No matter what happens with the Australian Test team between now and February it won’t matter – they’re destined to be mercilessly flogged on their tour of India. The Indians at home are the definition of unbeatable.
While Australia still have two Tests remaining against Pakistan before heading to the subcontinent, the horrific 4-0 hammering England copped from India the past six weeks is a sign of what’s to come for the boys in baggy green.
India closed out that series on Tuesday with a second successive innings victory. It was the fourth heavy win on the trot over England, who are now mired in a deep form trough, having only won only one of their past eight Tests, and none of their past three Test series.
To be fair to England, though, there is not a team in the world capable of competing in India, except perhaps for Pakistan, who haven’t played in a Test there since 2007.
India now have gone 19 Tests on the trot without losing at home, a sequence which stretches back four years. That includes their famously brutal 4-0 flaying of Australia in 2013, a tour which ripped the visitors apart.
By the end of that series the Australian playing group was firmly fractured, four players had received disciplinary suspensions and coach Micky Arthur was a dead man walking. Australia trialled four different top-three combinations in that series as they scrambled forlornly to address their batting collapses.
In that series Australia had only two batsman who averaged better than 33. It was, in my opinion, the lowest ebb for Australia’s Test team in the past 25 years. The bad news for Australia is India are a better Test team now than they were back then.
Indian superstars Ravi Ashwin, Virat Kohli and Ravi Jadeja are, without doubt, superior cricketers to their 2013 selves. Apart from MS Dhoni, India’s batting stars from that series are still around in Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara and Shikhar Dhawan.
India have also added to their mix a raft of gifted newcomers. These include stylish opener KL Rahul who cracked 199 against England last week, strokemaker Karun Nair who smashed 303no against the Poms in the same match, and spinning all-rounder Jayant Yadav who averaged 74 with the bat and 29 with the ball in that series.
India have such an embarrassment of riches that to keep Nair in their Test team they’d likely have to overlook classy middle order accumulator Ajinkya Rahane. Rahane not only has a wonderful Test record of 2272 runs at 47 but he also was a standout on India’s last tour of Australia, piling up 399 runs at 57.
Since 2013 the Indians have also unearthed something they had not boasted in years – a world-class paceman in the form of right armer Mohammad Shami. Australian fans will be familiar with the talents of Shami, who bowled very well across the four Tests down under in 2014.
Despite the extremely flat nature of the pitches in that series, Shami was a constant threat and finished with 15 wickets at 36 from three Tests. To understand just how impressive an effort that was for an Asian paceman, compare his series figures to those of Mitchell Johnson (13 wickets at 35), Ryan Harris (10 wickets at 33) and Mitchell Starc (seven wickets at 36).
The presence of Shami means India’s attack boasts a significant weapon beyond their trio of spinners. Against England Shami outbowled all of the Poms’ quicks, including Stuart Broad and James Anderson.
In the past Australia have fancied their chances of scoring against the new ball in India, because the home side often had a weak pace battery. But Shami will provide a stern test to Australia’s batting line-up before they face the inevitable trial by spin.
Meanwhile, India’s batting line-up is hugely intimidating in home conditions. Superstar Virat Kohli is in rampant form and delights in playing Australia, against whom he has caned six tons from just 12 Tests.
India had four different opening pairs against England yet that still didn’t disrupt their batting. Such is their depth of talent at present.
What makes their smashing of England even more remarkable is that none of the five pitches used in the series were raging turners.
There were times when the slow bowlers received generous assistance from the surfaces. But there wasn’t a single pitch which offered sharp turn for all five days. Overall, the decks were very fair and gave England a sporting chance of winning.
India were just far too good. And they will be far too good again when Australia tour. It will be ugly.
Ajay Godbole
Roar Rookie
Its not that bad for Australia. England could have won first test match, had they played attacking cricket. If you are scoring above 400 runs and still losing then something is terribly wrong with the players and not with pitch. Aussies need to pick a good left arm spinner for India, even if he is not a great turner of ball he should be accurate like santner from Newzealand I would pick 3 pacers and 1 spinner and would pick maxwell and mitchell marsh as remaining 2 bowling options. I would miss watto in this tour
jammel
Guest
Warner Renshaw Khawaja Smith SMarsh Handscomb Nevill O'Keefe Starc Lyon Hazlewood That's the XI I'd like to see for the first Test at least in India. The key lesson out of England's recent experience in India was you must bat time. You need a big first innings score; you need to bat for long periods of time. This is achieved when your specialist batsmen make big hundreds. Interestingly, the Indian batsmen that made BIG scores invariably started slowly - e.g. even when they reached 70 their strike rate was often still around 40. We need that approach. By contrast, England's batsmen (Root included) looked to push things too soon. We can't afford that. This counts against Maxwell IMO. Maxwell shouldn't be considered until he makes big scores domestically and shows a temperament suitable for building an innings in Tests. As and when a fifth bowling option is needed - and it probably will be!, it remains to be seen whether that ought to be MMarsh, Cartwright, Stoinis, Faulkner, Head or someone else. But it doesn't just count against Maxwell - it is something which should be noted by all the Australia batsmen. Bat time, and you'll be able to make hay later. In my view, having six specialist batsmen is particularly important in India - more important than a fifth genuine bowling option. O'Keefe is a must for me. We need two spinners. We should also take a third - and be prepared to play them. I don't really mind whether that's Fawad, Boyce, Zampa, Holland, Agar or someone else. Beyond that, I'll be interested to see how the quicks go - especially if Sayers/Bird get a bowl in 1 or more of the Tests.
Bugs
Guest
Yes. I should be more careful with my words. "Failure" for Khawaja will be the inability to either a) formulate a workable plan to play the spinners in a successful way, or b) inability to put it into practice. A lot of people are saying we can't / shouldn't play Khawaja because of how poorly he fared against spin in the past, in particular against Graeme Swann, India in 2013, and our last tour of SL (Ironically, o the prior tour to SL, S.Marsh debuted and was retained over Khawaja for the next test after the injured player S.Marsh had covered for returned). I'm agreeing that he was terrible, but should be afforded an opportunity to show improvement, before being labelled "Great at home - do not take abroad". It is a form of perform or perish, but more nuanced. England selection in the 90's is one end of the spectrum, Aussie test side from '95 - '07 is the other end. But the harsh reality is, they all need to perform or be dropped. I am NOT a fan of hard "you need this many runs / wickets to keep your spot", because cricket is a funny game, and I was aghast when Rod Marsh said Mitch Marsh needed a century to keep his spot. You just knew the pressure of those words spoken publicly would be too much and he'd be dropped soon. And so it was. In the 2003 ODI World Cup final, Ponting hit 140* off about 110 balls. What most people don't remember is that he played like a dog for his first 60-odd deliveries. Loads of play-and-misses, inside edges, mis-hits and dot balls. The Aussie innings was in danger of stalling, but Damien Martyn up the other end was on fire, striking them out of the middle from the first ball. He kept the score ticking over, playing very fluently and making up for Ponting's scratchiness. Ponting, to his credit, didn't get out, came good and started middling them. He hogged the strike (not on purpose -just worked out that way) in the last 7-8 overs and ended up unbeaten on a big century at better than a run a ball. Martyn, starved of strike ends up on 88* at a run a ball. The stats tell you it was Ponting who was the main man, but I rate Martyn's innings as the better one, by a considerable margin. Back to Khawaja - the coach can simply tell him that he's good to go at the start of the tour: "Show me you can implement this plan to nullify the spinners". THere's no need to put it in absolute terms - Khawaja will know anyway. He'd be one of his harshest critics.
Dexter The Hamster
Guest
Its a great way to build confidence in a team. "you are picked for the first test, but if you fail, you are done".. Its England selection policy circa 1991....
Bugs
Guest
You're onto it there Ronan. Starc & Hazy + SOK & Lyon A good keeper - Neville, Hartley, Whiteman - I don't care, so long as its not Wade (or Handscombe!) But I'm not certain I'd drop Khawaja for the series. Sure, S.Marsh deserves to come in, but I'd give Usman the first test to prove he's improved. If he looks terrible, hook him. But better players have struggled in those conditions, only to return later and figure out a way to score runs. Give him a chance - just not the whole tour...
Armchair Expert
Guest
You're on the money there Nudge, Jadeja has a similar 1st class bowling average to SOK, Ashwin and Shah 26 and Hearth 25.
Tony
Guest
I wonder if the selectors would be willing to take a couple of young spinners in the squad to give them experience in Indian conditions. Someone like Cameron Boyce and Mitchell Swepson.If the series is over after the 3rd game. Maybe give them a go in the last game.
Armchair Expert
Guest
If Turner makes runs in his next couple of shield games he should got to India, he's made runs in every shield game this season, including several times when the other batsmen failed and he apparently made a truckload of runs in the Australian off season in England.
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
True, but it just as crazy to select Wade for India, knowing that its very tough for keepers in India and that Wade can barely keep on the flat, bouncy Aussie pitches.
steve
Guest
Having Marsh and O'Keefe at 8 and 9 offsets the weakness at 6 and 7, everyone would have Maxie and Nevill there and to me the only way you can do that is to have Mitch Marsh in the team to outweigh it, its him or Lyon and Marsh offers much more as a cricketer, Lyon has been destroyed every time he has gone and is too much of a liability there.
Rob JM
Guest
Seriosly? Have you bothered to look at the tail of the current Side? Maxwell and Marsh have weaknesses as batsmen but it's not against spin. Personally I would look at turner over maxwell, while Agar and Marsh at No8 will be dependant on whether the selectors want three seamers or three spinners. They may also play two specialist spinners if any of Lyon, Swepson, and holland show great form)
steve
Guest
Very harsh on Renshaw, I should have put that below the team, there is no justification, only a choice between him and Khawaja to open and personally Id go with Khawaja so he can be set by the time the spinners come on.
Brasstacks
Guest
Numbers 6,7, 8 and 9 in your team read Maxwell, Neville, M Marsh and SOK... that is a tail if I ever saw one. Extraordinary that you would say that is a long batting line up. We need to have a proper batsman who can actually score runs at 6 and a wicket keeper who can score consistently. Only 2 test teams currently bat long and that is India and England. Even RSA and Pakistan haev exceptional keeper batsmen, but they stop batting at 7. Wahab Riaz and Philander are far too inconsistent to bank upon.
twodogs
Guest
Yes Nudge, and for mine that says much about our selection process. Just on rough 1st class stats, we see Lyon average 34+ with ball and 14 odd with bat. in SOK you get 25 ball and 25 bat. That's a massive anomaly between the two so one would expect SOK get the inside running? No so it seems. Lyon must have another important quality. Singing perhaps?
Matth
Guest
I'm not saying you're wrong, but what's the justification for dropping Renshaw?
steve
Guest
Warner Khawaja S.Marsh Smith Handscomb Maxwell Nevill M.Marsh O'Keefe Starc Hazlewood Best team they could name for India. Id say your choosing between Mitch Marsh and Lyon and I think its pretty simple, Maxwell bowls right arm offies, id rather have a seam all rounder that can bowl reverse than a better version of something we already have, we have 2 spinners and 3 pacemen and a long batting line up, this would definitely be the team I would choose for India.
Timmuh
Roar Guru
Considering last time Australia had only Clarke (47) and Smith (40) average that (and Starc just short at 36, with Cowan 33) that is a considerable concern.
Tanmoy Kar
Guest
Rightly said, hence Indian Govt.and the people of India decided to isolate Pakistan in all respect.
Timmuh
Roar Guru
No matter who we pick, losing 4-0 is the only result unless weather intervenes. The big question is how many are lost by an innings. Less than two and the tour is a success. I don't have a squad in mind yet, hoping to see some form from certain people in the second half of the Shield. We certainly can't have Handscomb as wicket-keeper. He's as bad behind the stumps as Wade used to be. And the much improved current Wade is more than bad enough. The only definite starters right now are: Smith and reluctantly Starc and Warner. That is all. Every one of them has a question mark over their ability, or suitability to the conditions. Even Smith.
Nudge
Guest
You're probably right about Sok, but I feel like he's our best hope. His first class record is incredible so we need to find out whether he can step up and produce at test level. I don't think there is a current spinner in the world with a better first class record, which is pretty amazing.