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Text: Daniel Laidlaw

If blame is to be apportioned for the series loss, then it falls squarely on the shoulders of the batsmen. With five of the top seven averaging less than 34, the batting failed to live up to expectation in a series in which the batsmen were required to score more than usual. One shudders to imagine how Australia would have fared without Hayden's 549 runs. The landslide sessions that had brought its undoing on previous trips to the subcontinent were costly again, with two seven-wicket sessions having a major influence on the result of the series. Too often lost successive wickets instead of consolidating.

	Matthew Hayden 549 runs at 109.8: The revelation of the tour. Was rewarded for his Test runs with a belated inclusion in the one-day squad and continued his rich vein of form.	Michael Slater 166 runs at 33.2: A poor series. Failed to adjust his game to the conditions and consequently never passed 50 in any innings.
	Justin Langer 161 runs at 32.2: Like Slater, failed to thoroughly adapt to the conditions and was disappointed not to convert several starts.	Mark Waugh 149 runs at 29.8: Another frustratingly mediocre series from the veteran at a time when Australia could have used his experience in India and assurance against spin.
	Steve Waugh 243 runs at 48.6: Led by example with the bat once more but only had a moderate series by his high standards.	Ricky Ponting 17 runs at 3.4: A nightmare tour for Australia's young batting star. A world class batsman, Ponting experienced "mental disintegration" first hand against Harbhajan Singh

	The series was virtually split into two halves for Australia's bowlers. The first half of the series saw them dictate the course of play as India was bowled out for 176, 219 and 171. But once Laxman hit form, it was a totally different story, with scores of 7/657 and 501. Despite the long hours in the field, the attack coped as best it could and really cannot be criticised considering the effort, especially from McGrath and Gillespie.

	Glenn McGrath 17 wickets at 15.4: Continued to be Australia's spearhead and actually improved upon his bowling average in India, a rarity for a fast bowler.	Shane Warne 10 wickets at 50.5: Another miserable tour of India, with no injury problems to hide behind this time. It is safe to say now that Warne will never be successful against India.
	Jason Gillespie 13 wickets at 30.3: The tour would have been rated a success for Gillespie had he simply made it through the Test series without breaking down.	Damien Fleming, 1 wicket at 99/ Michael Kasprowicz, 2 wickets at 89/ Colin Miller, 6 wickets at 33.5: Played one Test each without impressing. Design: Dominic Xavier

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