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After relying too heavily on too few at times in recent series, Australia got a better spread of contributors over their four Tests against India.
Among their batsmen, Steve Smith marked himself as a potential all-time great for his country, David Warner continued his blistering touch, Chris Rogers turned his form around in dramatic fashion and Shaun Marsh displayed improved consistency.
On the bowling front, Nathan Lyon recorded his biggest wicket haul for a series, Ryan Harris once again defied his battered body, and Josh Hazlewood and Mitch Johnson persisted despite remarkably flat home pitches.
Here are my ratings for each of the 15 Australian players who took part in the series.
Steve Smith 10/10 – 769 runs at an average of 128
Smith’s record-breaking series was made all the more remarkable by the fact he was asked to take over from injured captain Michael Clarke for the past three Tests. India had no idea how to dismiss the prolific Australian.
David Warner 8.5/10 – 427 runs at 53
Over the past 12 months, Warner has turned from a maddeningly cavalier batsman into a reliable opener while retaining his ability to vaporise attacks. His twin hundreds at Adelaide set India’s bowlers on the back foot and they never recovered.
Chris Rogers 8.5/10
417 runs at 52. After enduring a lean run in the UAE and at Adelaide, Rogers rebounded in startling fashion, collecting six consecutive half centuries over the final three Tests. Together with Warner he forms the world’s best opening partnership.
Michael Clarke 8.5/10
135 runs at 67. In his sole Test for the summer Clarke overcame poor recent form and dealt with the emotions of the passing of close friend Phil Hughes to compile a wonderful century. His future may be in doubt due to his fragile body but Australia’s captain did himself proud in his limited playing time.
Ryan Harris 7.5/10
10 wickets at 33 and 120 runs at 40. Aside from the Gabba, which was sleepier than normal but at least offered the quicks some assistance, the pacemen were cruelled by the pitches this series. Harris’ consistency, accuracy and guile ensured that, despite the flat decks, he was rarely innocuous.
Josh Hazlewood 7.5/10
12 wickets at 29. Has already experienced the peaks and troughs of Test cricket, mixing some brilliant spells with others which were pedestrian. Overall, however, he had a terrific debut series.
Nathan Lyon 7.5/10
23 wickets at 35. Finally bowled Australia to a Test win on the last day at Adelaide in one of the finest displays of his career. Bowled a better line and with more enticing loop than he had during his disappointing tour of the UAE.
Mitchell Johnson 7.5/10
13 wickets at 36 and 133 runs at 44. He was Mitch the Serviceable rather than Mitch the Marauder. Neutralised to an extent by the lifeless surfaces, he never appeared disheartened and was instrumental in his side’s victory at Brisbane.
Shaun Marsh 7/10
254 runs at 42. Having been an all-or-nothing player during his Test career, Marsh made some improvements this series. Although he often had to battle for his runs, scores of 32, 17, 32, 99, 73 and 1 may well see him remain in the side for Australia’s next Test series in the West Indies in June.
Joe Burns 6/10
146 runs at 36. Appeared hampered by nerves during his first three digs at Test level before batting with freedom and belligerence as Australia bolted to a declaration at Sydney. His two fifties in the fourth Test could not have been more contrasting and proved that his versatility extends beyond being able to bat anywhere in the order from one to six.
Mitch Marsh 6/10
98 runs at 33 and one wicket for 54. After showcasing encouraging maturity with the bat during Australia’s disastrous tour against Pakistan, Marsh played a pair of enterprising innings at Adelaide and also bowled with greater penetration. The 23-year-old a massive future.
Mitchell Starc 5/10
7 wickets at 36 and one half century. Starc’s bowling at Brisbane was horribly wayward and, at times, half-hearted. Bristled by the criticism he received, Starc operated with greater pace, venom and control to be a solid contributor at the SCG.
Shane Watson 4.5/10
238 runs at 30 and five wickets at 49. A forgettable series for the veteran all-rounder. When the pressure was on and the series on the line, he floundered with the bat. Bowled well throughout the series but that, together with a late-series resurgence with the bat, were not enough to make up for his earlier struggles.
Brad Haddin 4.5/10
129 runs at 26 and 22 dismissals. Bowlers Mitchell Johnson and Ryan Harris played just one more innings for the series than Haddin yet made twice as many runs. On the kindest of pitches, Haddin’s batting mostly was poor. His keeping was a mixed bag – a few screamers offset by a few blunders.
Peter Siddle 3/10
2 wickets at 54. The experienced seamer no longer seems to have the pace or the tricks to trouble good batsmen on unresponsive pitches. Hazlewood’s emergence cou