India are stranded well back in fourth place, just a point above Pakistan, who performed like Bangladesh in disguise against the current number one team, South Africa. This is the South Africa who should have lost to Australia, but actually ended up winning one-nil instead.Just as Michael Clarke is turning himself into the most avaricious run-compiler in world cricket, his pre-match cries for team-mates to follow suit are falling on deaf ears. Clarke, the constant centurion, proclaimed: One of the things I spoke to the boys the other day about is that it's more crucial here if you get a start to go on and make a big score.The general rule of thumb at the moment is that India are not very good, full stop, when playing on any pitch that is not in Chennai, Bangalore or resembling a dustbowl. Likewise, England were not very good at touring in India until a few months ago.If Phil Hughes wants to make yet another comeback and perform in all three arenas of the international game, then he will have to find a technique that can hold up in India or abroad. The departure of Michael Hussey from the scene - one of the last true greats in terms of Millennium Aussie batting stars - has exposed a softer underbelly within the top order. However, they cracked it. They found a way. It took them 28 years, but they had the personnel to change things. Australia do not. Some suggested that the selectors had erred in the first Test, by not picking a second spinner. However, closer inspection would show that Nathan Lyon (he with first innings figures of three for 215) and Xavier Doherty (first-class average of 44) are hardly in the Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar category. In fact, they might not be in the Peter Such and Eddie Hemmings category.
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