Aussies in India: Fourth Test form guide

Before Australia enter the fourth Test and their biggest challenge in 13 years, here’s what those in action have done in the series up to this point.

David Warner

M: 3 | Runs: 131 | Average: 21.83 | SR: 60.36 | HS: 38

Best performance: Warner has reached double figures in all six innings without kicking on with the job. He looked in sparkling touch during the first morning in Pune but fell for 38. Not one to be tied down for long, Warner said after Ranchi he feels a big score is just around the corner.

Matthew Renshaw

M: 3 | Runs: 223 | Average: 37.16 | SR: 39.32 | HS: 68

Best performance: The 20-year-old will never forget his first innings overseas. Having faced the opening ball of the series, Renshaw put on 82 with Warner before illness struck and he retired ill. He came back to add another 32 and show real guts, for lack of a better word.

Steve Smith

M: 3 | Runs: 371 | Average: 74.20 | SR: 44.91 | HS: 178no

Best performance: His first Test ton in Pune had its fair share of luck (he was dropped four times) while his 178no in Ranchi was chanceless and practically faultless. Smith had demanded his troops bat long and big and he’s led by example.

Shaun Marsh

M: 3 | Runs: 146 | Average: 24.33 | SR: 29.37 | HS: 66

Best performance: Regarded as something of a ‘subcontinent specialist’ Marsh proved just that under immense pressure as he teamed up with Handscomb to put on 124 in four hours to guide Australia to a draw in Ranchi. Marsh made 52 in one of his best knocks in the Baggy Green.

Peter Handscomb

M: 3 | Runs: 172 | Average: 34.40 | SR: 40.66 | HS: 72no

Best performance: His form and positive stroke play had promised a substantial score and it finally came when his side needed it the most. In concert with Marsh, Handscomb produced perhaps his finest innings in his fledgling Test career to ensure Australia travelled to Dharamsala with the series locked up.

Glenn Maxwell

M: 1 | Runs: 106 | Average: 53 | SR: 53 | HS: 104

Best performance: Glenn Maxwell the Test cricketer finally arrived in Ranchi when he broke through to score his maiden century. On the backburner were the reverse sweeps, switch hits and ramps shots, replaced by a textbook technique that delivered the score he’s been dreaming of.

Matthew Wade

M: 3 | Runs: 114 | Average: 22.80 | SR: 46.34 | HS: 40 | Catches: 6 | Stumpings: 4

Best performance: Perhaps the best sweeper in the touring squad, Wade brought out the broom in Bengaluru the dust off 40 and help build Australia’s lead in the second Test. He also pulled off two stumpings in that Test in what’s been a solid series behind the stumps.

 

Pat Cummins

M: 1 | Overs: 39 | Wickets: 4 | Average: 26.5 | SR: 49.1 | BB: 4-106

Best performance: If someone had told you that Ranchi was Cummins’ first Test in five-and-a-half years you wouldn’t know it by the way the 23-year-old bowled. Pace, bounce and consistency were the hallmarks of his Test return that lasted 210 overs in one innings in the field.

Stephen O’Keefe

M: 3 | Overs: 147.2 | Wickets: 18 | Average: 19.16 | SR: | BB: 6-35

Best performance: Easily has to be the man-of-the-match performance in the first Test in Pune where he ripped apart India not one but twice to collect 6-30 in each innings and shatter countless records.

Nathan Lyon

M: 3 | Overs: 127.1 | Wickets: 14 | Average: 26.35 | SR: 54.5 | BB: 8-50

Best performance: Like his spin twin in the first Test, Lyon re-wrote the history books in the second Test in Bengaluru with an astonishing 8-50 on day one after India won the toss and elected to bat.

Josh Hazlewood

M: 3 | Overs: 88 | Wickets: 8 | Average: 28.75 | SR: 66 | BB: 6-67

Best performance: Making the most of an M Chinnaswamy Stadium wicket with more cracks than a broken mirror, Hazlewood struck with old ball and new as his relentless line and length brought career-best figures.

Test Squads

India (for third and fourth Tests): Virat Kohli (c), Murali Vijay, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Wriddhiman Saha, Ravichandaran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Ishant Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav, Karun Nair, Jayant Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav, Abhinav Mukund, Mohammed Shami.

Australia: Steve Smith (c), David Warner (vc), Ashton Agar, Jackson Bird, Pat Cummins, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Stephen O'Keefe, Matthew Renshaw, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, Matthew Wade

Australia's schedule in India

Feb 23-27, First Test, Pune – Australia won by 333 runs.

Mar 4-8, Second Test, Bengaluru – India won by 75 runs.

Mar 16-20, Third Test, Ranchi – match drawn.

Mar 25-29, Fourth Test, Dharamsala