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
Matt
Roar Rookie
No one uses logic towards a guy they dislike. Try asking a Watto hater who would do a better job in the team and watch the same inconsistency. The last 3 guys they've tried there haven't done any better, and there's no reason to think they would.
Andrew
Guest
I have Aphasia -The Don (Godfather) Aphasia is condition characterized by either partial or total loss of the ability to communicate verbally or using written words. A person with aphasia may have difficulty speaking, reading, writing, recognizing the names of objects, or understanding what other people have said. Aphasia is caused by a brain injury, as may occur during a traumatic accident or when the brain is deprived of oxygen during a stroke. It may also be caused by a brain tumor, a disease such as Alzheimer's, or an infection, like encephalitis. Aphasia may be temporary or permanent. Aphasia does not include speech impediments caused by loss of muscle control
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
It's not a long bow to compare how other players have handled the step up to Test cricket. In fact I'm sure that's what the selectors do. Otherwise it's just blind luck.
JMW
Guest
Don have you ever bowled a ball in anger? No bowler likes to "give runs away" especially boundaries!
JMW
Guest
Hilarious post by Joe on Don...the sky is blue...lmfao!
Joe Barrett
Roar Rookie
Don after reading all the comments on this article I think you just comment for the sake of a discussion . Here you go I'll kick off one I'm sure you have quite often . The sky is blue ....
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
Train… again way off the tracks…I'm not advocating for Marsh, just pointing out form 10 years ago is a fairly long bow to consider for a selection decision in the upcoming Test series.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
I'm not knocking Johnson. I was one of the few defending him prior to his return to form. I consider him the most influential cricketer in the world. I also consider Harris a better quality bowler. He lacks the intimidation of Johnson though.
Paul Giles
Guest
I am comparing S.Marsh to the likes of his brother M.Marsh who is somehow a lock in the team according to most people. It is not unfair to say that S.Marsh isn't good enough but some of the comments go further than that. I did mention his woeful summer 3 years ago but you can't not pick him now on the basis of a poor summer 3 years ago, that form has little relevance. The disliking of S.Marsh would also stem from the fact that he didn't earn his recall to the test team in South Africa. Since then, he has performed decently in tests and quite well in the shield. I probably wouldn't have him in my test team as I would have Voges ahead but when people say S.Marsh is hopeless, then that is being a little bit unfair.
JMW
Guest
That's a silly comment Don. I captained my team into the finals. I've also agreed with some of your comments so by definition that must devalue your opinion. You do a bit of oscillating mate, I'll give you that. Your consistency to the West is noted though. :P
Don Freo
Guest
That perception is only held by people who watch cricket when its on but don't actually know the game. Very much like every JMW post.
JMW
Guest
Yes! A quick single and the 150 is posted. What an innings it's been! I agree PG, and I expect the NSP's new wunderkind to earn his place back. I recall the great Tommy Hafey once remarked that "potential is a dirty word, often it isn't realised!" Golf claps everybody, now let's all surge to 200, it will give Ronan's expert ranking deeper gravitas. :)
JMW
Guest
149 - I agree Haury was treated very poorly. He looked like he was coming on to me. It's a pity he sold his Test jumper.
JMW
Guest
148 - but it cost us a win and a ton. Silly Shaun!
JMW
Guest
147 - agree with that. The brains trust faded on that declaration. It showed a lack of enterprise and confidence in Lyon to get the job done on the last day. Mmm, maybe they were right to distrust Lyon afterall.
JMW
Guest
He played a selfish innings Bob and he stupidly ran himself out on 99. Smart cricketers don't do that. I note Slater remarked that you're known more for the number of times you get dismissed in the nineties. If that's true then Shaun Marsh (with Watto) should achieve global infamy comparable to that nutbag Korean dictator (can they hack this site too?).
JMW
Guest
I don't know if you could say SEM was "brilliant" and he juggled that dropped catch 3 times. I'd expect a test cricketer, brilliant or not, to take a catch driven straight to him. I'll be controversial here and see if we can't get Ronan's article to post 200 comments. SEM's dropped catch cost us the test match. It's a fact and can't be argued. Let's see, we only need about 54 more posts to crack the double ton.
JMW
Guest
Lol :D
JMW
Guest
Hey Don, there's only one flaw with that post. SOK outperformed Lyon in his sole test and was quickly dropped in case he did it again. SOK also outperforms our pencil necked friend on those rare occasions they pair up for NSW. It really is embarrassing that the NSP continue with their stubborn insistence that Lyon, not SOK is their boy. I pretty much agree with the rest of the duds you fingered. They didn't perform so they are out!
JMW
Guest
They were probably bored by then Nudge, out forcing the pace more than likely and they gifted Lyono some cheapies. It happens with pedestrian spinners in all grades of cricket ;)