For sure, India can’t seem to win any ICC trophies! But despite the drawn Ashes series, I think Australia is the best test team around right now (I held this view after the recently completed BG series and before Australia won the WTC). Impossible to beat at home and probably more adept to win / compete anywhere else around the world than any other team. Not many clinks in the 11 aside from replacing Warner.

You asked the question: “So, will the 2016-2023 Australian side go down as an all-time great?”

At the macro level, during this period (1 Jan 2016 to today), Australia’s w/l ratio was 1.652, versus India 2.421, South Africa 1.320 and England 1.179. India dominated at home – no need to unpick this further. But India’s fortunes overseas was mixed with a w/l ratio of 1.187 versus Australia 0.764, South Africa 0.500 and England 0.666. During this period India won 2 away series in Australia (the Everest of accomplishments for Asian teams), drew one in England that India would most likely have won if it wasn’t for rain and lost a couple of hard fought series in South Africa.

By almost every measure, except for not being able to win the WTC trophy – a brand new introduction to a format 140 odd years old – India has been the top of the pile for a while now, and that team is statistically is an all-time great.

Amazing series, one of the best of the 21st century. For me up there with BG 2000/01 and 2020/21 and 2005 Ashes. Twists and turns in every session. Some high quality cricket and some forgettable. England seemed to always dictate terms. When on song, they were up, and at times their style meant they faltered. All this versus a more stable / solid and traditional Australian approach that was always in with a chance in the volatile contest.

Australian fans will be chuffed going home with 2 trophies. But context is important. The WTC was won against an ageing Indian team that is in dire need of a refresh missing it’s 2 best players. And the Ashes was retained but could have been a different outcome if the 4th test didnt get washed out.

Can’t wait to see how Bazball goes in India in 6 months in the cauldron against Ashwin and Jadeja and then in Australia where England’s record in the 21st century, apart from one series, is abysmal.

A few other observations from me. English pitches are the best in the world. All games had (or should have had) results, consistent scores between 200 – 400 in each innings (except for one), and though pace bowlers took most of the scalps, spinners also had a good crack. Also, since Cummins took over as C, Australia’s on field conduct has been… well, something I’ve never seen before from Australia. No on field argy bargy in the recently completed BG series or this one and the common denominator is the massive change in how Australia behaves on the pitch.

Teams, commentators, bloggers make way too much of momentum and psychological scars after a narrow defeat. Of course Nasser is just trying to sell papers or get more radio listeners (whichever medium he made that claim). When the good teams play multi game series against each other, we so often see ebbs and flows within games and the series as a whole. Which is why the multi game bilateral test series is the ultimate form of this sport as it gives teams a chance to prove who is truly the best over many games, which usually irons out externalities like weather, toss, injuries and “luck”.

14/15 was better than the score line suggests. India ran out of steam after Kohli got out in Adelaide and were done by a Mitch Johnson counter attack in Brisbane. But India were in both those games with a chance before securing 2 tight draws at the MCG and SCG.

India v Australia and England v Australia produce more classic games than Sth Africa v Australia.

Ashes seldom live up to their pre series hype. BG has provided the closest bilateral contest in the 21st century. But this series is an absolute ripper. Big swings in momentum and fortune within games, each team relinquishing positions of ascendency. Australia’s reliable and solid bowling matching England’s overall creative and exciting game play. Agree with Nasser – 2-1 is a fair reflection. I have no evidence to back this up but it does ‘feel’ like Australia has had the worst of the conditions for some reason. And that can happen in England. Cloudy when batting and sunny when bowling. Bring on the next two… this series is shaping up as an all time classic.

Since Cummins took over as captain I’ve seen a markedly noticeable improvement in Australia’s on field conduct. Nobody mentioned this in the recently completed BG series, but that was the first time in the BG era I have seen India and Australia play test matches without a single on field incident. Australia is certainly a lot easier to like (from an opposition supporters perspective), and still getting all the Ws on scoreboard.

Nobody is disputing the YJB runout was within the rules. But it wasn’t as if he was seeking some sort of unfair advantage. Like, say, a non-striker sneaking a few yards before the ball is released. Given the circumstance, would have been a great sporting move by Cummins to do a Dhoni.

Pulsating day of cricket enjoyed by this neutral. Full credit to England for keeping every over interesting and the aggressive declaration. Any other bowling attack may have conceded 450+ for less wickets.

Love it or loath it, the IPL produces the most electric T20 cricket. Very high standard of play, lots of close matches and plenty of drama.

Possibly the best piece I’ve ever read on the limitations of the ICC pitch rating system. Love to see technology and data used more to help with pitch ratings.

https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/is-the-icc-s-pitch-rating-system-fit-for-purpose-1365110

Great write up Dave, one of the best on a topic that gets way too much air time in Australia!

As I was reading your piece and the comments I was itching to get my hands on stats that show our batters and bowlers doing better in the past decade than previously, which I reckon is a reason for the shorter games. No doubt pitches are getting tougher, but we are also smashing visiting teams more regularly. I watch a lot of Indian test cricket and it feels like there are so many games where we post good totals and the opposition don’t get close.

In saying this, I would love to see more variation in pitches in India. We have so many test grounds and different climates, we could replicate almost every other major ground on earth in our country and develop players that can play in all conditions. But for this to work, we need to stop our obsession with home dominance and prioritise winning overseas… even if that means losing more games at home.

What transpired yesterday is not surprising to me, nor would it be to a few other Indian supporters on The Roar. Sure the pitch is tricky, but not 100 runs tricky. Watch Australia go on to make a 250 plus score.

Our current batting line up is our weakest in 20 years. Some stars well beyond their prime and a few young blokes that are either not good enough or need more time to develop.

Our lower order has been covering our batting deficiencies for a few years now. The only reason we haven’t collapsed yet this BG series is because Australia has beaten us to it!

We’ll likely still make the WTC final but will also likely lose it. I hope after that the selectors take a long term view and start giving the next generation some opportunities.

Greatest sport (and format) on earth. I don’t believe the doomsayers. I reckon the past 8 or so years has been peak test cricket, so many classic games and series. And today another all time epic.

I’ve been sceptical of England’s new aggressive and entertaining approach. But it’s worked at home (including a massive 4th innings run chase against my India), they’ve done it in Pakistan and New Zealand. A small part of me wishes it works in India just to send a jolt through the cricket world and force a change in game styles across the board.

Based on no evidence at all, I reckon batsmen that have an extreme playing style (like Warner attacking) get a longer rope because of their potential upside and unique proposition. Sehwag, for eg, averaged 30, 31 a 9 the last 3 years of his career which is not too far off from Warner.

Sedz – only if it were a neutral ground! England has some fantastic venues for spin bowling, especially late in the summer such as Old Trafford and Trent Bridge. Now these grounds in August would be far closer to neutral!

Enjoyed that, Ben. No doubt India has had a lot of success against Australia since the inception of the BGT and been on the winning side of a lot of classics. But I can somewhat sympathise. As an Indian cricket supporter, I don’t really fear a single opposition; rather I fear any ICC tournament. We’ve been pipped at the post a few times in the past 10 years or so. WTC final v NZ comes to mind and so does the final the ICC champions trophy v Pakistan, and a few semi final losses along the way. You’ll get another crack at us at a sodden Oval in a few months. Winning that may ease some of the pain.

Good one from CricViz:

Despite picking up only one wicket, Mohammed Siraj has induced the highest false shot percentage in this Test series.

Highest false shot percentage
M Siraj – 23% – 1 wkt
R Ashwin – 21% – 11 wkts
M Shami – 20% – 7 wkts
R Jadeja – 19% – 10 wkts
S Boland – 16% – 0 wkts

Goes to show the Indian quicks are working well as a team (and supports your comment) despite not taking many wickets.

Hopefully our pace bowlers step up at the WTC final!

“the Border-Gavaskar Trophy is surely now the most boomer prize in world cricket.” Gold.

Good write up. Agree with most of this except Aus not having the talent to beat Ind in Ind. These teams match up ridiculously well, no matter where they play. There have been so many pivotal moments in games where one team takes the ascendency and ends up winning a close series. Ind used to struggle to close games out when travelling. At the ‘G in 2003 we were something like 1 for 290, then we get bowled out for 360. You win by 9 wickets. At the Gabba in 2014 we had you at 6 for 250 odd after we scored 400. You go on to make 500 and we lose by 4 wickets. Same season were were chasing about 260 in Adelaide. Going well at 4 for 280 then we go on to lose by 40 or so runs. We could not close out games, take advantage of when we were in front. Sliding door moments may not have changed outcomes but goes to show that being able to convert positions of ascendency to wins when travelling is bloody hard, and something Ind has gotten better at doing recently. I reckon that’s the edge Aus is missing.

Great analysis on Cricinfo: https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/ind-vs-aus-india-get-the-better-of-australia-one-flick-at-a-time-1359951

The sweep was working for a while but some balance was needed when the ball kept staying low. You guys were 1 for 60. Even another 140 runs for the last 9 wickets would have meant a tricky chase for us, especially given our batting issues. You had the ascendency, your talent got you there… you just didn’t capitalise.

From the perspective of this Indian supporter this feels like such an odd win. Aussies probably ahead for 70% of the match, but when the tide turned in our favour it did so in a big way.

It looks bad for Australia with India retaining the BGT in 6 days of cricket. But the hosts have their own well documented clinks being the under performing middle order and I don’t think the next two games will be decided as quickly. Can’t praise India too much given how poorly Australia batted in their second dig.

Pujara has this knack of coming up with a good enough innings every time he is on the cusp of being omitted. But our future is not with him in the team – he has to go and make way for some of the younger blokes even if that means we lose this series. Stick with Rahul as the opener for now as I can’t think of another opener, Gill for Pujara at 1st drop, and stay with Shreyas. We’ll only know how good he is by giving him a crack against teams like Australia. Kohli stays for me – he looked good yesterday and was pretty stiff to be given out. I’ve said this a few times and I’ll say it again – this is possibly the weakest Indian batting lineup for the past 20 years given Pujara is done and Kohli is in his twilight. The tail keeps bailing us out, it isn’t sustainable.

Our 11 will be so much stronger with Pant and Bumrah back at some stage, in all conditions.

Wins tend to gloss over weaknesses. After the first test, there wasn’t much criticism of India. But reality is we still have a very poor performing middle order that has had its blushes saved on many occasions in the past few years by our lower order. They are not going to keep bailing us out. Also, and this is not India’s fault, we are batting last. Australia are right in this, if not have their noses slightly ahead. A few what I assume are Indian supporters on Roar are saying the same thing, this game is looking very dangerous for us already.

Early days but this is looking so much better for Australia. Another toss won, openers still around. Lucky Australia won the toss with the 3 spinner / 1 pace bowler approach. The gamble could pay off. MoShami all over the place, a bit like Cummins in the 1st test.

How could you fine India? They have a strong case. Scored 400 after losing the toss, a few lower order left handed batsmen scored 50s. Hardly a single left handed Aussie batsmen went out to an Indian left arm spinner with the ball pitching outside off. Not a great deal of evidence to back up the accusation aside for the montage of 4 photos posted to Twitter.

mrl – you might be interested to know that in the 21st century, India has hosted 102 matches. India has lost the toss 54 times for 7 losses, 14 draws and 33 wins. Of the 48 times we have won the toss, our record is 4 losses, 13 draws and 31 wins.