Opinion
Player ratings: How the Australian and Indian teams fared in the second Test
By Tom Decent and Daniel Brettig
Australia
Usman Khawaja – 3/10
Scored 13 in the first innings and dropped a relatively simple catch at slip. Hasn’t made a score above 33 in his last eight Test innings. Khawaja turns 38 late this month. It’s worth noting that Sam Konstas, who is half his age, just backed up his century for the Prime Minister’s XI with a knock of 88 in the Sheffield Shield against Western Australia. Khawaja hit the winning runs.
Nathan McSweeney – 6
Surviving 33 overs under lights against a pink ball on day one showed McSweeney might be made of the right stuff at Test level. Only added one run to his overnight tally before being dismissed for 38, but his time at the crease gifted Australia’s batsmen the best of the conditions on Saturday. Took a sharp catch at gully but also dropped a tough one.
Marnus Labuschagne – 7.5
Like McSweeney, played his way back into form by surviving a tricky night session on day one. His score of 64 was his second-best since a knock of 111 against England in Manchester last year. The key will be backing it up in Brisbane.
Steve Smith – 2
Unlucky to edge one down the leg side for two. Hasn’t made more than 17 in a Test since February against New Zealand. Would have loved a second hit, but Australia’s domination didn’t allow that. Has 19 runs for this series from three innings. Comparatively, Smith made 347 runs from his first three innings of the 2014-15 series against India.
Travis Head – 9.5
The king of Adelaide delivered once again, belting 140 to set up the result after coming in with Australia 3-103 and still trailing by 77 runs. Despite doing it over and over, there is something breathtaking about the way Head plays his cricket. A great celebration too, which earns him an extra half a mark.
Travis Head raises his bat in Adelaide.Credit: Getty Images
Mitch Marsh – 5
Hard to assess Marsh given he only made nine runs and bowled four overs. Shot himself in the foot by walking off while batting, thinking he’d edged Ravichandran Ashwin, when replays showed he didn’t hit it. Pleasing for Australia that his back was good enough to bowl.
Alex Carey – 5
Only faced 32 balls for his 15 runs but was a helpful partner for Head, with the pair putting on 74 runs for the sixth wicket. Glovework was sound and there were no byes in the first innings which was a big improvement from Perth. That was until a late dropped catch on day three.
Pat Cummins – 8.5
After a quieter Test in Perth, responded as you’d expect with match figures of 7-98. Attacked the stumps and continued his excellent record with the pink ball. His wicket celebrations showed what this match meant, with Australia under the pump in the series. Captaincy was excellent.
Mitch Starc – 9
An outstanding match from the man with the best pink-ball record in the game. Finished with match figures of 8-108. Swung the ball more than ever in his Test career, according to bowling data, and started the match perfectly by removing opener Yashasvi Jaiswal for a golden duck. His dismissal of Shubman Gill in the second innings was fast bowling at its finest.
Scott Boland – 8
The Victorian’s first Test since last year’s Ashes series went beautifully. Should have had two wickets in his first over but for a no-ball and a Khawaja dropped catch. A crowd favourite once again. If Josh Hazlewood is fit, it will be an interesting selection call for Brisbane.
Nathan Lyon – 5
Sent down just six balls across both innings, the second fewest in his career. Lyon didn’t bowl in the Hobart Test of 2022 against England. Made four not out in one of his quietest Tests.
INDIA
Yashasvi Jaiswal – 4
Out first ball of the match, then defeated by the metronomic Boland in the second innings. Jaiswal was a standout in Perth against a tiring attack, but the Australians will continue to ask questions of his technique and temperament.
K.L. Rahul – 5
Fought hard in the first innings before being bounced out quickly in the second. Rahul has been retained as an opener as the ideal partner for Jaiswal, and it remains to be seen whether Australia will wear him down over the series.
Virat Kohli was dismissed cheaply in both innings.Credit: Getty Images
Shubman Gill – 5
Two handy scores that hinted at his quality before he was comprehensively beaten by Boland and Starc. Gill oozes class and looks like he is capable of turning a Test India’s way this summer.
Virat Kohli – 3
Well beaten in each innings by disciplined Australian lines for a disappointing conclusion to his Test match love affair with Adelaide Oval.
Rishabh Pant – 6
Was arguably the biggest danger to Australia with the bat, and his dismissal in the first over of day three effectively brought the contest to a close. Can be expected to strike gold at some stage this series.
Rohit Sharma – 2
Won the toss but did little else, struggling with the bat in both innings and not for the first time failing to find an effective way to counter Head’s aggression.
Nitish Kumar Reddy – 8
Strong contributions with the bat and the ball once again to demonstrate he is a cricketer of talent and determination. Has given the Australian bowlers more headaches than most.
Ravichandran Ashwin – 5
Some runs and useful bowling spells after missing the first Test. Ashwin will be disappointed he could not find a way past Head, although a dropped catch by Siraj was not his fault. Made a bit of a mess of Mitchell Marsh, underlining his quality in Australian conditions.
Harshit Rana – 3
A long way behind Bumrah and Siraj in terms of bowling effectiveness and mainly served to demonstrate that the touring side would welcome the return of Mohammed Shami as soon as possible.
Jasprit Bumrah – 8
Bowled beautifully again but was absorbed more effectively by the Australian top order, allowing Travis Head to take the attack to him and others later. Was perhaps a touch short in length at times as opposed to the laser-guided accuracy he displayed in Perth.
Mohammed Siraj – 5
Provided plenty of theatre and bowled with hostility and skill at times. But his send-off of Travis Head was unsporting to an opponent who had played well, and there is also an open question whether Siraj bowls better or worse when he’s angry. Also dropped a catch.
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