Australia have won only one Test series in India in four decades and no one has been ranking Michael Clarke’s inexperienced side up there with Adam Gilchrist’s all-star line-up of 2004.
However, with two big losses in the opening two matches, Clarke’s men are not only unable to win the series but retaining the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with a 2-2 scoreline looks a long shot.
Tuesday’s defeat by an innings and 135 runs was Australia’s first by an innings since the 2010/11 Ashes series.
And the skipper doesn’t appear to have many answers on how to fix things, apart from moving himself from No.5 into the top four of the batting line-up.
Clarke (268 runs at 67.00) and two-Test allrounder Moises Henriques (154 at 51.33) are the only Australian players averaging over 30 in the series.
Phil Hughes in particular is on shaky ground after contributing 25 runs in two matches at No.3.
Shane Watson (77 at 19.25 at No.4) is struggling to find his way as a specialist batsman after the vice-captain opted to avoid bowling in the current series because of injury problems earlier this summer.
Usman Khawaja, with a batting average of 29.22 in his six-Test career, is the likely replacement somewhere in the top six if Hughes is axed for the third Test in Mohali on March 14.
The team’s No.1 spinner Nathan Lyon was dropped for the second Test and replaced by Xavier Doherty, who claimed 3-131 in India’s first innings of 503 and didn’t get a wicket until his 43rd over.
“This could well turn out to be one of the weakest Australian sides to have visited this part of the world. The visitors are in disarray,” former India allrounder Ravi Shastri said.
“The top order is woefully ill-equipped to play spin. Ugly sweeps and hoicks are taking them nowhere.
“They can’t bring themselves to leave the crease and, without it, they are no better than sitting ducks.”
Clarke admits Australia’s shot selection has been horrible.
“You have seen in the first few Tests too many guys getting out playing across the line of the ball and against the spin especially early in our innings,” he said.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan was clearly delighted with Australia’s form with an Ashes series to come in July.
“What do you call a great Australian cricketer???
“Retired…..,” Vaughan said on Twitter.