Captains, new and old, lead the way
Marks out of ten for Australia following their 4-0 win over India
Brydon Coverdale
29-Jan-2012
Australia's 4-0 win over India required a strong all-round effort with bat and ball. And it was two experienced batsmen, plus a recalled bowler, who stood out. ESPNcricinfo runs the rule over the 13 players Australia used during the series.
9
Michael Clarke
If his unbeaten 329 at the SCG wasn't enough of a statement, his 210 at Adelaide Oval confirmed that Clarke has stood up in the most emphatic way since taking on the captaincy. The only skipper in Test history to score a triple-century and a double-hundred in the same series, Clarke also led his men well in the field, changing his bowlers at the right times, and the difference between him and his Indian counterpart MS Dhoni was stark.
Michael Clarke
If his unbeaten 329 at the SCG wasn't enough of a statement, his 210 at Adelaide Oval confirmed that Clarke has stood up in the most emphatic way since taking on the captaincy. The only skipper in Test history to score a triple-century and a double-hundred in the same series, Clarke also led his men well in the field, changing his bowlers at the right times, and the difference between him and his Indian counterpart MS Dhoni was stark.
Ricky Ponting
In the 18 months leading up to this series, Ponting averaged 28 in Test cricket and hadn't made a century. In this series, he made 62, 60, 134, 7, 221 and 60 not out. He featured in two monstrous partnerships with Clarke and made serious contributions to three of the four victories. Only Clarke scored more runs than the reinvigorated Ponting, who is now not only a certainty to play on in the near future, but can realistically dream of touring England in 2013.
In the 18 months leading up to this series, Ponting averaged 28 in Test cricket and hadn't made a century. In this series, he made 62, 60, 134, 7, 221 and 60 not out. He featured in two monstrous partnerships with Clarke and made serious contributions to three of the four victories. Only Clarke scored more runs than the reinvigorated Ponting, who is now not only a certainty to play on in the near future, but can realistically dream of touring England in 2013.
Ben Hilfenhaus
Those who saw how toothless Hilfenhaus was against England last summer would have found it hard to believe the transformation when his pace increased and he swung the ball late this season. A winter of reworking his action paid immediate benefits in his first Test back at the MCG, when he claimed his first five-wicket haul, and another followed in Sydney. He took 27 wickets at 17.22 for the series.
Those who saw how toothless Hilfenhaus was against England last summer would have found it hard to believe the transformation when his pace increased and he swung the ball late this season. A winter of reworking his action paid immediate benefits in his first Test back at the MCG, when he claimed his first five-wicket haul, and another followed in Sydney. He took 27 wickets at 17.22 for the series.
8
Peter Siddle
Like Hilfenhaus, Siddle has shown major improvement since the Ashes debacle. A boost in pace and the ability to swing the ball, combined with his consistent accuracy, made Siddle a difficult man for the India batsmen to face in this series. He finished with 23 wickets at 18.65, second only to Hilfenhaus from either side, and was Man of the Match in the fourth Test in Adelaide after taking 5 for 49 in the first innings on an excellent batting pitch.
Peter Siddle
Like Hilfenhaus, Siddle has shown major improvement since the Ashes debacle. A boost in pace and the ability to swing the ball, combined with his consistent accuracy, made Siddle a difficult man for the India batsmen to face in this series. He finished with 23 wickets at 18.65, second only to Hilfenhaus from either side, and was Man of the Match in the fourth Test in Adelaide after taking 5 for 49 in the first innings on an excellent batting pitch.
7.5
Michael Hussey
Batting at No.6 in this series put Hussey in a strange situation, for often the big runs had already been scored by the time he came to the crease. Still, his unbeaten 150 at the SCG helped Clarke on his way to a triple-century, and his 89 in the second innings in Melbourne, after a top-order collapse, was critical to Australia starting the series with a win. His athleticism in the field and his sharp catching was also a feature of his series.
Michael Hussey
Batting at No.6 in this series put Hussey in a strange situation, for often the big runs had already been scored by the time he came to the crease. Still, his unbeaten 150 at the SCG helped Clarke on his way to a triple-century, and his 89 in the second innings in Melbourne, after a top-order collapse, was critical to Australia starting the series with a win. His athleticism in the field and his sharp catching was also a feature of his series.
6.5
David Warner
Warner craves consistency, and didn't deliver it in this series. What he did deliver was one breathtakingly brilliant innings. His 180 at the WACA was one of the most memorable Test innings played in Australia in recent years. It was the joint fourth-fastest hundred in Test history, and it was an innings that ensured a Test win that gave Australia the series.
David Warner
Warner craves consistency, and didn't deliver it in this series. What he did deliver was one breathtakingly brilliant innings. His 180 at the WACA was one of the most memorable Test innings played in Australia in recent years. It was the joint fourth-fastest hundred in Test history, and it was an innings that ensured a Test win that gave Australia the series.
James Pattinson
Such has been the impressive nature of Australia's bowling in the past two Tests that it's easy to forget Pattinson played the first two in the series. A foot injury ended his Test summer but he was good enough in Melbourne and Sydney to take 11 wickets at 23.36 and finished fifth on the wicket tally for both sides. Ishant Sharma, who played all four Tests, took less than half as many wickets. Pattinson swung the ball and was aggressive enough to worry India, who never recovered from their losses in those first two matches.
Such has been the impressive nature of Australia's bowling in the past two Tests that it's easy to forget Pattinson played the first two in the series. A foot injury ended his Test summer but he was good enough in Melbourne and Sydney to take 11 wickets at 23.36 and finished fifth on the wicket tally for both sides. Ishant Sharma, who played all four Tests, took less than half as many wickets. Pattinson swung the ball and was aggressive enough to worry India, who never recovered from their losses in those first two matches.
6
Ed Cowan
For a Test opener in his debut series, an average of 34.33 with two half-centuries was a solid, if not spectacular, start. Cowan showed himself to be an effective foil for Warner, and they will likely have the chance to extend their partnership in the Caribbean. A calm player at the crease, he needs to prove that he can make Test centuries to establish himself, but the initial signs were reasonable. He also demonstrated sharp reflexes when fielding at short leg.
Ed Cowan
For a Test opener in his debut series, an average of 34.33 with two half-centuries was a solid, if not spectacular, start. Cowan showed himself to be an effective foil for Warner, and they will likely have the chance to extend their partnership in the Caribbean. A calm player at the crease, he needs to prove that he can make Test centuries to establish himself, but the initial signs were reasonable. He also demonstrated sharp reflexes when fielding at short leg.
Ryan Harris
Harris returned to the side for the final two Tests as the replacement for Pattinson, and picked up six wickets at 29.83. But while his own tally wasn't especially high, it was the pressure that Harris built from one end that helped men like Siddle and Hilfenhaus enjoy their successes. The way the attack bowled as a group was one of the key reasons Australia won the series, and Harris had a role in that.
Harris returned to the side for the final two Tests as the replacement for Pattinson, and picked up six wickets at 29.83. But while his own tally wasn't especially high, it was the pressure that Harris built from one end that helped men like Siddle and Hilfenhaus enjoy their successes. The way the attack bowled as a group was one of the key reasons Australia won the series, and Harris had a role in that.
5.5
Nathan Lyon
Four wickets in the final innings of the series, when India had all but given up, boosted Lyon's figures. He managed only three wickets in the rest of the series. It was not that Lyon bowled badly as such, but the men he was bowling to are so adept at handling spin that he was always going to struggle to have a major impact. That he didn't lose confidence was a good sign, and he will remain the first-choice spinner for the West Indies tour.
Nathan Lyon
Four wickets in the final innings of the series, when India had all but given up, boosted Lyon's figures. He managed only three wickets in the rest of the series. It was not that Lyon bowled badly as such, but the men he was bowling to are so adept at handling spin that he was always going to struggle to have a major impact. That he didn't lose confidence was a good sign, and he will remain the first-choice spinner for the West Indies tour.
Mitchell Starc
Although he was included for just the WACA Test, Starc collected four wickets as he swung the ball with the help of the Perth breeze. By trapping Sachin Tendulkar lbw with a good inswinger, after he had already bounced Gautam Gambhir out, Starc gave Australia the ideal start in India's second innings, and was partially responsible for it becoming a two-and-a-half-day Test.
Although he was included for just the WACA Test, Starc collected four wickets as he swung the ball with the help of the Perth breeze. By trapping Sachin Tendulkar lbw with a good inswinger, after he had already bounced Gautam Gambhir out, Starc gave Australia the ideal start in India's second innings, and was partially responsible for it becoming a two-and-a-half-day Test.
4
Brad Haddin
This was a series that did little for Haddin's hold on the Test wicketkeeping spot. He didn't make many runs, although the big top-order scores meant he didn't always have the chance. His best score of 42 not out came in the first innings in Adelaide, when he came to the crease with the total already at 520. Notably, there were also a couple of dropped catches when he moved too far, his judgment behind the stumps not what it should have been. His glovework improved by the end of the series, but he will remain under pressure ahead of the Caribbean tour.
Brad Haddin
This was a series that did little for Haddin's hold on the Test wicketkeeping spot. He didn't make many runs, although the big top-order scores meant he didn't always have the chance. His best score of 42 not out came in the first innings in Adelaide, when he came to the crease with the total already at 520. Notably, there were also a couple of dropped catches when he moved too far, his judgment behind the stumps not what it should have been. His glovework improved by the end of the series, but he will remain under pressure ahead of the Caribbean tour.
1
Shaun Marsh
What can be said of Marsh's series? His scores sum it up: 0, 3, 0, 11, 3, 0. They were the scores of a tailender, not a Test first-drop. He completely failed to readjust to Test cricket after a six-week injury lay-off, and finished with the second-lowest series run tally (minimum of five innings played) for any top six batsman in Test history. Surely only an incredible finish to the Sheffield Shield season can get him on the plane to the West Indies.
Shaun Marsh
What can be said of Marsh's series? His scores sum it up: 0, 3, 0, 11, 3, 0. They were the scores of a tailender, not a Test first-drop. He completely failed to readjust to Test cricket after a six-week injury lay-off, and finished with the second-lowest series run tally (minimum of five innings played) for any top six batsman in Test history. Surely only an incredible finish to the Sheffield Shield season can get him on the plane to the West Indies.
Brydon Coverdale is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo. He tweets here