Australia's Achilles Heel: Their frailties in the Indian subcontinent

#1 Big Guns Don’t Fire

Steven Smith was at the end of his worst series as a captain

Australia needs its experienced senior guys to step up with some inspiring performances in tough circumstances. Stats till date reveal otherwise. Steven Smith, David Warner and Nathan Lyon, in no particular order, are key members who haven’t performed to their potential in Asian conditions.

Warner’s overall average of 48.63 drops to 33.16 in Asia and he has scored only a solitary century in 18 innings. Smith’s spectacular average of 58.55 also sees a similar dip to 41.57 in Asia; an improvement from less than 38 before his century in the 3^rd Test at Colombo, which also happens to be his first in Asia.

Lyon, who has in all fairness, done a fair job as their premier spinner in the post-Warne era, has a shoddy average to his credit in Asia.

A respectable overall average of 32.8 shoots up to 42.57 in Asia. Worse, he leaks runs at close to 4 an over. Add to the fact that he also bowls a large share of the overs, it indicates that through him, Australia has failed to keep opposition batsmen under control.

Come the tour of India, they will hope that these three can change its sagging fortunes in Asia.