India v Australia Test Series Review - Australia

Right, I know this is coming in a few days late, but I had finished half of it earlier and I didn't want to waste it. That's right, I'm calling typing 'exercise', and this thing is a little rushed (5 minutes and below).

Here's how the Aussies did, then.

9 - Shane Watson (271 runs at 67.75, 2 wickets at 40): Pratson was in great touch, providing great starts with Katich every time, and he even curbed his aggression to score what was probably his slowest century since his Stick Cricket session. He also had his moments with the ball, but got only 25 overs and a couple of wickets. Points off for not realizing that his dismissal meant the batting was about to collapse.

7.5 - Tim Paine (183 runs at 45.75): Promising show from T-Paine, who did his best filling in for Brad Haddin. Not too bad behind the stumps and played some really great-looking strokes in front of them.

7 - Ricky Ponting (224 runs at 56): Three great 70s, but never finished the job, just like in Mohali. Continued to captain as he always has, so he's not really getting worse. Plenty of Punterface on show.

7 - Doug Bollinger (5 wickets at 16.2): Bowled well enough in Mohali to take 5 wickets, but left a gaping hole in the attack when he got injured. No more T20 tournaments before important Test series' for him.

6.5 - Ben Hilfenhaus (6 wickets at 43.5): Troubled every batsman (except, crucially, Ishant Sharma), hitting great lengths and moving the ball away. Just didn't take enough wickets.

6 - Peter George (2 wickets at 38.5): Promising debut, despite spraying it around a bit at the beginning. He found good control and accuracy, and was rewarded with Sachin's wicket as his first. We all knew that was going to happen, though.

6 - Mitchell Johnson (8 wickets at 32.62): Managed a few wickets when on target, but was all over the place otherwise. This is worrying, with the Ashes coming up. Worrying for him and the team - not me, of course.

4.5 - Marcus North (141 runs at 35.25): He scored the one necessary hundred to probably keep his spot for the Ashes, but scored only 13 runs in his 3 other innings. Whaddaplaya.

4 - Simon Katich (110 runs at 27.5): Rare bad series for the Krab, but he gets a few points for being a part of some consistent starts this series. Boring as ever, though, I'll give him that. He won't get out until he's had you snoozing.

2.5 - Michael Hussey (99 runs at 24.75): He should not be playing Tests! He continued his great one-day form, but he seems allergic to the red ball.

2 and a bit - Nathan Hauritz (6 wickets at 65, economy 4.33): The buffet bowler of this attack. Okay, he has never been the most skilled spinner out there, but he has stayed afloat. He was never expected to do well where Warne didn't. Expect a bag of wickets in the Ashes.

1 - Michael Clarke (35 runs at 8.75): The one point was for the wicket of Raina. That's all.

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