing into ploys, unable to keep the good balls out...a price for getting into the limited overs mindset. Tough but true.
Posted by: Navin Anand | Tuesday, January 03, 2012 at 12:11
Spit-it-out-Green.They-are-home-bullies.
Posted by: Fed | Monday, January 09, 2012 at 14:12