India may have arrived in Australia with their best-ever Test pace attack but their batting shapes as vulnerable in the four-Test series starting on Thursday.
The tourists were extraordinarily reliant on superstar batsman Virat Kohli during their Test series losses in England and South Africa this year and that looks likely to be the case once more in Australia.
Kohli was monumental across those eight Tests in England and South Africa, making 879 runs at 55, including three centuries, despite facing some of the world’s best bowlers on often spicy pitches.
Taking into account his dominant Test record in Australia, where he’s scored nearly 1,000 runs at 62, Kohli appears set to have another huge series down under.
(Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
But he’ll need to because the rest of the Indian batting lineup have been in dire form on the road this year.
Quite incredibly, in England and South Africa, the remainder of the Indian batsmen (including wicketkeepers and batting all-rounders) combined to average just 21 with the bat:
This is how the batsmen who are in India’s squad for the Tests against Australia fared in India’s eight away Tests this year:
1. Virat Kohli – 879 runs at 55
2. Cheteshwar Pujara – 378 runs at 29
3. KL Rahul – 329 runs at 23
4. Ajinkya Rahane – 314 runs at 26
5. Rishabh Pant – 162 runs at 27
6. Murali Vijay – 128 runs at 13
7. Rohit Sharma – 78 runs at 19
8. Parthiv Patel – 56 runs at 14
9. Hanuma Vihari – 56 runs at 28
That is an appalling return for the batting lineup of the world’s number one team and highlights just what a one-man army India have become away from home.
Making matters worse, India lost their first-choice opener to injury in their only warm-up game of this tour when teen prodigy Privthi Shaw rolled his ankle against the Cricket Australia XI.
That unfortunate incident means veteran Vijay is now all but certain to open in the first Test alongside KL Rahul, with Pujara at first drop. This would leave India with a top three who have been woeful away from home in Tests this year.
Rahul and Pujara both have question marks over their ability to flourish in the Test nations which most support pace bowling – Australia, South Africa, England and New Zealand.
Pujara averages just 29 with the bat from his 21 Tests across those countries, compared to an average of 64 in Asia, highlighting just how out of his depth he is away from familiar conditions.
The foundation of Pujara’s success in Asia is his mastery of spin bowlers, against whom he scores freely. But in Australia, South Africa, England and New Zealand, where pace is king, Pujara frequently gets bogged down at the crease.
His strike rate drops from 51 in Asia down to a dawdling 39 in those four countries. This inability to keep the scoreboard moving means bowlers feel in control against Pujara, as do opposition skippers, who can set attacking fields to him.
Rahul, too, is yet to master conditions in those four pace-friendly countries, where he averages only 25 from nine Tests. One of the most naturally-gifted batsmen in Test cricket, Rahul all too often gifts his wicket with needlessly-reckless strokes.
After four years of playing Test cricket he still has not improved upon this issue and it becomes all the more of a hindrance away from home.
Vijay, meanwhile, was outstanding on India’s last Test tour of Australia, carving 482 runs at 60, but is coming off a horror run in England and South Africa this year. Those two nations’ Test attacks picked apart the defence of Vijay, who looked extremely susceptible to balls directed at the top of off stump.
His footwork was a mess, which in turn affected his balance at the crease. Turning 35 years old in a few months’ time, it is possible Vijay has just hit the wall as a Test batsman, as many before him have around the same age.
Many Indian fans and pundits considered Vijay lucky to be included in the squad for this series and he now looks set to be thrust back on to the frontline due to Shaw’s injury.
While Vijay will take confidence from his 129 in the second innings of the tour match I wouldn’t read much into that belligerent innings against a very-weak attack.
The task of taming Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon will be vastly more difficult. Likely to bat at five, behind Kohli, is Rahane who like Vijay had a great tour of Australia last time around, with 399 runs at 57.
Also like Vijay, Rahane is in very poor form in Tests and is being picked on deeds from the distant past rather than on recent form. In his last 13 Tests Rahane has averaged 22 with the bat. At number six in their batting lineup India seem to be picking from between white ball star Rohit Sharma and newcomer Hanuma Vihari.
Vihari has just one Test to his name, while Sharma averages only 18 with the bat from his 20 Test innings in Australia, South Africa and England.
Then, at seven, is expected to be rookie wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant, a freewheeling strokemaker still looking to find his way in Test cricket. So, Kohli aside, India’s batting looks just as vulnerable in this series as Australia’s.
anon
Roar Pro
Smith in Australia 77.25 Smith away 50.96 Kohli in Australia 62.00 Kohli everywhere but Australia 53.39 Now keep in mind, that Kohli in Australia is facing the best quick bowling unit on the planet in conditions that suit that fast bowling unit the best. Smith in Australia is facing the West Indies, Sri Lanka, India, etc. Most of their quicks would struggle playing Shield cricket.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
If you go across all three formats, Kohli certainly is the king. But Smith's record in test cricket is just insanely amazing. And he's scored runs all over the world in all conditions, not just "on Aussie roads". In fact, he's scored less than 50% of his test runs on "Aussie Roads". But he's not here, so we have to focus on players who are available...
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
He's out for the first match, but hasn't been ruled out for the whole series has he? What's the extent of the injury? Surely there's still a good chance of him being back for the second or third test?
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
The thing with Starc and Cummins is, Starc is much better against spin, and Cummins is much better against pace.
satz
Roar Rookie
What about the top order of home teams? Top order from SA and England didn't do much better either. So the fact that accomplished batsmen from the home teams suffered as well proves the bowlers were unduly aided. Familiarity with the conditions didn't help either. So bowler friendly conditions played more of a heavy role than unfamiliar conditions in the low scores. Indian batting did not much worse than the home teams in top order. Rahane and Vijay played some good knocks in their last tour of England. So its not that they do not know how to score in English conditions. Lower order batting is misleading. They had the easier phases often ,when the conditions were less hostile. England did largely win due to the lower order partnerships forged by Curran and the fact that India batted last. I would attribute the loss to our bowlers being unimaginative in bowling out allrounders. Our only class bowler Bumrah was injured and just a few tests old. Others are too mediocre in their thinking to out smart the likes of Woakes. A batsman ,scoring 100 in a 250 score,means he had a great day and it does not happen everyday. 8 out of 10 batsmen are going to fail with such scores regardless of ability. How can it be a guide if batsmen are severely disadvantaged and bowlers disproportionately advantaged? Its not fair or accurate to judge players under these conditions. The Indian bowlers have an inflated image ,despite the averages of Ishant and Umesh being in the high 30's. I have little confidence in them on true wickets. I do not know where Rahane and Vijay are really at. A more fair wicket would have confirmed they are not in form. but for now i can't use these conditions. One can't expect Kohli or ABDV to be matched by other players. Those tours are not an accurate guide at all. It will damage careers of batsmen unfairly and probably it already has.
Savage
Roar Rookie
Even I'm not sure tbh.Steyn is back in form but I would like to see him play all 3 match series against Pakistan and prove his fitness.Test cricket needs Steyn back.Like you mentioned, South Africa probably deserves to be rated as best bowling attack.Australia is close second. In terms of variety though,I think Australia is best. Lyon - Complete Spinner who can do well in subcontinent and non-subcontinent pitches. Hazlewood - Mcgrath 2.0 Cummins - Can be lethal even on dead pitches Starc - Left arm quick which not many teams have.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Savage the Aussie bowling attack ( when all fit at the same time of course ) is fantastic but " the best in the world " ?? Not too sure of that . In the upcoming Pakistan series , South Africa will field Dale Steyn , Kagiso Rabada , Lungi Ngidi , Vernon Philander and Kershav Maharaj . That takes some beating.
Brasstax
Guest
Ronan while i bbroadly agree with you, it is slightly unfair to focus on the averages of the other players across the 8 tests in SA and the UK. Those tests featured some of the most seam and swing bowling friendly wickets seen in those countries over the past several seasons. The averages of the England top six would be worse and the were saved by the ample batting ability of their bowlers/all rounders. In fact that was the difference between the teams.
Matt H
Roar Guru
One batsman team. So is Australia and unfortunately that one man isn't playing.
Savage
Roar Rookie
I am looking forward to see Aussie quicks in action after a long time.Potentially I feel Aussie bowling lineup is the best in the world(3 quicks + Lyon) but they've been slightly underwhelming with their performance "as a unit".There is reason why Australia is 5th in rankings and blame shouldn't only be given to batsmen.I am not saying Australian bowlers have been ordinary(far from it) but only that they can still do better.
badmanners
Roar Rookie
Nice work that one Paul, you obviously know your numbers, could you please explain the Duckworth-Lewis system? And maybe the off-side rule..... :-)
Kopa Shamsu
Guest
The reason why Aussies & saffas perform well in each others backyard is because of their evenly matched great first bowling cartel which are treat to watch. I am looking forward to how SA plays Abbas because that was one thing that was missing from Aussies pace battery that caused them both series home & abroad against S.A. . They had S.A. regularly half down in that home series only to be bailed out by middle, lower middle order regularly. Bavuma & QDK contributed heavily in that series. The series earlier this year was like a freaking boxing fight , great cricket & evenly poised untill Newlands happened.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Dale Steyn recently predicted an Aussie win . Reason ....India must be absolutely knackered . They have been on the road and played so much Test cricket around the globe that fatigue has to be a factor. India's batting is fragile and as Ronan points out is highly dependent on VK . But as they found out in England and SA even that may not be enough. Bowling attack is world class though . Lets see. There is also an interesting Test series beginning shortly between South Africa and Pakistan . The Proteas are at the end of an era. AB De Villiers gone , Amla , Du Plessis and Steyn all at the Test cricket check out counter . 2019 will bring on a new dawn for SA Cricket and it is going to be very interesting . Pakistan are playing 2 games at altitude and can expect green mamba pitches but they have the red hot Mohammed Abbas and coach Arthurs intimate local knowledge . Some great cricket coming up methinks.
anon
Roar Pro
Kohli is the best in the game. Better than Tendulkar. I can't believe a year ago people were putting Smith ahead of Kohli. Not even close. Kohli is better. Master of all three forms of the game. Smith does most of his batting on Aussie roads. Can't switch gears for T20i. Fidgets at the crease. Kohli is sublime.
AJ
Guest
Don't forget we gave away our gimme at the Gabba. No curry on the menu or something apparently.
JamesH
Roar Guru
Both are true.
JamesH
Roar Guru
Only two innings against India in Australia though!
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Absolutely Kris I was very keen to watch Shaw bat, love seeing precocious young players taking on the Test format.
Kris Swales
Expert
Prithvi Shaw is a big loss for the Indians and the series as a whole. So much fun to watch him merrily swing away without a care in the world and connect more often than not. Pant is good for at least one Gilchrist-esque game-changing innings. Otherwise it really does come down to Kohli. Hopefully we get some sporting wickets cos he’ll carve up on anything remotely road-like.
Kopa Shamsu
Guest
In S.A. first 2 test were close to slowest you would ever get outside sub continent. So much that it was described as non- sub continental dust bowl. 3rd match pitch was dificult for both & kohli scored a 50. England pitch was nothing like we used to know except second match where mother nature played her role. I don't remember him making century in that match. Kohli is not the one Aussie bowlers should focus too much on. Rahane & Rahul is 2 most solid bat in that squad. Despite their lean patch, they are 2 most dangerous because they are technically sound. After playing that practice match, it is starting to feel like India has already switched in defensive mind. That would be a hell of a blow & reality check specially to their bowlers, how ordinary they seem without bumrah. 2 off topic question. 1 . How do you rate practice match SCG pitch? Was it batting friendly? Two of Ashwin's wicket, 1 kept low like it was on sub continent & the other turned from a good length. That is not typical baked road we have been watching, that is vintage SCG. 2. How do you rate this year's Shield pitches? There seemed to be variety & life on those pitches this year. Another interesting point is, Aussies seemed to very interested in distributing free runs in that second innings of practice match. Almost entire match after first couple of overs, they bowled giving width. And their captain Short in a desperate (!!) attempt to get wickets, threw the bowl to number 3 batsman of his team who eventually went over 20 runs in both of his overs! But even after that captain Short didn't made the mistake to throw the ball to Aaron Hardie, first innings highest wicket taker!!! Interesting !! Very interesting!!! Was he directed to do that? Something was cooking right there. If you smell what they were cooking :-D