Border-Gavaskar series player analysis: Australia

Sometimes the numbers in cricket can be misleading. Glenn Maxwell topped the Australian bowling averages. He was, however, close to the worst bowler, except when aided by luck.

Xavier Doherty in the third Test may have been worse than Maxwell, and perhaps Mitchell Johnson’s only Test also.

In the second Test Maxwell got the figures, despite bowling even worse than Doherty. Neither should be anywhere near a Test cap again unless they actually perform at first class level for an extended time.

That Australia had no fourth bowler (excluding Maxwell, who did not deserve anything like the figures he got) is shown in the numbers, with a massive gap in averages between Nathan Lyon (37.33) and Doherty (60.50).

Before the series many were calling for Steve O’Keefe to be in the squad. It can never be proven he would have done any better but on the surface the call would appear vindicated.

So how did the men who were on the plane to India perform?

Michael Clarke

130, 31, 91, 16, 0, 18, Did not play: 286 runs @ 47.67

0 wickets, 25 runs

Led from the front, only for nobody to follow his example. Probably the only batsman, maybe along with Smith, to be able to play to the conditions.

Ed Cowan

29, 32, 4, 44, 86, 8, 38, 24 : 265 runs @ 33.12

Cowan did seem to get better as the tour progressed, and fought hard. The inability to go on with a start was again in evidence, with only one good score despite only failing twice.

Getting regular starts is more than many in the team managed though. Fielding still a concern.

Xavier Doherty

DNP, 0*, 1*, 5, 18*, DNP : 24 runs @ 24.00

DNP, 3/131, Did not bat, 0/87, 1/24 : 4 wickets @ 60.50

Poor, even bad. Most thought he should not have been in the squad, and there was nothing to change that perception.

Brad Haddin

DNP, DNP, 21, 30, DNP : 51 runs @ 25.50

Four catches, one stumping

Not in the initial squad and expected to perform without any preparation in India, Haddin was in a no-win situation. Did his job when required.

Moises Henriques

68, 81, 5, 0, 0, 2, DNP : 156 runs @ 31.20

1/48, Did not bowl, 0/45, DNB, 1/62, DNB, DNP : 2 wickets @ 77.50

One of the many controversial picks pre-series, Henriques was touted as the probable find of the tour after his debut in the first Test.

After that he seemed to lose his way and it was no surprise when he was dropped for the last.

Phil Hughes

6, 0, 19, 0, 2, 69, 45, 6 : 147 runs @ 18.37

Had an absolute horror stretch against spin, but showed something to overcome that towards the end, averaging around 30 (still not good) over the final two Tests. In the end, probably not the worst performing of the Australian batsmen.

Mitchell Johnson

DNP, DNP, DNP, 3, 0 : 3 runs @ 1.50

DNP, DNP, DNP, 0/44, 0/16

Picked for the last Test, and mostly wayward when called upon.

Nathan Lyon

3, 11, DNP, 9*, 18, 8*, 5* : 54 runs @ 18.00

3/215, 1/29, DNP, 1/124, 1/27, 7/94, 2/71 : 15 wickets @ 17.33

Controversially dropped for the second Test to work on some technical matters, Lyon showed no sign of those being fixed for the third.

He bowled well in the last, doing many of the things the public had been calling for – and raising a question as to whether Clarke has been instructing the spinners to bowl tight and quick rather than attacking with some air.

Glenn Maxwell

DNP, 13, 8, DNP, 10, 8 : 39 runs @ 9.75

DNP, 4/127, DNP, 1/12, 2/54 : 7 wickets @ 27.57

Yet another who many said should not be picked. ‘The Big Show’ ended up leading the Australian bowling averages, despite bowling what deserved an average at least twice that size.

Those numbers alone will probably see him gain more undeserved Test caps.

James Pattinson

15*, 11, 1*, 0, DNP, 30, 11 : 68 runs @ 17.00

5/96, 1/13, 2/80, DNB, DNP, 1/54, 0/7 : 9 wickets @ 27.77

Worked hard and got reward first-up that never came again. Probably the only Australian bowler to leave with his reputation enhanced, or at least intact – except his homework grades.

Peter Siddle

19, 2, 0, 4, 0, 13, 51, 50 : 139 runs @ 17.37

1/66, 0/4, 1/92, DNB, 5/71, 1/34, 1/38, DNB

Like Pattinson, he did the hard work. Siddle seemed to learn something along the way as well and got better as the tour progressed.

Steven Smith

DNP, DNP, 92, 5, 46, 18 : 161 runs @ 40.25

1 wicket @ 63

Possibly the most contentious of a bunch of seemingly dubious picks for the squad, Smith surprised almost everyone by performing when required.

He looked at home more than anyone, except probably Clarke, against spin on doubtful decks.

Earned a number of people’s respect, and almost certainly will tour England with much less derision than would have otherwise been the case.

Mitchell Starc

3, 8, DNP, 99, 35, DNP : 145 runs @ 36.25

0/75, DNB, DNP, 2/74, 0/51, DNP : 2 wickets @ 100.00

Third on the batting averages, second highest score by an Australian; he almost did a batsman’s job but as a strike bowler did not do his own.

Matthew Wade

12, 8, 62, 10, DNP, 2, 19 : 113 runs @ 18.83

Four catches, one stumping

For a keeper-batsman, not good enough. His keeping was better than in the Australian summer, but not Test standard and an average of under 20 does not make up for anything.

He will be persevered with, under the theory that conditions in England are nothing like in India.

David Warner

59, 23, 6, 26, 71, 2, 0, 8 : 195 runs @ 24.37

0 wickets, 33 runs

With a brittle middle order to follow, four failures in eight knocks is not good enough.

Openers get the odd good ball that gets them out, but Warner is too loose too often. We all know ‘that is how he plays’, but right now the team needs him to be more circumspect.

He has shown he can do it, but it is all too rare, and until he starts producing the goods, maybe not mouthing off as much and acting the clown in the field would be a wise move as well.

Shane Watson

28, 17, 23, 9, DNP, 17, 5 : 99 runs @ 16.50

The worst Australian batsman, and probably worst player, suspended for a simple task where he was more culpable than others as vice-captain failing to show leadership; and then elevated to the captaincy on Clarke’s injury.

His form with the bat has been poor for a long time now, and he probably will be the most undeserving player picked for the Ashes squad.