International cricket tour
The Indian cricket team toured Australia from 24 November 2014 to 10 January 2015. The tour consisted of two tour matches and four Test matches. The first Test was originally scheduled on 4 December in Brisbane, but it was postponed because of the death of Phillip Hughes. Instead, Adelaide hosted the first Test from 9 December and the Brisbane hosted the second Test from 17 December. Following the draw in the third Test, Indian captain MS Dhoni announced his retirement from Test cricket with immediate effect. After the draw in the final Test in Sydney, Australia won the series 2–0. Following the Test matches, Australia and India participated in the Carlton Mid Triangular Series with the England cricket team.
Background.
India had recently lost a Test series against England in England 3–1, while Australia lost a Test series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates 2–0.
Squads.
Indian selectors selected a 19-man squad for the Test series. Naman Ojha was included as the backup for Wriddhiman Saha in the first Test. MS Dhoni was not part of the team in the first Adelaide Test due to an injury. Therefore, Virat Kohli captained India in the first Test. Dhawal Kulkarni was asked to join India's Test squad as cover for the injured Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who was suffering from an ankle injury. Indian captain MS Dhoni announced his retirement after the conclusion of the Melbourne Test, with Kohli leading the team in the fourth Test as well.
On the other hand, the Australian selectors selected 13 members for the first Test. Australian Test captain Michael Clarke had to pass a fitness test before appearing in the first Test match at Adelaide. Shaun Marsh was added to the Australian squad as cover for Michael Clarke. But Clarke had taken no further part in the series after injuring his right hamstring. Thereby, Steve Smith was selected as standby captain for the 2nd to 4th Tests ahead of vice captain Brad Haddin. Queenslander Joe Burns replaced an injured Mitchell Marsh for the Boxing Day Test. Ashton Agar was added to the squad for the last Test.
Test series.
Trophy background.
Entering the series, India held the Border–Gavaskar Trophy after winning the 2012–13 series 4–0. Australia won the previous series at home, (2011–12) also 4–0.
Decision Review System (DRS).
The series was played without the players having access to the decision review system (DRS) also known as UDRS. The DRS could be used in any Test series at the agreement of both participating cricket boards, but the Board of Control for Cricket in India opposed its use in this series. Umpires could still initiate reviews to the third umpire for run out, stumping and no ball decisions. Before the first Test, India captain Virat Kohli stated that the system had to be "100% perfect".
1st Test.
Australia won the toss and chose to bat on a wicket which some commentators suggesting the flattest ever at the Adelaide Oval. David Warner made a blistering start with the score at 0/40 after 4 overs. But Chris Rogers (9) fell shortly after from an edge to Shikhar Dhawan bowled by Ishant Sharma. Shane Watson (14) also fell to Dhawan via an edge. Michael Clarke steadied the innings while Warner scored his 10th century off 106 balls. Clarke (60) eventually retired hurt after a back injury. Karn Sharma took his first Test wicket after David Warner (145) holed out. Australia lost late wickets in the last session, losing 4 wickets to end the day at 6/354 after at one stage being 3/345. Brad Haddin (0) was dismissed on the last ball of the day.
Michael Clarke returned to the crease at the start of Day 2 with a back brace, and put on a 51-run partnership with Steve Smith, before a rain delay left Smith stranded just 2 runs short of a century. The rain consistently fell and lunch was taken early. The players returned after lunch and Smith brought up his century in the first ball. Play was delayed once again just 2 overs later. Play resumed again and Clarke reached his own century as the pair quickly added another 50 before yet another rain delay. Play continued and more quick runs were added as Smith reached 150. Clarke then was dismissed by Karn Sharma for 128 and stumps were called just one over later because of bad light. Shami, Aaron and Karn Sharma took two wickets each.
Australia captain Michael Clarke declared overnight and sent India in to bat at the start of Day 3. Shikhar Dhawan made a brisk start but was bowled by Ryan Harris for 25. Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara put on an 81-run partnership before Mitchell Johnson dismissed Vijay caught behind (53). India reached lunch at a solid 2/119. Pujara and Kohli continued their partnership after lunch and put on another 81-run stand until Pujara was bowled by Nathan Lyon for 73. Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane saw out a late onslaught from Lyon to be 3/223 at tea. Rahane pushed on after tea, but was caught off his gloves for 62. Rohit Sharma came in and helped push them towards 400 as Kohli brought up his 2nd century at Adelaide Oval. Kohli (115) was eventually dismissed with 4 overs remaining in the day. Wriddhiman Saha and Sharma successfully saw India to 5/369 at stumps.
Australia took the remaining 5 wickets in the first session with Nathan Lyon the pick of the bowlers taking 5/134. The Australian openers got to lunch unscathed, scoring 32 runs off 10 overs. Karn Sharma took the wicket of Chris Rogers (21) after he mis-timed a sweep to Rohit Sharma. David Warner and Shane Watson combined to take Australia to a solid 1/137 at tea, but Warner should have been out after being bowled off a no-ball by Varun Aaron. Warner (102) made his second century of the innings after the break. Australia finished the day at 5/290, after Mitchell Marsh (40) and Steve Smith (52*) scored at a fast rate including a 24-run over from Marsh off Karn Sharma. Commentators criticised India for their negative tactics. Also, controversy ensued twice in the final session when Warner was given a send-off from Aaron causing a dispute between them. Rohit Sharma's appeal also caused a stand-off between the players leaving the umpires, Ian Gould and Marais Erasmus to calm them down. As a result, Warner was fined 15% of his match fee while Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan were fined 30%.
Australia again declared overnight, leaving them 98 overs to bowl out India. Shikhar Dhawan was first to go (9), but shouldn't have been, after replays showed the ball came off his arm. Cheteshwar Pujara (21) was next out when he was caught behind off Nathan Lyon. Murali Vijay and stand-in captain Virat Kohli put on a further 45 as India reached a solid 2/105 at lunch. After lunch the pair extended their partnership to 185, as Kohli brought up his second century of the match, before a devastated Vijay was given lbw for 99. Ajinkya Rahane went in the same over for a duck, caught at bat-pad. Rohit Sharma joined Kohli and they put on 35 before Sharma started a collapse when he went for 6. Wriddhiman Saha was bowled for 13 as Lyon took his second 5-wicket haul of the game. Kohli holed out to Mitchell Marsh eventually for 141 and the remaining 3 wickets fell quickly as Nathan Lyon took 7/152, his maiden 10 wicket match haul and was awarded Man of the Match. India lost their last 8 wickets for only 73 runs, at one stage at a commanding 2/243. Australia took a 1–0 series lead. Australian captain, Michael Clarke injured his right hamstring during the run-chase and admitted that he may never play again, Brad Haddin replaced him as captain during the innings.
2nd Test.
MS Dhoni won the toss for India and elected to bat on the first morning on a fast pitch, good for batting. Murali Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan put on a 50-run opening stand before Dhawan wasted yet another start when he was caught behind off Mitchell Marsh (24). Vijay (45*) and Cheteshwar Pujara (15*) led India to lunch at 1/89. India started very slowly after lunch, as Mitch Marsh limped off the field with a hamstring injury. Pujara (18) was eventually caught behind for Josh Hazlewood's first test wicket. However, replays showed the ball came off his helmet. Virat Kohli came in on the back of 2 centuries in the first test, and was caught behind for just 19. Ajinkya Rahane was shaky at the crease but steadied to reach tea on 13. India were 3/151 at tea with Vijay also not out on 73. Rahane and Vijay started quickly after tea as Vijay reached his century. The pair put on a 124-run partnership before Vijay was also caught behind (144). Rahane (75*) (his sixth career fifty and all outside India) and Rohit Sharma (26*) put together a 50-run stand as India reached 4/311 at stumps.
Rahane (81) and R.Sharma (32) fell early on Day 2, but MS Dhoni (33) and Ravichandran Ashwin (35) put on a quick fire 57-run stand but both fell in quick succession. Varun Aaron (4) fell shortly after as India were bowled out for 408 at lunch. Josh Hazlewood (5/63) was the best bowler taking 5 wickets on debut. Australia's innings started after lunch and Warner started quickly but top-edged a ball to slip (29). Shane Watson wasted another start and was caught at mid-on (25). Chris Rogers also missed a chance to make a big score when he was caught behind on the last ball before tea (55). Australia reached 3/121 at the break. Shaun Marsh came in after tea and he and captain Steve Smith put on an 87-run stand before S.Marsh (32) edged one to slip. His brother, Mitchell Marsh (7*) came in and joined Smith (65*) as Australia reached 4/221 at stumps.
M.Marsh (11) fell early on Day 3, when he let one go and was bowled by Ishant Sharma. Brad Haddin went shortly after when he was caught at short leg (6). Then Mitchell Johnson came in and belted the ball around as he and Smith (110*), who brought up his 6th test century and first as captain, put on a 104-run partnership before lunch as Australia reached 6/351 at the break, trailing India by just 57 runs. Johnson (88) and Smith (133) were dismissed shortly after the interval. Australia's tail annoyed the tired Indians as Mitchell Starc (51*) scored his fourth test fifty before the tea break. Starc (52) was bowled just after tea, giving Australia a solid 97-run first innings lead. All four main bowlers conceded 100 runs, with Umesh Yadav (3/101) being the pick of them. Mitchell Starc bowled Murali Vijay (27) after a quick start, India finished on 1/71 at the end of day 3.
India lost 5 early wickets on Day 4 as Mitchell Johnson ripped through their middle order of Kohli, Rahane, Rohit, and Dhoni. Cheteshwar Pujara (43) was caught just before lunch as India reached lunch reeling at 7/157. Dhawan and Umesh Yadav put on a 60-run partnership to give India some hope but when Dhawan (81) was given lbw to Nathan Lyon the final 2 wickets fell quickly as India were bowled out for 224 setting Australia a target of 128 to win. David Warner (6) fell early in the run chase and was followed by Shane Watson (0) just before tea as Australia reached 2/25 at the break. Steve Smith and Rogers steadied the Australian innings after tea, and put on a 63-run stand before Rogers (55) was caught at slip off Ishant Sharma. Shaun Marsh was caught behind shortly after for 17. Smith (28) was run-out by Yadav and India had a slight chance when Haddin (1) was caught off the bowling of Yadav. But Mitchell Marsh (6*) scored the remaining runs required as Australia won by 4 wickets and took a 2–0 series lead. Steve Smith was named Man of the Match for his century in the first innings, the ninth captain on debut to do so.
The win extended Australia's unbeaten streak in Brisbane to 26 Tests (19 wins and seven draws) and this was India's sixth consecutive lost in Australia. This was the fifth time in Test match history that a team had lost inside four