Veterans fail, Kohli only batsman to sparkle
India on Saturday succumbed to their second successive overseas series whitewash and the bulk of the blame should go to their famed batting line-up, which failed miserably in what has turned out to be a disastrous Test series against Australia.
- Press Trust of India
- Updated: January 28, 2012 12:21 PM IST
India on Saturday succumbed to their second successive overseas series whitewash and the bulk of the blame should go to their famed batting line-up, which failed miserably in what has turned out to be a disastrous Test series against Australia.
Most of the batsmen, including captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, opening pair of Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir, veterans Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman, cut a sorry figure in the series.
While Dhoni managed 102 runs from six innings at an average of 20.40, Sehwag (198) and Gambhir (181) turned out to be disaster at the top averaging mere 24.75 and 22.62 respectively. (Also see: India's bottom-10 in pics)
Dravid, known as "The Wall" of Indian cricket, crumbled time and again throughout the series and scored just 194 runs at an average of 24.25.
Laxman was no better as he averaged a dismal 19.37 and managed to score just 155 runs from his eight knocks.
But young Virat Kohli, who made his debut in the series, turned out to be the top performer for India with the bat, scoring 300 runs from eight innings at an average of 37.50. He also scored India's lone century in the rubber with a gutsy 116 in the fourth and final cricket Test here.
Kohli's was closely followed batting ace Sachin Tendulkar, who was the second highest scorer for India with 287 runs at an average 35.87.
Even off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin (163 from 6 innings) fared better than some of his fancied batting colleagues, averaging an impressive 32.60.
On the bowling front, veteran Zaheer Khan impressed all and sundry in his comeback series by emerging as the highest wicket-taker for India with 15 scalps at an average of 31.80, though he did not have the same sting.
Even though he lacked consistency at times, young Umesh Yadav also did reasonably well, picking up 14 wickets with five for 93 being his best bowling figures.
Ashwin has nine wickets to his credit, but lanky pacer Ishant Sharma turned out to be the big disappointement for India, managing just five wickets in the entire series.
Australia, on the other hand, sparkled in all departments of the game in the series.
With 626 runs to his kitty from six innings, including an unbeaten 326 in the second Test in Sydney, Australia captain Michael Clarke finished as the top-scorer in the series.
Clarke averaged an impressive 125.20 with the bat and also picked up a wicket in the series, that too of India's batting ace Sachin Tendulkar.
Just behind Clarke was his predecessor Ricky Ponting, who amassed 544 runs with an average of 108.80 with best score of 221.
Another senior pro Mike Hussey also shone with the bat scoring 293 runs, followed by explosive opener David Warner (266) and his partner Ed Cowan (206).
The home team also ran away with the top honours on the bowling front with Ben Hilfenhaus emerging as the highest wicket-taker in the series with 27 scalps at an average of 17.22
Pace spearhead Peter Siddle was closely behind with 23 wickets at an average of 18.65, followed by James Pattinson (11 wickets), who was played the first two Tests, off-spinner Nathan Lyon (7) and Ryan Harris (6).