Player ratings: How Australia fared against India

Travis Head – 8 match, 8 series

After his controversial omission from the Nagpur Test for Matt Renshaw, Head responded by making a trio of key contributions as the Australians performed far better once he was included. Unbridled aggression gave Australia a platform in Delhi that was dramatically squandered, before some more measured moments in Indore and Ahmedabad showcased Head’s value as an opener in this part of the world.

Travis Head. Credit:Getty Images

Usman Khawaja – 9 match, 9 series

A leg injury prevented Khawaja from adding to what was already the best batting return for anyone on either side on the final day of the series. Given the conditions in the first three Tests, this has arguably been Khawaja’s finest ever series, with the capstone of an epic 180 in Ahmedabad.

Usman Khawaja salutes his first Test century against India.Credit:AP

Marnus Labuschagne – 7 match, 6 series

Labuschagne did not reach the batting heights he hoped for on his first Test trip to India, but he left with a handy aggregate and plenty of lessons for the next time Australia visit. Looking back, Labuschagne has conceded he wasted a priceless start on day one of the series in Nagpur, and has ended the four Tests looking far calmer in defence.

Marnus Labuschagne . Credit:AP

Steve Smith – 6 match, 7 series

Smith’s ill-advised sweep shot on the third morning at Delhi will stay with him, in what was otherwise a series where his batting contributions were thoughtful if not as prolific as usual. Smith spoke about “being happy with how you failed” and more often than not he was. His stand-in captaincy for Pat Cummins was of high quality, and his catch of Cheteshwar Pujara in Indore will be remembered for decades.

Steve Smith.Credit:Getty Images

Peter Handscomb – 6 match, 7 series

Handscomb was disappointed to be bowled by Mhammed Shami in Ahmedabad when he had the chance to cash in on a more favourable surface. Nevertheless, his overall contribution was sizable, not just in terms of runs in difficult circumstances but in the example to other Australian players of a workable method to succeed here.

Peter Handscomb batting in Indore.Credit:AP

Cameron Green – 9 match, 8 series

Australia would have fared better in the first two Tests had Green been available. He was assured against spin in Indore, only out to a marginal lbw decision in favour of Umesh Yadav, and then broke through for a memorable first Test hundred opposite Khawaja in Ahmedabad. The sky’s the limit for Green.

Cameron Green celebrates his first Test century.Credit:Getty Images

Alex Carey – 6 match, 6 series

A mixed series for Carey, as terrific glove work to spin was offset to a degree by a drought of runs with the bat after he had started the series well with runs on the opening day in Nagpur. Carey got caught up in the bind of many past Australian players here where he oscillated between fearless attack – sweeping and reversing – and indecisive defence.

Alex Carey keeping in Indore.Credit:Getty Images

Mitchell Starc – 6 match, 6 series

Like Green, he would have been part of Australia’s preferred combination from the start of the series had he been fit. Starc did not bowl at his best in the final two Tests, but provided a valuable change-up option for Smith, and should have had Rohit Sharma out twice in his opening over of the series.

Mitchell Starc in action in Indore. Credit:Getty Images

Todd Murphy – 7 match, 8 series

An outstanding debut series by Murphy, exhibiting enormous cricket intelligence for a 22-year-old and rare skills for an off-spinner. Murphy’s quality was emphasised by two things, his dismissals of Virat Kohli on four occasions and the respect with which he was treated by the Indian batters. When they did try to go after him, as Ravindra Jadeja did in Ahmedabad, a wicket was seldom long in coming.

Todd Murphy has much to celebrate.Credit:Getty Images

Nathan Lyon – 7 match, 8 series

By outdoing his return in India in 2017, Lyon completed one of the finest series of his career: more so after starting indifferently in Nagpur. An 11-wicket haul in Indore was the centrepiece of Australia’s victory, and elsewhere Lyon was a constant threat. Home captain Sharma labelled him the best overseas bowler he had faced in India.

Nathan Lyon completed one of the finest series of his career. Credit:Getty Images

Matt Kuhnemann – 6 match, 7 series

Kuhnemann was handed some heavy treatment by Axar Patel in his closing overs of the series, but he had nothing to reproach himself for after forming a necessary variation to Australia’s off-spin attack. Given the travails of some other left-arm spinners in this part of the world, Kuhnemann’s ability to slot into the team and perform a role – after not being part of the initial squad – was highly valued by teammates.

Matt Kuhnemann. Credit:Getty Images

Pat Cummins – 6 series

With the benefit of knowing about the private turmoil of his late mother, Maria’s cancer journey, Cummins’ struggles at times during the first two Tests are put into proper context. Nevertheless, he had moments of quality: bowling Sharma with the second new ball in Nagpur, then key runs and a fine catch in Delhi. Most importantly, the team continued to play in Cummins’ “embrace the chaos” spirit after he left: the mark of a genuine leader with a strong footprint on his charges.

Pat Cummins.Credit:Getty Images

David Warner – 4 series

History had suggested Warner would struggle in India, and his steadily waning Test match powers were unable to be revived before he flew home early due to a hairline elbow fracture suffered in Delhi. Conventional wisdom now suggests Warner would have done well to retire ahead of the SCG Test in January. He faces an uncertain next nine months.

David Warner may have played his last Test.Credit:Getty Images

Matt Renshaw – 4 series

Renshaw’s place in Australia’s longer-term plans was not disrupted by a trio of out of sorts innings in India, but they did demonstrate the difficulty of adapting from the Big Bash League to Test cricket on challenging pitches. Renshaw had acquitted himself well here in 2017 by using his full height to smother the spin. Six years on and his more neutral, half-forward plonk left him highly vulnerable to Ashwin and Jadeja.

Matt Renshaw. Credit:Getty Images

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