India-Australia post-mortem

DJ_Smerk wrote:What did Ishant Sharma actually do in this series?

DJ_Smerk wrote:What did Ishant Sharma actually do in this series?

DJ_Smerk wrote:What did Ishant Sharma actually do in this series?

The One wrote:i think the most important thing about ishant's bowling was the wickets he got

MJ Clarke 3
RT Ponting 3
SR Watson 3
SM Katich 2
BJ Haddin 1
MEK Hussey 1
CL White 1
JJ Krejza 1

mostly top-order and at crucial times

AUSTRALIAN PLAYER RATINGS
MATTHEW HAYDEN - 6

Took a long while to get going and was tormented in the first couple of Tests by Zaheer Khan. Though he did not reach the heights of previous India tours his final, pugnacious innings of 77 showed he could still make the opposition panic. Gets extra marks for impeccable slips catching.

SIMON KATICH - 8

Consistent and effective. Picked up his tempo as the tour progressed and got the 100 he craved in Nagpur, in spite of India's negative tactics. Established himself as incumbent opener and reminded the selectors of the usefulness of his left-arm spinners.

RICKY PONTING - 6.5

Started with a wonderful century to break his Indian drought, but very little went right afterwards, except for a fighting 87 in Delhi. His struggles against Sharma's swing and Harbhajan's spin symbolised the on-field power shift between the countries. Did not have the resources to push for victory and wound up in trouble with over rates.

MICHAEL HUSSEY - 8.5

An excellent century in Bangalore and was "Mr Consistency" from then on to become Australia's leading runscorer. Used his quick feet and deft placement to advantage, but fell to some wonderful deliveries from Sehwag and Harbhajan.

MICHAEL CLARKE - 6

Not the tour the young vice-captain hoped for, although he helped save the Delhi Test with a crucial, if charmed, century, and was suffering from a gastric illness in Nagpur. Bowled plenty of overs without really threatening the batsmen.

SHANE WATSON - 7.5

A breakthrough tour, and not just because he stayed fit. Looked dangerous with bat and ball, produced a fighting 78 in a losing cause in Mohali, summoned reverse swing and claimed four wickets in Nagpur. Deserves to begin the summer as preferred all-rounder.

BRAD HADDIN - 5.5

A tough tour for any visiting wicketkeeper, least of all one who follows Adam Gilchrist and appears to be carrying a finger injury. His toughness is not in doubt, but his batting deteriorated as the series progressed.

CAMERON WHITE - 5.5

Was as surprised as anyone about his call-up, and honest about the limitations of his leg-spin. However, he did what was asked of him, picked up Tendulkar's wicket twice and asserted his batting credentials in the final two Tests.

BRETT LEE - 4

Underdone, and it showed quickly on the unforgiving Indian pitches. His sliding style did not suit the low wickets and he was unable to muster enough movement through the air to create breakthroughs. To be fair, he improved after a mid-series fitness crusade and was struck down by a gastric illness in Nagpur.

JASON KREJZA - 7.5

His 12-358 tells the story of his weird and wonderful debut. A controversial choice for the tour ahead of Beau Casson, but the fact he became Australia's second-highest wicket-taker in a solitary Test suggests he should have played earlier. Showed resilience to hold his nerve when the Indians went after him. Still a big job to establish himself as No. 1 spinner at home, but he should have first crack.

MITCHELL JOHNSON - 7

Australia's leading wicket-taker and stood up when the other quicks were struggling. His wickets didn't come cheaply and he hardly swung the ball, but regularly dismissed India's champions, Tendulkar, Dravid and Laxman.

STUART CLARK - 4

A disappointing tour for the dependable seamer, whose pace was down due to an elbow injury in the first Test, missed the second, was economical but not dangerous in the third, and dropped for the decider.

PETER SIDDLE - 5

Looked at home as a Test paceman from the first ball of his Mohali debut, which struck Gambhir on the helmet. Inexperience showed at times, but swung the new ball at good pace and should come into calculations again soon.

INDIAN PLAYER RATINGS
VIRENDER SEHWAG - 8

Played with breathtaking gusto and provided India with many memorable starts, but averaged 43 without converting a century. Showed the cricket smarts that are sometimes obscured by his cavalier batting with five wickets in Delhi, becoming the first man to own two triple centuries and a five-wicket haul.

GAUTAM GAMBHIR - 9

Exceeded the Australians' expectations to become leading runscorer, but tarnished his series by elbowing Shane Watson in the ribs on the way to a double century in Delhi and was banned for the last Test. If there were extra marks for sledging, he'd get a perfect 10.

RAHUL DRAVID - 4

A great player in decline, he reached 50 only once in the series and was a shadow of the batsman who triumphed over Australia in 2001 and 2003-04. His slips catching also was not what it once was.

SACHIN TENDULKAR - 8.5

Broke Brian Lara's world record for Test runs and played with more freedom after the milestone. Was dropped twice on his way to a century in Nagpur but showed his genius with a brilliant knock in Delhi and trailed only Gambhir in runs scored.

V. V. S. LAXMAN - 8

A beautiful double hundred in Delhi continued the elegant batsman's remarkable record against Australia

SOURAV GANGULY - 7.5

A golden duck in his last innings did not detract from the fairytale finish. The pressure seemed to dissipate the moment he announced that this would be his last series. Made consistent contributions and tormented Australia one last time with a hundred in Mohali.

MAHENDRA DHONI - 8

Lived up to his hype with powerful batting and maintained his 100% winning record as captain. Also showed he was prepared to deny his attacking instincts to deliver the trophy, controversially setting defensive fields and instructing his pacemen to bowl wide of off-stump when India only needed a draw to win the series. His legend will grow.

HARBHAJAN SINGH - 8

The best-performed spinner in the series, despite missing a Test with injury. Kept causing problems for his old rivals Hayden and Ponting. Was important with the bat, too, and his partnerships with Zaheer in the first Test and Dhoni in the last turned momentum in India's favour at crucial moments.

ZAHEER KHAN - 7

Was full of bravado and had a wonderful first two Tests, reminiscent of England left-armer Simon Jones in 2005 with his destructive reverse swing. Copped a fine for sending off Hayden in Mohali and faded in the second half of the series.

AMIT MISHRA - 7

Sneaked under the guard of the Australians with seven wickets on debut in Mohali, where he filled in for Kumble, underlining the formidable depth in Indian spin bowling. The tourists were more alert to his variations from then on, but he remained a threat.

ISHANT SHARMA - 9.5

Was described in India Today magazine as a giraffe with a bad haircut, and may also be the best fast bowler in the world. Worried Ponting by bringing the ball back into the right-hander and created awkward bounce with his height. Deservedly named man of the series, an outstanding achievement in a country where spin is king.

ANIL KUMBLE - 4

The ageing and injured Kumble was far from the great bowler he used to be, but gets points for taking three wickets under the influence of a local anaesthetic. Made a dignified retirement announcement in Delhi and having instilled his toughness in the Indian team as captain he deserved to share in the glory.

MURALI VIJAY - 5.5

A surprise choice to replace Gambhir in Nagpur, but looked a fine batsman in both innings and used his quick reflexes to run out Hayden and Hussey.

doremi wrote:Thought a bit whether I was going to make this thread. The forum's definitely going through a Ind-Aus overload. But what the heck....

Gambhir - 9/10. There's not much he did wrong. Except being stoopid enough to get provoked by Watson.

Sehwag - 7/10. Two 90s in the series and generally brilliant starts. His 2nd innings is also getting better since his comeback.

Dravid - 3/10. One 50 and nothing else went right.

Sachin - 9/10. God.

Sourav and Laxman - 8/10. Sourav looked brilliant and Laxman was his usual self against the Aussies.

MVijay - 7/10. Didn't convert starts but looked solid. And useful fielding.

Dhoni - 8.5/10. Brilliant captaincy and lower order batting. Not his best series as keeper.

Kumble - 4/10. Didn't look like picking wickets, but gritty as always.

Bhajji - 7/10. Did what needed doing, when it needed doing. Legend. The Obnoxious Weedy Legend. TOWL.

Mishra - 8/10. Hugely impressive. Bowled some balls that were too good to take wickets sometimes.

Zak - 8/10. Did as much as he could.

Ishant - 9.5/10.