From 1877 until World War One
Between the World Wars
Post War to the WSC Revolution
The Professional Era to the New Millennium
The New Millennium and Beyond
Other Pages
Home Page
Article Archive
How the System Works
Frequently Asked Questions
Statistical Points of Interest
Current and Future Series Predictions
Links
Site Map
Information for Visiting Webmasters
Contact Us
Get Free e-mail ratings updates
When India arrived in Australia, they would have hoped for a series win or a draw, but perhaps expected a loss. After all, India was slaughtered 0-3 in their last tour of Australia in 1999-2000. Despite returning to Australia with a similar batting line up, India instantly found itself competitive in the rain affected first Test in Brisbane. India carried that confidence on to win the second Test in Adelaide.
After a loss in the third Test in Melbourne, India hit the Australians hard in the final Test. India won the toss and batted their way to 705 runs for the loss of only seven wickets. Australia struggled in reply and eventually failed to reach an almost impossible 443 runs in 94 overs in the final innings. A draw was declared when both nations had run out of overs to score the runs or take the final wickets.
India dominated most facets of the series. The Indian batsmen outscored the Australians in their first innings in Brisbane and Sydney while almost matching them in Adelaide. India's bowlers also featured above Australia's bowlers in the leading wicket taker list. Both teams missed numerous chances while fielding.
The drawn series sees India rating rise by 16 rating points to 1046 points, which is India's highest rating since August 1998. India has jumped from seventh to fifth place in the ratings, having overtaken both Sri Lanka and New Zealand. India is now 21 points behind fourth placed England.
Australia began the series holding the all time record highest rating by any nation of 1241 points. The draw against India results in the Australian rating falling to 1225 points. That is Australia's lowest rating since September 2002. To put that in a historical perspective, Australia now holds the eighth highest rating by any nation:
1 20-Oct-03 AUS* 1241
2 29-Jul-03 AUS* 1237
3 06-Jan-03 AUS* 1236.1
4 16-Apr-86 WI 1235.8
5 13-May-03 AUS* 1234
6 22-Oct-02 AUS* 1230
7 25-Nov-86 WI 1225.5
8 06-Jan-04 AUS* 1224.7
9 29-Jan-52 AUS 1217
10 18-Mar-02 AUS* 1216
* denotes Waugh's Australians
From a cricket viewpoint, the story of the four Tests was the domination of bat over ball. It is worth noting that neither side had their best bowling attack throughout the series as injuries plagued the bowling fraternity of each nation.
The series has shown that the Indian batting seven is now among the top three batting line-ups in modern Test cricket with Australia and South Africa. The exact 'pecking order' between the three nations batting lists is not clear but they are all very close.
The difference over recent years between these nations has been the presence of two legendary bowlers in Australia who have been able to make decisive breakthroughs against opposing batsmen. Without those bowlers, the series in Australia regularly saw prolonged periods where neither team could breakthrough and limit the opposing batsmen. In past years, only the visitors struggled to break through the Australian batting line-up.
For the first time in almost a decade, Australia found itself unable to consistently make the key breakthroughs when it mattered. Without McGrath and Warne, the Australian attack distinctly lacked potency against genuine opposition. By the end of the series, Lee looked to have completely lost the plot, his express pace and probably a slot in the starting eleven. Meanwhile, Gillespie showed that without McGrath at the other end, he is only a very good fast bowler and not a great fast bowler.
Stuart MacGill also demonstrated why Shane Warne is preferred when available. Make no mistake, MacGill is a great leg spinner who, had he been born ten years earlier, would have been Wisden's cricketer of the century not Warne. However, MacGill generally bowls a loose delivery every over and against the best players of spin bowling in the world, that is a severe handicap. Warne is able to continually put the ball exactly on the spot desired and is a legend by comparison.
India will leave Australia knowing that they can compete with one of the best teams ever to have played Test cricket. Each nation touring Australia in recent years has shown immediate improvement - even Bangladesh, who almost defeated Pakistan in a Test in the following series. India should receive a similar boost in their next series.
Australia, on the other hand, will permanently lose Stephen Waugh but shortly regain their bowling legends Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne. Clearly, Australia's 42nd Test captain, Ricky Ponting, will be looking forward to their return as they head to Sri Lanka in February.
The latest Test cricket ratings are: 1. Australia (1225); 2. South Africa (1143); 3. Pakistan (1087); 4. England (1067); 5. India (1046); 6. New Zealand (1034); 7. Sri Lanka (1033); 8. West Indies (1017); 9. Zimbabwe (887); 10. Bangladesh (797).
