Can't bat, can't bowl

This was India's fifth-worst series as a bowling unit, and their ninth-poorest with the bat. More stats highlights from the match and the series

S Rajesh

28-Jan-2012

VVS Laxman's poor form contributed to what was the worst batting stats for India in a series in which their four big names all played in three or more Tests  •  Getty Images

India's 298-run defeat is their eighth in a row in overseas Tests, which is their second-worst run in away games. Their worst was between 1959 and 1968, when they lost 17 in a row. In these eight Tests, India have lost four by an innings and two more by more than 290 runs.

The margin of defeat is the eighth-largest for India in terms of runs. Five of those eight have come since October 2004, and two within the last six months. In Australia-India Tests, this is the fifth-largest in terms of runs, with Australia being the victorious team in four of those five.

This is only Australia's sixth clean sweep in a series of four or more Tests. Three of those have come since 2000 - the Ashes triumph in 2006-07 and the win against West Indies in 2000-01 being the other two before this one. For India, it was the fifth time they'd lost all games in a series of four or more Tests. Before the defeat in England last year, they'd lost 4-0 in Australia (1967-68), 5-0 in West Indies (1961-62) and 5-0 in England (1959).

Australia's batting average of 49.43 in this series (runs per wicket, excluding extras) is their eighth-best in a series of four of more Tests. The last time they did better was in the 2006-07 Ashes at home, when they averaged 50.86. India's was their ninth-worst in a series of four or more Tests. Since 1990, only once have they performed worse - against Australia at home in 2004-05.

Conversely, India's bowling average in this series was 51.11, which is their fifth-worst in a series of four of more Tests. Second on that list is their performance in England last year, when they averaged 58.45. This means two of their five worst bowling performances have come in the last six months.

There've been 16 series of three of more Tests in which India's big four - Tendulkar, Dravid, Laxman and Sehwag - have all played in at least three Tests. Among those 16 series, India's average in this one is the lowest; their previous lowest was 23.11, on the tour to South Africa in 2006-07. On the tour to Australia in 2003-04, they'd averaged 47.22. In the 24 series that Tendulkar, Dravid and Laxman have played together, this is the second-worst average for the team, next only to the average of 19.82 on the tour to Australia way back in 1999-2000.

For Australia, one of the biggest success stories of the series was Ricky Ponting. His tally of 544 runs was his highest in a series since the 2006-07 Ashes, when he scored 576 in five Tests. Overall, it's his third-highest aggregate in a series.

India Australia Australia vs India India tour of Australia

S Rajesh is stats editor of ESPNcricinfo. Follow him on Twitter