Australia v India Test Series 2018-19: The Underperforming XI

Ishant Sharma was not at his lethal best
Ishant Sharma was not at his lethal best

#8 Mitchell Starc

Mitchell Starc hasn't looked as incompetent as he was since the ball-tampering incident
Mitchell Starc hasn't looked as incompetent as he was since the ball-tampering incident

A person watching Mitchell Starc for the first time would wonder why he is so hyped and arguably, overrated. The way the Aussie left-arm pacer has bowled this series; it looked like he was any other ordinary bowler struggling to make it to the national side, and not at all like the experienced lethal International fast-bowler he is regarded as.

The speedster did not live up to a single expectation, failing with both bat and ball. Also to mention, his presence only increased the pressure on Pat Cummins' shoulders.


#9 Umesh Yadav

Yadav was picked on the basis of his 10 wickets against West Indies at home, but looked a different bowler in Australia
Yadav was picked on the basis of his 10 wickets against West Indies at home, but looked a different bowler in Australia

Although Umesh Yadav played only one Test match, that was enough to prove how ineffective and unimpressive he was. He picked just 2 wickets in 37 overs and gave away runs at more than 4 runs per over, that too on a wicket that favored the fast bowlers.

He looked totally off-colour and India made a blunder by playing him instead of Bhuvneshwar Kumar.


#10 Josh Hazlewood

Not hitting the right lengths
Not hitting the right lengths

The Aussie lead seamer failed to live up to his own standards as he didn't exert much pressure on the batsmen. Apart from a couple of instances, he did not look as sharp as always. While the short ball worked sporadically for him, the length that he is known for wasn't to be seen too often.

As aforementioned, Pat Cummins didn't get the requisite support from either of Hazlewood or Starc.


#11 Ishant Sharma

Ishant Sharma
Ishant Sharma

Ishant Sharma failed to make a mark this series, as apart from the one four-wicket haul, he failed to pick up wickets regularly. He was also not pro-active in creating the pressure and scaring off Aussie batsmen, which Bumrah and Shami successfully did. Ishant went on very ordinarily throughout the series, before being dropped and replaced by Kuldeep Yadav in the last Test.

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