By Bo Nicholson – Managing Director
As the victorious Indian Test side celebrate their remarkable 2-1 series victory to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, we name the Team of the Series.
1. Shubman Gill
259 Runs at 51.80.
Introduced to the side for the Second Test after India’s disastrous collapse in the First, Gill looked immediately at ease at the level, culminating in an impressive 91 to win the Final Test and help his side retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
2. Rohit Sharma
129 Runs at 32.25
Frankly, it was slim pickings for the second opening spot, but Sharma showed his overall class with a couple of really nice knocks, including strokeplay of silk, as well as a pivotal half-century to help save the Third Test. Sharma’s fielding was a noticeable improvement to an Indian side that has fielded poorly throughout this tour.
3. Marnus Labuschagne
426 Runs at 53.25
I have a lot of respect for the way Chet Pujara went about his business, stubbornly playing Test cricket his way, but the sheer consistency of Marnus and his impressive 100 (a feat only 3 batters managed all series) means he gets the nod in the prestigious number 3 position.
4. Steve Smith
313 Runs at 44.71
Can you believe there were some peanuts calling for Smith’s position to come into question? Sure, he had a couple of poor matches at the start of the series, but he more than made up for it as Australia’s quest to regain the Border-Gavaskar, showing that class is a lot more permanent than form.
5. Ajinkya Rahane (Captain)
268 Runs at 38.28
At the start of the series, I predicted he would average less than 20 and struggle with the captaincy of the side. I’m happy to be wrong. Rahane seems like a really genuine bloke, a shrewd tactician and tough as an old boot. Anyone that can lead a side from being skittled for 36 in the First Test, to scoring a match-winning century in the Second, absolutely deserves our respect.
6. Cheteshwar Pujara
271 Runs at 33.87
I couldn’t squeeze him in at his preferred spot and maybe he wouldn’t be the best fit for the team at number 6, but here’s the predicament. 1) Who else earned this spot? Green? Not on the evidence presented. 2) How can you ignore the sheer crease occupation at key moments in the series to secure the result? Pujara is a world-class batter, and while he hasn’t managed his usual output, he still played a pivotal role in the series result.
7. Rishabh Pant (Wicket-keeper)
270 Runs at 67.50
Baffling he wasn’t picked for the First Test, I mean, Saha isn’t THAT much better with the gloves, is he? This guy is the real deal and his two Day 5 efforts to win a remarkable series will go down in lore as some of the best innings played by a Keeper-batter. The Player of the Series by my count.
8. Ravichandran Ashwin
12 Wickets at 28.83
Ravichandran was the most threatening spin bowler throughout the series who consistently took big wickets to put his side on the front foot. But more than that, he made an excellent 39 not out to save the Third Test, carrying a back injury which would go on to rule him out of the Final Test, which his side won. When it mattered, he was the player his team turned to.
9.Pat Cummins
21 Wickets at 20.04
If Australia win or even draw the series, he’s the Player of the Series. As it stands, the most consistent bowler on the planet has to settle with again watching the Border-Gavaskar slip from his grip through no fault of his own. Tremendous competitor who will probably be remembered as a great come the end of his career.
10. Josh Hazlewood
17 Wickets at 19.35
Hazlewood and Cummins were the one-two punch that kept Australia in the series all the way into the last session of the series, with his wonderful efforts also going largely un-rewarded. In a series where Starc and Lyon were disappointing, he and Cummins were excellent.
11. Mohammed Siraj
13 Wickets at 29.53
It took a number of players to succumb to injury or circumstance for Siraj to get his opportunity, but he immediately seemed comfortable at the level, despite the efforts of the various Australian crowds. His unusual series culminates in the Final Test where he became the leader of one of the most inexperienced bowling attacks in Test history, taking a 5 wicket haul to help his side win the series.
Who’d we miss? Let us know in the comments below!
Bo Nicholson is a Managing Director for The Pioneer Australia.
Pioneer Australia 