India v Australia: Test series proves some problems are cured, others still very present
Updated
Honestly, one win is probably more than most were expecting, but the way Australia played for most its tour of India is worth applauding.
This inexperienced side, many of whom had never played in India before this tour, proved their mettle with bat or ball.
No doubt there are still issues, but considering they are still in something of a rebuilding phase, it is worth celebrating what this side did.
Why you should be happy
Predictably, the positives start at the top with skipper Steve Smith.
He solidified his position atop the ICC batting rankings with a record three centuries in the series and did not take a backward step as a leader, although he cannot let the pressure of carrying a team boil over into frustration.
The "f***ing cheat" accusation slung Murali Vijay's way on the second-last day of the series was an unwarranted sledge considering the circumstances.
Having had his integrity questioned earlier in the series, his frustration was understandable, but the outburst was still inexcusable and he said as much after the game.
Then there are the new kids on the block — Matt Renshaw and Peter Handscomb.
Renshaw's application en route to a pair of half-tons belied his age and reflected a team-wide willingness to score ugly runs.
Handscomb's poor series was at least mildly offset as he showed us what he was made of in saving the Ranchi Test, although he needs to make that sort of impressive knock the norm rather than an aberration on this sort of tour.
But it was not just with the bat that some inexperienced operators thrived; we also saw the triumphant return of Pat Cummins.
His pace was superb, the short ball was terrifying, he found movement through the air — it was almost as if it hadn't been five years between Tests.
The 23-year-old's fire, similar to that of Mitchell Starc, is perfectly complemented by Josh Hazlewood's inexhaustible accuracy, and it appears the spinners are joining the party.
Steve O'Keefe's 12-wicket demolition job in Pune threw down a gauntlet to spin partner Nathan Lyon, who picked it up by taking 8-50 in Bangalore.
O'Keefe solidified his presence as selectors' favourite to be picked in dry conditions, while Lyon justified his status as Australia's top dog.
Why you should be wary
Of course, there has to be a reason Australia lost the series and it can largely be traced back to its batting innings.
Problematically, it was often Renshaw showing the leadership early while vice-captain David Warner air-swung and edged his way to (at best) a modest score.
David Warner's life on the road
- In India: 288 runs in 8 Tests (Ave: 24.25)
- In England: 556 in 8 Tests (Ave: 37.06)
- In West Indies: 269 in 5 Tests (Ave: 26.90)
- In South Africa: 543 in 3 Tests (Ave: 90.50)
- In Sri Lanka: 163 in 3 Tests (Ave: 27.16)
- In New Zealand: 39 in 2 Tests (Ave: 13)
- In UAE: 239 in 2 Tests (Ave: 59.75)
Warner looks a different man on the road — averaging just 37 away, compared to 59 at home — and his inability to score runs anywhere other than Australia has regularly left the team in the lurch.
The opener scored just 193 runs in eight innings on the tour, notching his lone half-century in the first innings of the final Test.
He was not helped by struggles elsewhere in the order, which all too often resulted in all too familiar (if slightly less frequent) collapses.
The first dig in Pune saw Australia lose 3-17, the second-Test capitulation featured an 8-45 collapse, and the tourists lost 4-34 and 7-50 across both efforts in the final Test in Dharamsala.
It should be said wickets tend to fall in clumps on Indian dustbowls, but it must also be added that all of those examples were either entirely or predominantly made up of front-line batsmen.
Part of the reason these collapses so regularly continue unabated is a lack of consistency at number six and seven.
Who knows if Mitchell Marsh will keep getting picked again once he is fit? But Glenn Maxwell has only done the job once and Matthew Wade's form with the bat (and gloves) is questionable at best.
A Peter Nevill recall may be in the offing, with the bowling ability of Marcus Stoinis and Moises Henriques enough to at least apply pressure for an all-rounder to be picked at number six after it was made clear in Ranchi that Smith does not trust Maxwell's spin.
The verdict
Be happy.
This relatively inexperienced team just pushed India to the brink in a four-Test series in India.
It was not perfect and there are still issues, but the spine of a good team is in place and they are moving in the right direction with an Ashes series set to kick off in November.
Topics: cricket, sport, india, australia
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