Some reflections on the Test Series

Well the test series is over and the Indians thoroughly deserved their first success on Aussie shores.

So let us examine the series.

I said before the series started that the series would be won by either the Aussie batting or the Indian bowling rising to the fore.
I did assume the Australian batsmen should bat better on home soil than in the UAE. I also thought the Indian bowlers would revert to type and bowl far too short.
Both assumptions proved to be unsound.

The pitches bar Perth were an absolute disgrace. We do not want roads here. We want fast bouncy wickets where the ball is on top of the bat. Thus a century is well earned. Tell Sydney and Melbourne they do not have tests next year. As Brisbane and Hobart are clearly the best pitches they should always have tests until the other cities catch up. Perth is nearly there.

The Selectors were either incompetent or out and out liars. They said they would go on form. Huh?
The top four batsmen in averages did  not get a look in. Finch did a valiant job in the UAE where the ball rarely swings. However in Australia there must be a good reason why Victoria never picks him to open. We saw this in the first two tests. Despite this he was still told to open in Melbourne. Why?
Despite this he still managed to score more runs in his first four tests than either Warner or Harris.

Why the Marsh's were selected is a complete mystery. Elder Marsh is 35. He aint going to improve if anything he will do the opposite. Mitchell Marsh is the only 'allrounder I know of whose bowling average should be his batting average and vica versa.

Let us go to the bowling.
Mitchel Starc is dynamite with the new ball when he is swinging it. Yet he only bowled two decent balls that swung  in the whole 4 tests. Both got wickets. The reason (not the only one but the most recognisable one) was his right foot should have been pointing to first slip ( if bowling to a right hander) yet far too many times his right foot was pointing to the wicket keeper.
Hazelwood under pressure does the same thing. It was very easy to spot in Sydanee.

Some people argued the new ball should have gone to Cummins but he does very little with the ball in the air.

Unfortunately the selectors have backed themselves into a corner. They must be hoping Warner and smith will make a huge difference in England.

Enough of Australia what of India?
It took them two tests to find new openers but that was the change they needed. If the new teenage sensation is only moderate they have solved their opening woes. Pujara was simply sensational. He was the bulwark behind their batting. Kholi never had to concentrate all that much so we only got 1 tom and 1 50! They can choose between Vihari or batting Sharma for no 6.
Pant reminds me of Iron gloves Marsh from 1970-71. Neither were/are competent keepers but were/are selected on the hope their keeping will improve. It did with Marsh and I think it will with Pant.
Only bowling Sharma is likely to retire  soon ( how come he bowled faster this tour than in previous tours.) They have replacements who can swing the ball and bat competently.
Ashwin only played one test but he too bowled much better this time than last tour. As we found out they have strong spinning stocks.

I suspect Kholi will go to South Africa and then to England and win there. They were dead unlucky against both last year.

I should add one last thing about India. Kholi is a fitness fanatic and this has obviously had an effect on the Indian players. They mostly all looked like good fieldsmen who would throw themselves around the field. They also ran much better between wickets.

We have troubles and the Indians have the opposite!

Update:

I forgot the ludicrous suspensions made to the three in sandpapergate. at max Warner and smith ,given he was the captain should have gotten 2-3 test matches as a suspension. Because the totally discredited CA overreacted and gave them suspensions which were well over what the punishment fitting the crime Australian cricket suffered. Good riddance!