Despite some stellar performances in Indore and Ahmedabad, Australia will not return home with the coveted Border-Gavaskar Trophy after India won the series 2-1.
Defeating India in their own backyard remains one of the sport’s biggest challenges, and Australia will have to wait until 2027 for another opportunity to break the drought.
This year’s Test tour of India was career-defining for a couple of Australia’s stars, but dreadful for others.
Watch Australia’s Tour of India. Every Test & ODI live & ad-break free during play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
DAVID WARNER — 2
26 runs at 8.66
The veteran opener’s final tour of India didn’t go to plan, flying home following the Delhi Test after sustaining an elbow fracture.
Warner looked out entirely out of his depth in Nagpur but rediscovered his mojo in Delhi, combining with Usman Khawaja for a gritty 50-run opening partnership before he was withdrawn from the contest with concussion.
The 36-year-old will end his career having never scored a Test century on Indian soil.
USMAN KHAWAJA — 9
333 runs at 47.57
Khawaja was unequivocally Australia’s best batter of the series, passing fifty on three occasions in the latest chapter of his stunning Test renaissance.
On a raging turner in Indore, the Queenslander set up Australia’s nine-wicket victory with a classy 60 in the first innings, but his Border-Gavaskar Trophy campaign will be remembered for the 422-ball, 611-minute marathon in Ahmedabad. It was the longest Test innings by an Australian in India.
Khawaja’s stellar Day One | 02:19
MARNUS LABUSCHAGNE — 6
244 runs at 40.66
Labuschagne, the world’s No. 1 Test batter, made plenty of starts throughout the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, but never went on with them.
The Queenslander’s batting technique came under the microscope after repeatedly being trapped on the crease, seemingly uncertain whether to press forward or shift back.
He passed fifty once in the series, on the final day of the last Test on a batting-friendly deck in Ahmedabad.
STEVE SMITH — 4
145 runs at 29.00
Smith couldn’t replicate his heroics from 2017 in India, much to Australia’s frustration.
The Border-Gavaksar Trophy marked the first time he failed to reach fifty in a Test series with at least three innings.
All five of Smith’s dismissals were against spin bowlers, with Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin silencing Australia’s most experienced batter in subcontinent conditions.
PETER HANDSCOMB — 6
145 runs at 29.00
Despite multiple impressive knocks in India, Handscomb almost certainly hasn’t done enough to keep his spot in the starting XI for the World Test Championship final.
Picked as a horses-for-courses selection, the Victorian proved his worth in Nagpur and Delhi with scores of 31 and 72 not out in the first innings.
But Handscomb’s batting stance was exposed in Ahmedabad, bowled for 17 on an absolute road after going back to a full delivery on the stumps.
MATTHEW RENSHAW — 1
4 runs at 1.33
Oh dear.
Matthew Renshaw couldn’t repay the selectors’ faith after his surprise inclusion for the series opener in Nagpur, dismissed LBW in both innings for a golden duck and 2.
The Queenslander was fortuitously given a chance to redeem himself in Delhi after replacing David Warner as a concussion substitute, but he was once again trapped on the pads for 2 while attempting a reckless sweep shot.
TRAVIS HEAD — 7
235 runs at 47.00
It’s fair to say dropping Travis Head for the series opener in Nagpur was … a mistake.
The swashbuckling left-hander top-scored for Australia in the second innings of the last three Tests, guiding the visitors to victory in Indore before falling agonisingly short of a century in Ahmedabad.
Head is still hunting for that coveted maiden away Test century, but any concerns about whether he can bat in the subcontinent are well and truly gone.
CAMERON GREEN — 8
135 runs at 67.50, zero wickets
A breakout series for the young all-rounder, Cameron Green plundered his maiden Test century in Ahmedabad to show why he’s considered a future superstar of Australian cricket.
The West Australian missed the first two Tests due to a lingering finger injury, and his absence was sorely felt by the visitors.
Meanwhile, Green is still searching for a Test wicket against India, conceding 222 runs against the nation without a breakthrough.
Green belts boundaries in first Test ton | 02:13
ALEX CAREY — 5
56 runs at 9.33, 4 catches and 2 stumpings
Woeful with the bat, but extraordinary behind the stumps.
Carey’s campaign will be remembered for his impeccable work with the gloves, outclassing his Indian counterpart Shikar Bharat throughout the series.
However, the South Australia’s obsession with sweeping came back to haunt him, registering just one score above 10 and falling victim to Ravichandran Ashwin on five occasions.
MITCHELL STARC — 4
2 wickets at 66.00
After missing the opening two Tests due to injury, Starc struggled as Australia’s lone seamer in Indore and Ahmedabad.
Starc’s reverse swing proved ineffective, while his bouncer was treated with absolute contempt but India’s world-class batters.
Much like David Warner, Starc almost certainly won’t return to India, a nation he is yet to conquer.
PAT CUMMINS — 4
3 wickets at 39.66
The Australian captain was uncharacteristically inaccurate with the new ball in Nagpur and Delhi, repeatedly straying on the pads to India’s openers.
After the second Test in Delhi, where he served as the lone seamer, Cummins returned home to spend time with his family as his mother Maria underwent treatment in palliative care.
SCOTT BOLAND — 3
Zero wickets
The Victorian cult hero has been unstoppable on home soil over the past couple of summers, but he didn’t have an impact during his lone Test in India.
Boland relentlessly peppered a good line and length during the series opener in Nagpur, but India’s batters were mostly unfazed by the 33-year-old.
NATHAN LYON — 9
22 wickets at 22.36
He’s called the GOAT for a reason.
After a disappointing start in Nagpur, Lyon was at his absolute best for the remainder of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, finishing the series as the leading wicket-taker among touring Test spinners in India.
The veteran off-spinner was named Player of the Match in Indore after snaring 8-64 in the second innings, helping Australia secure a nine-wicket victory.
Lyon leaves 8 WICKETS in his wake! | 02:00
TODD MURPHY — 8
14 wickets at 25.21
Twelve months ago, Murphy couldn’t break into Victoria’s Sheffield Shield side, but the young tweaker will return home having dismissed Virat Kohli four times in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Despite only having seven first-class matches to his name, the spectacled 22-year-old bowled impeccably across the four Tests, cementing his status as Nathan Lyon’s eventual successor.
Murphy and Cameron Green are shaping as the future of Australian cricket.
Murphy’s dream debut five wicket haul | 02:08
MATTHEW KUHNEMANN — 7
9 wickets at 31.11
Flown over to India at the eleventh hour, Kuhnemann perfectly rounded out Australia’s spin trio during the final three Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
The Queenslander was particularly impressive in Indore, taking career-best figures of 5-16 in the first innings to help roll India for 109 on day one.
Kuhnemann and Todd Murphy could be leading the Test side’s bowling attack when Australia returns to India in 2017.
Classy Kuhnemann gives Aussies the edge | 03:49