India – Australia : Border-Gavaskar trophy series ratings

India Ratings

M.S.Dhoni – 326 runs @ 81.50, 9 catches and 5 stumpings – 8/10

Played one of the most audacious knocks ever played by an Indian captain on home soil. In more than one way that 224 in Chennai set the tone for the whole series. His persistence with Ravindra Jadeja despite criticism and his useful knocks in the other Tests makes him one of the key men who contributed to this whitewash. Has he regained his Midas touch?

R. Ashwin – 29 wickets @ 20.10 – 9/10

Troubled all the Aussie batsmen including Michael Clarke, Bowled beautifully and has clearly gone miles ahead of Harbhajan Singh as India’s premier spinner. His 7/103 in Chennai and 5/63 in Hyderabad paved the way for India to conjure up convincing wins. Did not get to do much with the bat, but had done enough damage with the ball, his 29 wickets in four Tests deservedly fetched him the Man-of-the series award.

R.Jadeja – 24 wickets @ 17.45, 85 runs @ 21.25 – 8.5/10

His selection ahead of Pragyan Ojha was criticized to no end, However he held his own and impressed with both the bat and the ball. Was constantly questioning the Aussie?s susceptibility against the spinning ball, bagged his first 5fer in Delhi and precipitated Australia’s collapse in that Test to hand India a 4-0 victory inside three days. Contributed with the bat on more than one occasion and easily ended up as the most improved player from India. Has he firmly established himself as India?s number 7?

B.Kumar – 80 runs @ 26.66, 6 wickets @ 39.83 – 5.5/10

Impressed whenever he bowled, it would be unfair to expect a lot from a youngster playing his first series, but he did more than enough with some lively spells, none better than the one at Mohali to nip out three wickets during the Aussie second innings. He gets an extra point for his exploits with the bat. Looks a compact player if he can take his batting serious.

Ishant Sharma – 7 wickets @ 37.85 – 3.5/10

Apart from his 3/72 in Mohali, He was the least impressive of all Indian bowlers. For some one playing his fifth year in international cricket he still hasn’t progressed from his first tour to Australia and keeps on pitching the ball in the same areas. Unfortunately, the batsmen knew what to expect from him now. Wonder how long the Indian think tank can persist with him.

Harbhajan Singh – 5 wickets @ 40.80 – 2/10

It’s about time to pull the plug on his career. It appears he was played in this series just to get his 100th Test cap. Was ineffective, inefficient and looked like a pale shadow of his former self. His much vaunted batting skills also failed him this time around. With Ashwin, Jadeja and Ojha ahead of him, it?s hard to see him coming back in to the Indian Test team any time sooner.

Sachin Tendulkar – 192 runs @ 32.00 – 5/10

Apart from his scintillating 81 in Chennai, He scored an additional 111 in six innings. He did show some of his outstanding stroke play during that 81. Not much to shout about apart from that and this was not a good enough series by his standards. Is the end nigh for the great man? Will he call it a day?

A.M.Rahane – 8 runs @ 4.00 – 1/10

Rahane was thrown in at Delhi, Got hit in the head and scored a grand total of eight runs in the Test. The nerves got to him during the small chase and he holed out. It was a horrendous shot given the circumstances during the chase. He gets graded just for that shot and gets 1/10.

Pragyan Ojha – 7 wickets @ 34.00 5/10

He was very unfortunate to be dropped for the first two Tests after a great series against England. However when he came back he did what he usually does and tormented the Aussie batters. The figures are not reflective of how well he bowled. Along with Ashwin and Jadeja he troubled the Aussies and was instrumental in the last two Test wins.

Virender Sehwag – 27 runs @ 9.00 – 2/10

After his none too impressive performances in the first two Tests he was promptly dropped. Scored just 27 runs and did not evoke an iota of confidence when he batted. No doubt he still has a lot to offer to this Indian team, not as an opener but in the middle order. With the imminent retirement of Tendulkar, Sehwag can fill that void and can resurrect his career, However it is safe to say that his days as an opener are beyond him.

Virat Kohli – 284 runs @ 56.80 – 7/10

Played a crucial knock of 107 with his captain in Chennai and was pretty consistent throughout the series. The one thing he might want to improve on is to convert his big scoring ability in ODI?s in Tests as well. Nevertheless, he is the one for the future to lead India, displayed some great technique and has made the number five spot his own. All he needs to do is carry the same form away from home.

S. Dhawan – 187 runs @ 187.00 – 8/10

Replaced his Delhi mate Sehwag and tonked a breathtaking 187 of just 174 balls and twirled his moustache to good effect. However his over-zealousness cost him the next match when he dived to save a boundary and got injured and missed the Delhi Test. Has the ability to hit through the line, Can he repeat that on more bouncier pitches is the big question, His bravado and crisp stroke making deserve special mention.

C.Pujara – 419 runs @ 83.80 – 9.5/10

Easily the best Indian batsman in this series, and looks like he is comfortably settling in to the big shoes of Rahul Dravid. In fact Pujara has a more aggressive and positive approach to his batting than Dravid ever had. Got consistently big scores throughout the series, none better than his 204 and 82. The unbeaten 82 was crucial given the state of the pitch and the small target. Credit goes to Pujara for making it look so easy. He Looks a level headed person and can only achieve greatness from here on. Pujara has indeed arrived and arrived big.

M. Vijay – 430 runs @ 61.42 – 9/10

For a man who was in T20 mode during the Chennai Test, It was heartening to see him display remarkable restraint after Chennai, Be it his huge partnership with Pujara in Hyderabad or the one with Dhawan at Mohali, He displayed superb temperament. Played some gorgeous strokes and finished as the top scorer from either side with some impressive knocks. Seems like he has improved his technique quite a bit against short-pitched bowling. However his real test waits when he takes on Dale Steyn and co later this year. For now though Vijay can bask in some much deserved glory.

Australia Ratings

Michael Clarke – 286 runs @ 47.66 – 8/10

Arguably the best batsman for the visitors on this tour, However after the second Test it was all downhill for him. It started off with the homework gate, he got a first ball duck and then re-injured his back and missed the final Test. His knock of 130 in Chennai was a delight to watch and he followed that up with a brilliant 91 in Hyderabad. Last year around the same time it seemed like he had settled in to the captain?s job nicely, but now there are lingering question marks. How he dusts himself up and handles the Ashes will determine if he is the man for the job.

Ed Cowan – 265 runs @ 33.12 – 5/10

Looked solid, if not spectacular, but failed to kick on after getting some good starts. His scores of 29, 32, 44, 38, and 24 makes one think what would have been if he had even converted two of them to big scores. In trying conditions he battled it out against the Indian spinners. However he can feel confident that he did survive the litmus test of the sub-continent wickets. His close in catching deserves a special mention.

Steve Smith – 161 runs @ 40.25 – 5.5/10

In the two chances he got, He impressed with the bat. Scores of 92 and 46 indicate he has the potential to play at the highest level; he was unlucky not to get a 100. However with the ball he was nothing more than a pie-chucker. With not many promising batsman around Smith probably can stake claim to be a regular part in the Australian middle order. Will the Aussie selectors take that leap of faith?

Mitchell Starc – 145 runs @ 36.25, 2 wickets @ 100.00 – 4.5/10

Apart from his short burst in Mohali when he picked up quick wickets and for a spell or two in Chennai, He looked pretty innocuous. Proved more than useful with the bat though and deserved a 100 at Mohali. He flayed the Indian bowlers all around and showed everyone his batting skills. His ankle injury added to his woes and had to fly back home early missing the final Test. Gets the extra point for his contribution with the bat.

Moises Henriques – 156 runs @ 31.20, 2 wickets @ 77.50 – 4.5/10

Started his Test career playing two impressive knocks of 68 and 81 at Chennai. In the subsequent four innings he just managed 7 more runs. With the ball he was nothing more than an honest trier, He toiled away in trying conditions without luck and wickets. Hardly troubled the Indian batsmen and if his role was to provide some respite to the main bowlers, he did more than that by being an easy pick for the Indian batters. Has to improve by leaps and bounds with the ball if he has hopes of grabbing that all-rounder spot.

Brad Haddin – NA

Filled in for the Injured Matthew wade at Mohali and biffed his way to 20’s and 30’s in the both the innings. Pretty decent behind the stumps, but he was always going to play second fiddle to Wade. At the age of 33 not sure what the future holds for him though.

David Warner – 195 runs @24.37 – 4/10

Another man who got starts but failed to convert those. Warner is a little too aggressive for his own good. He needs to cut down on those shots that he plays in T20 cricket which cost him his wicket on more than one occasion. Had some decent opening stands with Cowan and had two scores of fifties under his belt, but can he cut it out at the highest level for a long time with this inconsistency?

X.J. Doherty – 4 wickets @ 60.50 – 2/10

Utterly disappointed with the ball, failed to cause any sort of trouble to the Indian batsmen in both the Tests he played. He lacked variety, penetration and was completely lacking. Wheeled away for 78 overs for just four wickets in the two Tests. With Nathan Lyon and Glen Maxwell proving to be better options, it would be a surprise if he plays a Test in the near future.

M.S.Wade – 113 runs @ 18.83, 4 catches and 1 stumping – 4/10

Looked clumsy behind the stumps and on more than one occasion did not gather the ball for both the spinners and the fast bowlers. Luckily he did not drop anything of significance. Apart from his 62 he looked generally clueless against the spinners. Hard to blame him for that since most of the top order batsmen looked like novices when handling the Indian spinners. It would help if he can improve his play against the spinners both behind and in front of the wicket.

P.J.Hughes – 147 runs @ 18.37 – 3/10

It defied logic that he played four Tests, besides his knock of 69 in Delhi, He was dire against the spinners and got out Ashwin in the same way on more than one occasion. With Usman Khawaja breathing down his neck, Monty Panesar and Graeme Swann looming in the corner for the Ashes, Hughes will find himself lucky if he makes the touring party for the Ashes. He needs to use his feet more against the spinners to be effective and then can stake claim for a regular spot in the eleven.

Nathan Lyon – 15 wickets @ 37.33 – 7/10

Was extremely unfortunate to be dropped for the second Test when he did all he could in Chennai, Australia paid the price and lost that game. He did bowl well in Mohali and returned his career best figures in Delhi only to be let down by his batsmen yet again. Lyon looks to have established himself as Australia’s leading spinner and should find a spot in the Ashes squad. A spinner needs time to develop and Lyon certainly has the tools to do so. One can hope the Australian selectors persist with him and not throw him by the wayside like they did with Jason Krejza and Nathan Hauritz.

Peter Siddle – 139 runs @ 17.37, 9 wickets @ 33.88 – 7/10

The lion hearted Victorian bowled his guts out and was one of the shining lights of an otherwise disastrous tour. 9 wickets at 33 odd do not really show how he toiled on surfaces that did not suit him. His 5/71 in Mohali was an outstanding spell and throughout the four Tests troubled the batsmen. He also pouched a unique record when he scored two fifties coming in at #10 in the final Test.

James Pattinson – 9 wickets @ 27.77 – 5/10

Pattinson will always remember this tour for one reason and sadly that was off the field. He was part of the gang that missed the homework. He bowled outstandingly well in Chennai and it was surprising when he was not used for longer bursts. He was rewarded with a 5fer when he bent his back in Chennai on the second day. Apart from that he did not trouble the Indians much and became famous for the wrong reasons.

Shane Watson – 99 runs @ 16.50 – 1.5/10

In a tumultuous week where he got suspended for not completing the task ordered by the coach, became a father, pondered his Test future and become the 44th Test captain of Australia, Watson created enough material to write a book, but missed out on scoring runs. He got out to the spinners twice swinging across the line and was terribly disappointing with the bat. Averaged a paltry 16.50 with the bat and failed to make any impact. One hopes that he can put the homework gate behind and start fresh for he is too good a player to go away for Australia during this testing period.

Glenn Maxwell – 7 wickets @ 27.57 – 4/10

Was a surprise selection ahead of Lyon in Hyderabad but managed to pick four late wickets. Missed out in Mohali and was brought back for Delhi where he was bizarrely promoted to open the batting during Australia’s second innings. Can Australia define a role for him before throwing him under the bus?

Mitchell Johnson – NA

Missed his home work and missed out playing in Mohali, which would have aided him a lot more than Delhi. Did not do anything in Delhi apart from bowling tripe and in fact was forced out of the attack in the second dig.