Australian batting malfunctions to new low
Australia's Test batting is at its lowest ebb.
The first innings scorecard in Sydney may not look as bad as some, but the performance was a microcosm of all the problems Australia are facing: shot selection, concentration, absorbing pressure, building on starts. Five of the top six were dismissed between 20 and 79 on a pitch with few demons. They still have no centuries in the series and the top score - Marcus Harris' 79 today - is Australia's lowest high (outside of one-off Tests) in a series for 100 years.
This dismissals told a story. A repetitive one.
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Khawaja c Pujara b Kuldeep 27
Full outside off stump, and he skips down the wicket to slog. Mistimed to the leg side, and that's been pocketed by the fielder! First wicket, and that's Kuldeep's reward right away
Usman Khawaja's promotion to open was part of the batting reshuffle for this Test which saw Aaron Finch dropped. He was given a life on the second evening when Rishabh Pant dropped an edge off Mohammed Shami. Khawaja progressed smoothly early on the third day as Australia played positively in the morning session before a shot that wouldn't have looked great in the one-day series which he will be playing in next week. He has faced the most balls by an Australia batsman in the series but has rarely been able to escape the shackles of the India attack.
Harris b Jadeja 79
Played on! Oh dear, Harris, what have you done? Jadeja gives out a roar as Harris stands there gobsmacked. Length ball outside off, and Harris tries to play a square cut late, but the ball stays slightly low, takes the under-edge off his bat, and then clips the top of leg stump. Applause for Harris as he makes his way back
It was all looking so good for Marcus Harris as he gave more than a passing impression of David Warner with his punchy drives off front and back foot to bring up a 67-ball half-century. Surely, now, a chance for Australia's first century of the series? Alas, no, as the most half-hearted shots of the innings led to him dragging the ball on. However, he deserves more than just a pass mark for his first Test series and will emerge as one of the few Australians with credit.
S Marsh c Rahane b Jadeja 8
And an easy catch at first slip. Length around off, Marsh hangs his bat out, perhaps playing for spin but it holds its line and Rahane takes it around knee-height to his left
Nothing from this series will quell the Shaun Marsh debate. There was a graceful cover drive to get off the mark in this innings before a limp outside edge to slip. As a senior batsman, Australia needed more from Marsh if they were to have a chance of competing. He was allowed to feel a little rough about things after Melbourne, falling to Jasprit Bumrah's brilliant slower ball and a borderline lbw, but it can only be the selectors' perceptions at a lack of alternatives that will preserve his place in the team barring a significant second-innings score. Even with scores of 60, 45 and 44 in this series he is averaging 18.10 in his last 10 Tests, dating back to Sydney against England last year.
Labuschagne c Rahane b Shami 38
What a catch, finally the trap works. Rahane getting both hands, low to his right, at the squarer short midwicket. Was fuller on the pads, Labuschagne failed to keep the flick down and Rahane, you beauty!
The shock selection - Marnus Labuschagne is one of Australia's unlikeliest No.3s - stood up well during a 95-ball stay. Jasprit Bumrah almost trapped him first ball with another terrific yorker, but the ball brushed the boot outside the line of off stump. Labuschagne took a couple of confident boundaries off Kuldeep Yadav and was then involved in a combative duel with Mohammed Shami. There was a cover drive, a clip through midwicket, a guide over gully and a drive through mid-on. In the end, though, Shami won with the aid of some excellent captaincy from Virat Kohli who kept tweaking his leg-side field. It was a promising start, though, and should earn Labuschagne another chance.
Head c & b Kuldeep 20
Caught and bowled! Comes down the track, takes it on the full and hits it right back at the bowler. Didn't middle it, more of the toe-end of the bat and a good knee-high catch by Kuldeep
Twice caught at third man in Perth. Twice bowled in Melbourne trying to attack the seamers. And now caught and bowled trying to take on the wrist spinner. Two half-centuries on the liveliest pitches in Adelaide and Perth have not been built on in the second half of the series. Travis Head is also in the curious position of having lost his one-day place when it was that form of the game that helped earn him his chance and now he seems intent on playing more aggressively in Tests.
Paine b Kuldeep 5
Through him! Extra flight and turn earns Kuldeep the reward. Full outside off, and Paine tries to play an expansive drive. The ball dips sharply, and he's done in by that. Ball whizzes through his defense, and then rattles his stumps. Kuldeep strikes first over after tea
Tim Paine is an impressive person in a tough job. The Australian captain has dug in with the bat making five scores between 22 and 41 in the series. Since his return to Test cricket against England in 2017, he is averaging 34.31 - that's handy for the No. 7 and would be even more so with a performing top order. That, however, looks a long way away.