As an Englishman who grew up in the 1980's there is only one thing better than seeing Australia lose a game of cricket, and that is seeing Australia lose a test series especially on home soil.
Overnight India became the first away side to win a test match at The Gabba since 1988 and in doing so won the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2-1.
India chased down a target of 328 with 3 wickets in hand and 3 overs to spare, with young wicket keeper batsman and rising superstar of Indian Cricket Rishabh Pant finishing unbeaten on 89. Earlier in the day their other rising star Shubman Gill scored 91 opening the innings to lay the platform for Pant's heroics, and it would be unfair not to mention Che Pujara doing what Che Pujara does, as he soaked up 211 deliveries as he made a typically obdurate 56.
It would also be massively unfair not to mention that India achieved this without the services of Captain and Talisman Virat Kohli who returned to India for the birth of his child after India had been bowled out for just 36 in the day-night test at Adelaide. They were also without the services of front line spin duo Ravi Jadeja and Ravi Ashwin, along with fast bowlers, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah and Buveneshwar Kumar. Also missing were batsman Hanuma Vihari and KL Rahul.
Going into a test match at Australia's fortress you could easily be forgiven for thinking that an Australia side only missing Will Puckovski (yes he with 1 test cap to his name) would simply be far too good for an Indian team whose bowling attack was led by Mohammed Siraj, Navdeep Saini & Shardul Thakur who had 4 test caps between them along with debutants Washington Sundar & Thangarusu Natarajan but somehow India pulled off the seemingly impossible and for that they deserve all the plaudits coming their way and more.
However I want to look at Australia, a few weeks ago they were top of the ICC Test Rankings and seemingly sleep walking into The World Test Championship Final at Lords later this year. On the back of their defeat overnight not only have New Zealand gone above Australia, India have now leapfrogged them as well in both the ICC Test Rankings and the standings for The World Test Championship.
Trouble at the top
Starting at the top of the batting order Australia have problems. David Warner is out of form however he is head and shoulders above anyone else Australia have and his place is not under any threat. Warner now reminds me of Sir Alastair Cook such is the number of opening partners he has had. His latest new partner Will Puckovski who debuted in Sydney made 50 in his first innings and should be on the plane to South Africa if he overcomes the shoulder injury that kept him out of the Gabba test. He was replaced by Marcus Harris who has now played 10 Tests but passed 50 only twice and averages just 23. Joe Burns who replaced Warner when he was injured at the start of the series averages a touch under 37 but scores of 8, 51*, 0 & 4 saw him lose his place once Warner returned despite obviously not being fully fit.
Middle order solidity
Numbers 3 & 4 are set in concrete with both Marnus Labuschagne & Steve Smith averaging in excess of 60.
Big Problems @5
Travis head started the series but was discarded after Melbourne having made scores of 7, 38 & 17 in the opening two tests and Matthew Wade who was demoted from opener to number 5 but he has an even worse record than Head who at least averages nearly 40. Wade has had a shocking series failing to pass 50 in 8 innings and gave his wicket away several times. He ended the series with a duck, strangled down the leg side and now averages less than 30 in test cricket. As reserve wicket keeper Wade will probably make the squad for South Africa but a place in the starting XI is less assured.
Can Cameron Green become a genuine allrounder?
Cameron Green debuted at Adelaide and there is much to like about him. He has a solid defensive technique and seems to be growing in confidence with each match with the bat at least. The Australian commentators have made much of his meteoric rise through Grade and Shield cricket into the Test Team. His bowling is economical (2.68 rpo) to do date but after 4 tests he is yet to take a wicket so there are going to be those who question whether or not he can genuinely fulfil to the role of all rounder. Green is still only 21 so is one worth sticking with for now.
All is well that spins well
Nathan Lyon had a poor series statistically claiming just 9 wickets in 4 tests at a little over 55 a piece although 5 dropped catches off his bowling didn't help his cause, but "Garry" is undoubtedly Australia's no 1 spinner and one of the worlds best with 399 test wickets and 100 caps to his name.
The should be opening bowlers!
Pat Cummins cemented his spot as the worlds no1 bowler with 21 wickets at 20 and Josh Hazlewood did his thing with 17 wickets at 19.35.
The Big Left Armer
Mitch Starc continues to be a slight headache for me, 11 wickets at 42 a piece is not a great return and he seems to have lost the ability to swing the ball new or old, and being a left arm bowler myself I know that if you are not moving the ball you are going to struggle to get good players out, and if I was Tim Paine I would not be giving him the new ball any longer.
The Captain
And just then I mentioned a huge problem for Australia, Tim Paine, his batting is ok nothing better than that. An average of just 32 would see him struggle to keep his place in most sides. Add to that the three dropped catches in the Sydney test that could well of swung the series Australia's way. However the biggest problem for me is his captaincy. The great Richie Benaud once said captaincy is 90% luck and 10% skill but don't try it without that 10%. There is nothing inspirational about Paine's leadership and nor is he the Allan Border type who would make you perform for fear of him tearing you off a strip. There have been several times Australia have been well ahead of the game in the last two tests but Paine doesn't seem to be able to get his troops to hammer home the advantage, He also seems unwilling or unable to come up with something a bit different in order to try and get a wicket, his field placings all feel a bit standard. And lets not forget Headingly 2019 where England needed 70 to win with Ben Stokes and last man Jack Leach at the crease, he completely lost the plot allowing Stokes far too much of the strike, the wasted review against Leach which obviously pitched a foot outside leg, which an over later cost Australia the match when Stokes was given not out by Umpire Joel you can overturn your decision now Wilson, with ball tracker showing the ball to be clattering into leg stump.
Should Australia replace Paine as skipper the alternatives are not glaringly obvious. Steve Smith still has a way to go on that front according the those inside the Australian camp, David Warner is not in the running and never will be for obvious reasons and bowlers never seem to be given the job by any side. As I mentioned earlier the 2nd opening spot is up for grabs and Wade may well be out of the side come South Africa. Cameron Green has only 4 tests caps which only leaves Marnus Labuschagne who is still relatively inexperienced at Test Level.
So in summary although Australia are far from a poor side, they are facing some difficult questions and for many of them there appears to be no obvious answer.
Jan 19 2021
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