|
Report card on Australia's and India's cricketers on the four-Test tour to India (Border-Gavaskar Trophy):-
Ishant Sharma ---9/10
(4 matches; 15 wkts @27.06; BBI: 4/77, 11 runs @4.25; HS: 9)
Commentator extraordinaire Mark Nicholas perhaps best summed up Sharma's contribution to his nation's strives forth when recently enthusing "India have a jewel in this boy".
Sharma finished the series joint top wicket-taker with Harbhajan, snapping up 15 Aussie scalps on three out of four surfaces far from conducive to fast bowling. Dismissing Ricky Ponting three times on the trot in Tests one and two, the pace ace fuelled the fire that roars true of the Aussie skipper being Sharma's proverbial bunny.
For his efforts he bagged the Man of the Series award, the fruits thereof being a swanky car which he and team-mates duly took for a victory lap minutes after winning in Nagpur.
Gautam Gambhir ---9/10
(3 matches; 463 runs @77.16; HS: 206)
Suffice as to say, the flashy left-hander's recent foray into Test cricket has seen him shed his 'ODI/Twenty20' tag, steal any semblance of hope Wasim Jaffer had of a recall, and nestle himself quite nicely in the opening berth.
After throwing away a couple of starts in the series opener, Gambhir promised much with a stoic 67 in the first innings before graduating exponentially to a century in India's second knock and a maiden double century in Delhi. The zeal, stamina and hunger the 27-year-old displayed during his eight-hour 206 said a lot for his determination to provide a worthy partner for Sehwag at the top of the order.
Perhaps the biggest pity is that he got the ICC-orchestrated raw end of the deal in that scuffle with Shane Watson, resulting in his lack of contribution to India's Nagpur elation.
Mahendra Dhoni---9/10
(4 matches; 307 runs @61.40; HS: 92; Ct: 8; St: 3)
From his match-winning input with the willow in Chandigarh to his handy half tons and crafty field placements in Nagpur, the model wicketkeeper-batsman had a near perfect series, bar his spill of Hayden on Monday which ultimately didn't prove costly. There is every reason this side of the sub-continent to read into the fact that the two Tests India won were the two that Dhoni was in leadership, the first as stand-in skipper and the second as captain-elect. Kumble's departure (and along with it his old school approach) now affords his free-spirited, dynamic successor the opportunity to settle in at the helm in its entirety, not just in one-dayers, and it's about time too.
Dual leadership was a mere fad, unsuccessfully toyed with by England and now, thankfully, at an end with India.
Virender Sehwag ---8/10
(4 matches; 351 runs @43.87; HS: 92; 5 wkts @43.40; BBI: 5/118)
He will kick himself for not turning a couple of 90s and a 60-odd into centuries, but regardless of his lack of three-figure conversion, Sehwag's usual swashbuckling approach at the top of the knock again provided the foundation and impetus for bigger things to come from the middle order. His 'part-time' spin is fast becoming an integral cog in India's attack, as his five-for in Delhi and his frustrating leg-side line in Nagpur will attest to.
Harbhajan Singh ---8/10
(3 matches; 15 wkts @28.86; BBI: 4/64, 125 runs @41.66; HS: 54)
Sharing the helm of the series' wicket-taking charts with Sharma, it was not so much the bulk of wickets that Bhajji claimed but the junctures at which he took them. Sniping batsmen out at crucial moments with his guile and craft, Singh was unlucky to miss out in the third Test due to injury but assumed the role of senior spinner with confident vigour as he and Mishra spun the Aussies to a series loss in Nagpur's decider, one of his four second-innings scalps being the satisfying comeuppance of yester-series foe, Matthew Hayden.
Amit Mishra ---8/10
(3 matches; 14 wkts @25.07; BBI: 5/71, 7 runs @3.50; HS: 7)
Brought into the side in the wake of Kumble's injury ahead of the second Test, the young leg-spinner enjoyed a dream debut as the element of the unknown got the better of Australia's order.
Mishra's flight through the air and lethal wrong'un by and large proved the undoing of his rivals in Mohali before Michael Clarke and company worked him out on a Delhi track that offered little to no assistance for any approach, spin or otherwise. Bouncing back in Nagpur, he reclaimed early calls for him to fill the long-term leg-spin role brought on by Kumble's retirement, clinching the key wicket of Mike Hussey with some vicious bounce as Australia's victory charge ground to a subsequent halt. For now, it seems Piyush Chawla's Test cricket hopes are on the backburner courtesy Mishra's near meteoric rise to fame.
VVS Laxman ---8/10
(4 matches; 381 runs @95.25; HS: 200*)
Continuing his superb run against Australia over the years, the stalwart batsman did so with unfretted self-assurance, highlighted by a double ton in Delhi. He provided the anchor in a potentially shaky middle order, guiding Gambhir to his 206 like a father would his son.
Rock solid on defence and particularly majestic on the drive, veteran Laxman has certainly made the number five spot in the order his own as India look to welcome in a new fold around him and Tendulkar.
Sachin Tendulkar---8/10
(4 matches; 396 runs @56.57; HS: 109; 0 wkts @n/a; BBI: 0/15)
Becoming Test cricket's greatest run-scorer during the series and once again transpiring as one of the pinnacles India plan their gameplan around, Tendulkar weighed in with two half-tons (and two 40-odds) and a thrilling century - his 40th in Tests.
Thus, building on his iconic status and putting to bed many pundits' thoughts of him calling it a day.
Jason Krejza ---7.5/10
(1 match; 12 wkts @29.83; BBI 8/215; 9 runs @ 4.
50; HS: 5)
The fourth best Test debut of all time was quite an effort by a man with a first-class bowling average of more than 50 before the match began. Not yet the finished article as a bowler but his ability to bowl wicket-taking deliveries is unquestioned. Must be persevered with. Amazing what happens when you pick a real spinner in India, isn't it? That White was included at his expense in Delhi was a joke and a negative move from Australia, who paid the price.
Krejza attacked relentlessly in Nagpur - an honourable approach given the thrashing he was given during the warm-up match in Hyderabad - and was handsomely rewarded. He finished with one wicket less than Australia's top wicket-taker Johnson and the best average of anyone in his side.
Sourav Ganguly ---7/10
(4 matches; 324 runs @54.00; HS: 102)
It was a typically topsy-turvy series for the retiree, seesawing from the high of Mohali's century to the low of a first-ball duck in his last Test knock.
Though not setting the contest alight, he did enough to warrant a place in the starting XI throughout, which he effectively guaranteed anyway by announcing his pending retirement before the Border-Gavaskar Trophy kicked off.
Adored by millions, despised by many others, Dada's departure leaves the 'Fab Four' one quarter shy, making way for any of the aforementioned hopefuls - Badrinath, Kohli, etc - to come to the party. The question though is, do the selectors concur or will they merely resort to one of their tried and tested...?
Murali Vijay ---7/10
(1 match; 74 runs @37.00; HS: 41) One man's banning is another man's call-up - such was the tale of the Gambhir's temporary fill-in's arrival on the Test scene.
Shelving the expectation of a shaky start, the debutant displayed the impeccable timing and consummate ease that has seen him surge up the run-scoring charts in the Ranji Trophy this season, converting his form on the domestic scene to a decent showing on the big stage.
Despite failing to cash in on starts of 33 and 41, the 24-year-old showed blooming potential. With the imminent demise of the old guard on everyone's lips, India's batting future can rest easy in the fact that talents like Vijay and Virat Kohli are waiting in the wings.
Mike Hussey ---7/10
(4 matches; 394 runs @56.28; HS: 146)
Australia's leading runscorer but perhaps could have made a few more. Fell victim to several fine deliveries, not least Amit Mishra's last day topspinner, but also retreated into his shell when more initiative may have brought prosperity. Somewhat inevitably, Australia's most consistent batsman over the tour with three fifties and a hundred from eight innings. His patient technique suits the style of cricket in the sub-continent where slow pitches often make the going tough for batsmen, so if anything he'll be disappointed not to have made more of his talents here.
He too started with a hundred in the first innings in Bangalore and even in Mohali there were times when you just couldn't see how India were going to get him out. But after that drubbing he lost his air of invincibility and his inability to counter India's defensive approach on day three in Nagpur was a big help for India's charge to victory. Nevertheless an average over 50 for a tour of India is nothing to scoff at.
Simon Katich ---6.5/10
(4 matches; 349 runs @49.85; HS: 102; 1 wkt @73.00; BBI 1/60)
A fine series with the bat means the opening spot is his to lose. Guilty of batting moodily at times, going from stodgy defence to irrational attack with little in between. Not his fault but but should have bowled more. A relatively pleasing tour on a personal level as he's cemented his spot in the side for the next few matches. Plenty of starts and several 60s were followed up by a hundred in Nagpur that kept Australia in the match and showed he's ready to compete at this level once again.
A prickly character who was visibly seething at India's negative strategy on day three, Katich employed a useful technique of shuffling across to cover his off stump. It's something he used to positive effect during a hugely successful domestic campaign last year and it proved both logical and productive in dealing with India's bowlers on their home pitches.
Zaheer Khan --- 6/10
(4 matches; 11 wkts @43.18; BBI: 5.91, 94 runs @31.33; HS: 57*)
After enjoying the prodigious reverse swing and movement off the track offered in Bangalore, the southpaw seamer's series curtailed to relative discredit as conditions thereafter fell heavily in favour of the batsmen.
With his five-for, half-century and Man of the Match accolade safely pouched, Khan played second fiddle to Sharma and the spinners for the duration of the series, culminating in a severe spanking at the hands of Matthew Hayden's ultimately unsuccessful onslaught at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium.
Matthew Hayden ---6/10
(4 matches; 234 runs @33.42; HS: 83)
Made to look as leaden-footed at times by Zaheer Khan and Sharma as he appeared on the 2005 Ashes tour. Improved marginally as the tour progressed and was exceptional in the slips. Selectors must decide quickly whether or not an ageing Hayden is the man they want in England next year against the moving ball. A series of two halves for Hayden, who bounced back from the first two Tests when Zaheer Khan had his number to put in good showings in Delhi and Nagpur. Unfortunately by the time he came right it was too late - Australia needed him to stand up and be counted in the early exchanges when the tone of the series was being set.
However he's at least answered questions about his desire to continue at the highest level and will go into the Australian summer high on confidence and - after this series defeat - full of determination to drive the side forward. In a side with poor replacements for their retirees, Hayden's class will be needed for the tough tasks ahead against South Africa and England.
Mitchell Johnson---6/10
(4 matches; 13 wkts @40.07; BBI 4/70; 67 runs @13.40; HS: 26)
Leading wicket-taker for the series yet could have bowled better. Spent much of his time pursuing a line well wide of off stump and benefited from some fortunate dismissals. Still closer to finding his best form than any other paceman save for Watson. Johnson did his best to improvise on the flat pitches and bowled extremely well at times, putting India on the back foot in Bangalore, but it was always going to be a tough job when the rest of the attack was struggling even more than he was.
But as with Haddin this was a learning phase and he will head home a more knowledgeable cricketer who is better-equipped for the coming challenges. Nothing on this tour suggested that he won't become the top-class bowler that Australia are grooming him to be.
Ricky Ponting --- 5/10
(4 matches; 266 runs @38.00; HS: 123)
Having started off with a hundred in the first innings in Bangalore, Ponting will be bitterly disappointed not to have followed it up with a string of good scores. Instead he managed just one half-century from the next three Tests as Ishant Sharma and Harbhajan Singh continued to get the better of him.
Ponting the batsman will inevitably bounce back because he's a class player, but he's bound to face heavier criticism over his captaincy during this tour. Poor over rates, periods of defensive field placements, bowling changes and a deserved two-nil defeat. He hasn't had the best side to work with and India were indeed excellent at times, but Ponting left much to be desired and faces a stiff task to turn things around ahead of the challenges ahead.
Michael Clarke---5/10
(4 matches; 251 runs @35.85; HS: 112; 2 wkts @128.00; BBI 2/38)
As captain-elect he will want to bat better. Seldom looked fluent, and his dog-eared Delhi century came after three dropped catches. Best innings came after the game was up in Mohali. Inconvenienced by stomach trouble prior to Bangalore which returned for Nagpur. Bowling was never a factor. Started slowly, gathered momentum, peaked in Delhi, then fizzled out as sickness got the better of him in Nagpur. He got a hundred, but that was only thanks to India's generosity as they twice dropped sitters before he reached three figures. He also got a half-century in the Mohali drubbing but contributed very little in his other six innings.
Unlike some of his team-mates there wasn't any one particular bowler or delivery which was responsible for his downfalls - instead he just never found true form and didn't look his best. Similarly his bowling wasn't as useful as it was during the series in Australia earlier this year, which was a big loss for a team that only picked a real spinner for the final Test.
Shane Watson---5/10
(4 matches; 170 runs @24.28; HS: 78; 10 wkts @32.10; BBI 4/42)
Confirmed himself as an allrounder of Test match potential, and his general impression was stronger than his figures. Bowled Australia's best spell of reverse swing for the series in Nagpur, while his first innings 78 in Mohali was a model of concentration. Needs to ease up on the lip a little when bowling. Well that went well then. A whole series of tough cricket survived without so much as a whimper from a man who previously struggled to get out his front door without doing himself an injury. He also managed important wickets at key times to show his worth as a bowler in this form of cricket.
But has he done enough? A shortage of runs suggests that he hasn't, given that this is the primary task for a number six. With Andrew Symonds inching back into the side Watson's chances are only going to diminish, so despite a satisfying tour from his perspective it could be a long summer of carrying the drinks. Good effort though.
Stuart Clark ---4/10
(2 matches; 2 wkts @80.50; BBI 2/38; 1 run @na; HS: 1*)
Injured for the second Test and left out of the fourth, Clark never made a major impact on the tour but also didn't disgrace himself. He showed he can still do what's expected of him - bowl disciplined line and length to restrict runs whilst also proving an intermittent threat. Predicted the tour would be hard work and so it proved. By far Australia's most economical bowler but unable to turn pressure into wickets, perhaps becase there was often none at the other end. Afflicted by an elbow injury in Mohali yet still could have been useful in Nagpur if picked. Australia could have used him in the final Test in place of Cameron White.
Peter Siddle--- 4/10
(1 match; 4 wkts @44.00; BBI 3/114; 0 runs @0.00; HS: 0*)
Bowled wholeheartedly in his one match, rattling Gautam Gambhir's helmet and defeating Sachin Tendulkar with the second new ball. A useful squad bowler, but likely to fall back in the queue this summer in favour of others likely to get more out of less dusty Australian tracks. Drafted in for Clark in Mohali he did a reasonable job for a losing cause. It certainly wasn't his fault - he was the only Australian bowler to swing the ball, even if he didn't find the reverse which India used to destroy their visitors.
Rahul Dravid ---3/10
(4 matches; 120 runs @17.14; HS: 51)
Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Mohammad Kaif, Subramaniam Badrinath and Kohli have every reason to keep their ears close to the phone after another a torrid series from the erstwhile skipper.
Hot on the heels of his shoddy performance against Sri Lanka comes yet another, with the The Wall's resolute start to the series with a dogged half ton gradually capitulating to veritable ignominy courtesy a couple of teens in Delhi and a quacker and single-figure knock in the series-decider.
It's a shame that relinquishing the captaincy to concentrate on his batting has bizarrely backfired, for Dravid, a loyal servant to Indian cricket, seems on the cusp of getting the chop now as India look to their young guns.
Anil Kumble ---3/10
(2 matches; 3 wkts @95.33; BBI: 3/112, 50 runs @25.00; HS: 45) Recurring injury troubles and a quite substandard couple of clashes against the old enemy didn't allow for a poetic ending to Kumble's career.
His bowling left a load to be desired, but at least the peripheral all-rounder showed he still had it with the bat, his 45 playing its part in his team's hefty first innings at his favourite and farewell ground, the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium.
Now, he is left to spend time with his family and "concentrate on photography", joining an unsettling number of Indian captains to come and go over the past decade.
Cameron White--- 3/10
(4 matches; 5 wkts @68.40; BBI 2/71; 146 runs @29.20; HS: 46)
A promising debut in Bangalore was betrayed by the fact that he never got any better, probably regressing as a bowler over the series as the Indians worked him out. Last spell of the series in Nagpur was a disastrous two-over stint that helped hand game back to India. Batted well in patches but looked short of Test class. To pick him as a specialist spinner was asking too much. It wasn't his fault. After all even he barely bowls himself for his state side so quite why the Australian selectors expected him to be a frontline spinner on a Test tour of India is none too clear. Some didn't even land on the strip.
What White can do is bat, as he showed with an excellent 46 in Australia's first innings in Nagpur. If that's the reason why they picked him for every match - to beef up the lower order - then it's even more reason why Australia deserved a bit of a hiding because that's no way to win a Test match.
Brad Haddin ---3/10
(4 matches; 163 runs @27.16; HS: 37; 13 catches)
Batting average is flattering after a series where so many of his dismissals seemed scatter-brained. Lacks the stature he displays in state cricket. A poor match with the gloves in Bangalore was slowly improved upon and 13 catches was a fair tally. But the thrown glove in Nagpur was the brain fade of a mentally tired 'keeper. After a nightmare start with the gloves in Bangalore he bounced back to keep very well on a tough pitch here in Nagpur, which will be enough for the selectors to confirm that he's their man in the long term.
He had a disappointing series with the bat, especially as he looked to be a decent player of spin, and it wasn't just his strike rate that was a poor imitation of Adam Gilchrist. After this series it's probably fairer to drop those comparisons and accept that Gilchrist was a freak. Then we can trot out all those lines about how much Haddin will have learnt on this tour and how valuable the experience will have been, because in this instance it's certainly true.
Brett Lee--- 3/10
(4 matches; 104 runs @14.85; HS: 64; 8 wkts @61.62; BBI 2/48)
A distinctly forgettable tour for Lee, who never got the hang of the flatter wickets or, more importantly, reverse swing. Had a reduced preparation and it showed. Indian wickets confirmed the fallibility of his flat trajectory and his inability to swing the ball was reminiscent of England 2005. The hangover from his divorce and the lack of fitness preparation it created were clear, and he only began to look himself after some hard days of training in the wake of the Mohali disaster.
In the first two Tests Ponting brought him back into the attack as soon as a wicket went down to try and take wickets in clusters, but it never worked and so the tactic was dismissed. Having battled a virus during the last Test, Lee must now pick himself back up and look to a happier summer on his home pitches.
Newer news items:
Older news items:
|
