2nd Test: Australia marks out of 10

So still no test victory for Ricky Ponting as a captain in India as Australia lost their third test in a row for the first time since 1988 – when they lost the first three matches of a home series to a great West Indies side.

And yet again it was a dismal second innings batting display that did for them as Australia were dismissed for a paltry 223. Unlike at Mohali they didn’t make India work for the win this time as some powderpuff bowling and strange field placings from Ponting saw India canter home by seven wickets.

So with Australia’s next test being the first Ashes test at Brisbane on November 25th, how did the XI who played in Bangalore rate on the Reverse Sweep marks out of ten scale?

Shane Watson – 7: Gave both innings impetuous and a good start, but was unable to go on as he did in Mohali. Found some reverse swing on the fourth morning, but doesn’t have enough pace to trouble the best batsmen.

Simon Katich – 6: Got starts in both innings but didn’t convert in either. However, you just know that he will be a thorn in England’s side come the Ashes. Bowled five ineffective overs.

Ricky Ponting - 7: Two scores of 70+ but will be disappointed not to have turned at least one of those into a big hundred. Has now only converted three out of 18 fifties into tons since scoring a century at the same venue in October 2008. Loses a point for some strange bowling changes and field placings, which suggest it is not just Ponting’s batting that is on the wane.

Michael Clarke - 3: Two more failures to cap a barren series for the captain-in-waiting, with the stumping in the second innings being a comically embarrassing dismissal. 35 runs in four innings is simply not good enough for such a fine player.

Mike Hussey – 5: Hit a breezy 34 in the first innings, which contrasted with his dour efforts at Mohali, but was unable to convert two more starts even into a fifty meaning that his four scores in the series ranged from 17 to 34. Will probably survive for the Ashes but for how long after that?

Marcus North – 8: Brave career saving hundred in the first innings – his fifth ton in 19 tests, before reverting to type and getting stuck on his crease in the second. Not guaranteed to survive the whole series with England but full marks for his courage here.

Tim Paine – 7: Looked good with the bat again especially in his first innings partnership with North and was tidy with the gloves. Has given the selectors a difficult decision ahead of the Ashes with Brad Haddin now fit again.

Mitchell Johnson – 5: Bowled reasonably in patches but throws in too many bad and truly awful deliveries for a top-class fast bowler. Could be a different proposition on home pitches though.

Nathan Hauritz – 2: Wasn’t helped by Ponting’s handling of him, which was bizarre to say the least, but match figures of 51.5-4-229-3 tell their own story. Simply dreadful. England’s batsmen must be licking their lips at the prospect of facing such an impotent bowler.

Ben Hilfenhaus – 7: The pick of the Australian attack throughout the series and was particularly unfortunate to only pick up one wicket in the first innings after a skillful and wholehearted effort. The new leader of the Aussie attack and a top-class bowler.

Peter George – 5: Not a pitch to make your debut on as a fast bowler.George didn’t carry much threat. But he did okay for one making his bow and was rewarded when a certain Sachin Tendulkar became his first test victim - albeit for 214 – something to tell the grandchildren.

Where next?

All-time Australian Ashes XI: The Openers, Number 3, 4 and 5, All-rounder

Seven reasons why the Poms love Shane Warne

10 reasons why The Don is the greatest Ashes cricketer of them all