The batting performance by the Indian and Australian batting units was almost identical with both teams averaging a tick over 28 with the bat. Australia | Runs: 1914 | Avg: 28.14 | 100s/50s: 2/9
To begin with, Australia had more centuries than India. Both Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith struck one century each, taking the century count to 2 for Australia. It was that type of a series, where there were only 3 three-digit scores in the entire eight innings and both teams could not even score 2000 runs from 4 test matches.
Australia aggregated a total of 1914 runs at an average of 28.14. However, their strike rate of 48.56 is what cost them. They took more than two deliveries to score one run. This meant that even when they had their noses ahead in the match, the team could never press their foot on the accelerator and run away with the match, which had been the characteristic of the Australian teams of the past.
Another thing which troubled them big time was their conversion rate. Marnus Labuschagne on his own could have had three or four centuries but was not able to go big even after getting set.
In fact, when he was dismissed for 108, the timing of his dismissal was not great as it led to a collapse. This is despite Labuschagne being the top run scorer of Australia with 426 runs at an average of 53.25.
Steve Smith, who failed in the first two matches, also came to his own and finished as the second highest run scorer in the series at an average of 44.71 and a strike rate of 51.14, including one century and two half centuries.
However, other than these two, no Australian batsman could have a big impact. Chris Green and Tim Paine followed with 236 and 204 runs respectively but they really needed to do more for Australia to win the series.
India | Runs: 1816 | Avg: 28.82 | 100s/50s: 1/12
The Indian batting unit had similar figures as their Australian counterparts, even at a lesser strike rate of 43.89. There was only one century, which came from the blade of Ajinkya Rahane, who scored 112 at Melbourne to take the team to victory.
Rishabh Pant was the top scorer for India with 274 runs at an average of 68.50 and a strike rate of close to 70. Cheteshwar Pujara and Shubman Gill also played crucial roles with 271 and 259 runs respectively.
At the end, it was the collective effort of the Indian batsmen which trumped their Australian counterparts.
