Boxing Day Test player ratings: Perfect ten, career on life support
Australia’s Boxing Day Test loss has left several careers on life support as the grim reality of a historic series loss edges closer. RUSSELL GOULD rates every player from the third Test.
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Australia’s Boxing Day Test loss has left several careers on life support as the grim reality of a historic series loss edges closer. RUSSELL GOULD rates every player from the third Test.
AUSTRALIAN PLAYER RATINGS
AARON FINCH – 1
Single figure scores in both innings were the polar opposite of what the Victorian wanted in his first, and maybe only, Boxing Day Test. Doesn’t look like he’ll keep his opening position for long with calls already coming for a replacement, even before David Warner comes back.
MARCUS HARRIS – 4
His second innings of 13 was his lowest score of the series, and while he continued to look like the opener Australia needs he failed to go on with his starts and can’t make a habit of it with pressure on the batting order growing.
USMAN KHAWAJA – 5
What do you make of scores of 21 and 33? Quite simply not enough from the only Aussie batsmen to make a Test century since the Ashes last summer. Looks comfortable, then gets out. Has shown a willingness to fight, but needs to do it more.
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SHAUN MARSH – 5
Like Khawaja, got a decent score of 44 and a middling one of 19. Was stiff in both innings really too, undone by a ripping slower ball then a dodgy second innings DRS LBW call. But as Mike Hussey said “he needs a score, he’s in the middle order to make runs”. Big match for him in Sydney.
TRAVIS HEAD – 5
Cut and paste from the two batsmen before him, with a couple of scores, but neither was enough. Head’s problem is he gets out to really ordinary shots too often. Bowled twice in Melbourne, and out slashing at wide balls to third man twice in Perth. Hasn’t full clicked as Test batsman yet.
MITCH MARSH – 3
Gets points for his bowling effort, even though he didn’t take a wicket. But underlined yet again that he is NOT the all-round answer Australia is looking for because he is NOT a number six batsman. Got booed unnecessarily on Boxing Day but was out twice for nine and 10 to Ravindra Jadeja.
TIM PAINE – 6
Crucial dropped catch of Virat Kohli late on day one, despite it being a tough chance, came back to haunt the Aussie captain. He kept his players as motivated as he could, as seen in the second innings fightback. Made some OK runs himself but the lack of them from his batsmen remains the issue.
PAT CUMMINS – 10
Australia need three of him. Cummins is the one Aussie fast bowler Indian talisman Virat Kohli is uncomfortable against. He worked tirelessly to make inroads on a flat wicket in the first dig, then a stunning six-wicket second innings haul underlined his value. Took 9-99 for the game, made the only Aussie half century, and showed the heart his teammates need to copy.
MITCH STARC – 4
There have to be question marks about the frontline quick’s inability to find any sort of consistency with the new ball. While the Indian openers found swing, and Jasprit Bumrah found a line that worked, Starc once again sent the ball everywhere. Also bowled less than all other quicks.
JOSH HAZLEWOOD - 5
Did a power of work on the opening day on his least favourite pitch in Australia, and at least ruffled a few feathers. But it took nearly 170 overs for him to get his first wicket in the match, one of three, in a performance he won’t be storing in his memory banks at all as one to reflect favourably on.
NATHAN LYON – 5
Set a massively high bar after his opening two Tests but didn’t seem to have the Indians in a spin as much in Melbourne. Could have got a bag if his teammates could catch though. Copped some criticism for negative day one tactics, but has loads and loads of credits in the bank. Held out well with the bat too. Looms as a massive player in Sydney.
INDIA PLAYER RATINGS
HANUMA VIHARI – 2
Just 21 runs in two digs after being elevated to the top of the order was the lowest return of any Indian in a match where few of his teammates failed in any way. The size of the Indian victory should ensure he keeps his place for Sydney.
MAYANK ARGAWAL – 7
Looked international standard in his maiden Test match and a first innings 50 provided a glimpse of more to come in a spot in the Indians have struggled. His catching too, close to the wicket, is a crucial skill and he looked like an old pro in that position.
CHETESHWAR PUJARA – 8
His first innings century, batting for more than four session to score his second hundred of the series, proved the difference in the game. It also provided a lesson in patience and persistence for the lacklustre opposition batsmen who showed little of either.
VIRAT KOHLI – 8
The Indian skipper really should have got a century of his own in the first dig which was full of control and a concerted effort to grind the Aussie bowlers in to the dirt on a flat track. His captaincy was on point too with perfect use of his bowlers and plans to bring the home team undone.
AJINYKA RAHANE – 5
It’s a rare game against Australia in which Rahane doesn’t score at least one 50. He comes out and dashes from ball one and isn’t an easy wicket for Australia to get. But he hasn’t made loads of runs for his team so far this series.
ROHIT SHARMA – 6
Was extremely stubborn with his 63 first innings runs which helped India pushed on to a massive score. Could have been out cheaply if Peter Siddle could catch, but all Sharma can do is bat. Didn’t hold out as long in the second innings, but it didn’t matter.
RISHABH PANT – 7
On verbal work alone gets a good pass mark, but his lower order runs, with two more scores in the 30s, and continuing to make him a wicket Australia craves. Did drop a couple of sharp chances but his glove work on the whole was pretty good.
RAVINDRA JADEJA – 7
Indian selectors erred by not picking him in Perth but while he only took five wickets, the pressure he puts on the Aussie batsmen is immense. All those left-handers look nervous whenever Jadeja bowls in to footmarks his bowlers help make. Will be big at the SCG.
MOHAMMAD SHAMI – 6
The lead man in the second Test was a bit more understated at the MCG, but still zoned in on the stumps with success. Only took the three wickets but continued to show his sharp lifting balls at the body can make every Aussie batsmen think twice.
ISHANT SHARMA – 6
Like Shami he operated in the shadows of Jasprit Bumrah but created the swing that none of the other bowlers could really match. His attack on the pads of Aussie opener Aaron Finch was the work of man who knows he could get him out every ball.
JASPRIT BUMRAH – 9
His match figures of 9/86 were the best ever by an Indian in Australia, and by some way too. Scroll back through all his overs and you struggle to find a bad ball. His speed, accuracy and control had heaped pressure on the Aussie batsmen who have shown little capacity to withstand him for long.
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Originally published as Boxing Day Test player ratings: Perfect ten, career on life support
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