It is fair to say that Australia were absolutely pummeled and humiliated in the second Test against India.
The massive innings and 135 run lost has sparked severe criticism from journalists, former players and commentators against the Australian selection panel and comparisons with the lows of the 80s.
The recent poorly timed retirements of Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey have certainly not helped Australia’s cause, particularly with three massive series this year. The Australian selectors have also done nothing to help Australia’s chances, with many confusing, controversial and some can argue, stupid selections made.
Without a doubt, Australia have been well beaten in both Test matches but they haven’t been 100%, totally and utterly outplayed. In the first Test, after a reasonable first innings of 380 by the Aussies, it became the Mahendra Singh Dhoni show.
It was literally Dhoni versus Australia in that second innings. In the second Test match, it was Vijay/Pijura and R Ashwin versus Australia.
But if you take away the efforts of Dhoni in that first Test, India’s first innings lead may have only been 30 or 40. India’s first innings in Hyderabad was 503, 370 of them was from the Vijay/Pijura partnership.
The third highest score was 44 by Dhoni. It’s not that India have been outright dominating, it’s just Australia have not been able to grasp opportunities when they appear.
Also poor bowling, poor fielding and poor shot selection are reasons for Australia’s downfall.
If you have a look at all of the top six Australian batsmen’s dismissals, most of them have been bowled or lbw. This has resulted in smart bowling from the Indian bowlers (mainly spinners) and poor shot selection by the batsmen.
The most important thing all touring teams should know is that Indian pitches are dry, flat, provide big assistance for spinners and usually has low bounce.
The only thing that Australia are doing wrong is playing on the backfoot to good length deliveries, especially to the spinners.
In India, you must play forward to every single delivery unless it is genuinely short. When the Aussie batsmen play backward, the ball skids on and wraps them on the pads.
While the Australian bowling attack needs an assessment, it’s the batsmen who are causing the most problems.
Michael Clarke is the only Aussie to average over 30 in the series.
Vice-Captain Watson, who is playing as a specialist batsmen this series, is averaging a very mediocre 19.
Warner is averaging a miserly 28. Both Watson and Warner have had enough experience in India to be able to adapt to the conditions.
Watson had played six Tests in India prior to this series, including IPL while Warner has played every season of the IPL and Champions League T20 in India.
Those three batsmen must step up, especially Watson. Had Watson been bowling in this series and taken wickets, his spot would be safe but he has vowed not to bowl in India.
Despite his sensational ODI and T20 form over the last 18 months, his Test form has been very, very poor.
He has averaged only 24 in the last 12 months in Tests and has gone 37 innings without a century. What is most interesting is that, his average began to drop significantly ever since he has moved to no.3 and 4.
With Cowan struggling for runs, Watson must return to the top of the order for the remainder of the two Tests. Despite Warner and Cowan both being the most successful opening combination over the last 12 months of any team, they still average under 40 together which is nowhere near acceptable.
The other players who really have to step up are David Warner and Peter Siddle.
Warner’s spot in the team looks fairly safe for the moment as his record is far better than Cowan’s, but a couple more low scores to finish off the series will put his spot in doubt come the Ashes.
Siddle also has to step up. Being the most experienced of all the bowlers, he has only taken two wickets at an appalling average of 81.
Although he hasn’t bowled too badly this series, like Starc, Siddle’s action and style of bowling is more suited to the bouncier pitches and bowler friendly conditions of England, South Africa and Australia.
Mitchell Johnson, who has played six Test matches in India may come into contention to replace Siddle for the Mohali Test.
The Mohali Test starts on the 14th of March. The last time these two teams played in Mohali was one of the greatest Test comebacks of all time by India.
With Australia all but certain to reach victory when they had India 8/124 chasing 216, an injured VVS Laxman teamed up with tail-ender Ishant Sharma for a 90-run partnership before India held on for a one wicket victory.
Despite the painful memories for the Australians, only Shane Watson, Michael Clarke and Mitchell Johnson remain from that famous Test match.
Both Watson and Johnson had good matches individually, with Watson’s second and last Test hundred being scored then and Johnson taking 5/64 in the first innings.
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