Aus vs Ind, 4th Test

The series is out of bounds but Indian cricket is all set to enter a new era under the feisty Virat Kohli, whose leadership would be put through a trial by fire when the visitors seek redemption in the fourth and final cricket Test against Australia starting on 6 January.

Down 0-2 in the series, India have already lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after the third Test in Melbourne ended in a draw. Besides, India were dealt quite a shock when skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni chose to quit Test cricket altogether.

Virat Kohli, India's newest full-time Test captain. AP

This led to Kohli's elevation as captain and it would be interesting to see how the outspoken and flamboyant batsman, who has scored three hundreds in the series so far, handles the pressure of leading the side and salvage some pride in the series.

As such this is India's sixth consecutive Test series loss playing overseas, a run that stretches back to the England tour in 2011.

It is only the second time in their long history that India have suffered such embarrassment —the first stretching from their debut Test in England in 1932 to their maiden tour of West Indies in 1955. However, when the first ball is bowled in Sydney, future and not history will be on the visitors' mind.

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England Vs Australia (Ashes) 2nd ODI Highlights

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Fresh rains feared Brisbane

Large parts of the capital of Queensland state resembled a muddy lake, with an entire waterfront cafe among the debris washing down the Brisbane River, a torrent that has flooded 12,000 homes in the city of 2 million and left 118,000 buildings without power. With 35 suburbs flooded, many parts of Brisbane looked more like Venice as residents used boats to move about flooded streets, where traffic signs peeped above the stagnant water. The floodwaters destroyed or damaged many parts of the city's infrastructure. One group of residents was lucky not to disappear into gushing waters when the street they were walking along collapsed. "The ground started to move and began to rumble like thunder. We all started to run as fast as we could," said Rebecca Bush. "The next minute we heard this huge cracking noise that sounded like lightning had just struck. We turned around and the pathway was gone. It had completely collapsed." Aerial views of Brisbane showed a sea of brown water with rooftops poking through the surface. "What I'm seeing looks more like a war zone in some places," Queensland Premier Anna Bligh. "All I could see was their rooftops ... underneath every single one of those rooftops is a horror story," she told reporters after surveying the disaster from the air.

"This morning as I look across not only the capital city, but three-quarters of my state, we are facing a reconstruction effort of post-war proportions," Bligh said.

An emotional Bligh said her state, reliant on farming and mining in rugged outback regions, would recover regardless of the cost and estimates that three quarters of it -- an area the size of South Africa -- was now officially a disaster zone. Officials warned of the risk of further severe flooding in the coming weeks, with two months of the wet season ahead and already overflowing dams requiring seven days to empty to normal levels to cope with more heavy rains. The Bureau of Meteorology forecast that a storm in the Coral Sea off Queensland's north coast would become a cyclone in 24 to 48 hours, but while it would bring fresh rains to Queensland, it was expected to move away from the coast. Queensland has received so much rain in the past two months the ground is fully waterlogged and dams are full, meaning any more heavy rain will further swell already flooded rivers. The deluge has been blamed on a La Nina weather pattern in the Pacific. Last year was Australia's third wettest on record, and weather officials forecast an above average cyclone season.

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Brisbane avoids worst in floods

Flood water in Australia's third-biggest city peaked below feared catastrophic levels on Thursday but Brisbane and other devastated regions faced years of rebuilding as a fresh flood threat loomed with a cyclonic storm building off the coast. The capital of Queensland state resembled a muddy lake, with an entire waterfront cafe among the debris washing down the Brisbane River, a torrent that has flooded 12,000 homes in the city of 2 million and left 118,000 buildings without power. With 35 suburbs flooded, many parts of Brisbane looked more like Venice as residents used boats to move about flooded streets, where traffic signs peeped above the stagnant water. "It's a swimming pool," said Ian Parker as he walked in ankle-deep water through his house, which sits on stilts but looked like it was afloat. Like many flood victims, Parker was stoical as he inspected his waterlogged home: "It's a lot better than other people." Aerial views of Brisbane showed a sea of brown water littered with rooftops.  "What I'm seeing looks more like a war zone in some places," Queensland Premier Anna Bligh said as dawn revealed the overnight devastation. "All I could see was their rooftops ... underneath every single one of those rooftops is a horror story," she told reporters after surveying the disaster from the air. "This morning as I look across not only the capital city, but three-quarters of my state, we are facing a reconstruction effort of post-war proportions," Bligh said. An emotional Bligh said her state, reliant on farming and mining in rugged outback regions, would recover regardless of the cost and estimates that three quarters -- an area the size of South Africa -- was now officially a disaster zone. Officials warned of the real risk of further severe flooding in the coming weeks, with two months of the wet season ahead and already overflowing dams requiring seven days to empty to normal levels to cope with more heavy rains. The Bureau of Meteorology said a monsoonal storm in the Coral Sea off Queensland's north coast was expected to form into a cyclone in 24 to 48 hours, but while it would bring fresh rains to Queensland it was expected to move away from the coast. Queensland has received so much rain in the past two months the ground is fully waterlogged and dams are full, meaning any more heavy rain will simply exacerbate already flooded rivers.

HOMES LOST IN BROWN FLOODS

The floods could cost insurers nearly $1 billion and some economists expect $6 billion in damage from the deluge that began last month in Queensland, crippling the coking coal industry and destroying roads, railways and bridges. The deadly floods have killed at least 19 people and 61 are missing, according to revised figures. Toowoomba and the Lockyer Valley region, west of Brisbane, have been completely devastated, with whole towns unrecognizable. But the water peaked at almost a meter below the level of deadly 1974 floods in Brisbane. Authorities said a protective dam built after that tragedy had helped spare the city from the expected worst-case scenario this time. Despite that, many of the city's factories and homes had only roof lines visible as residents, many evacuated to safety, woke to bright sunshine. Hundreds of onlookers gathered above the river to see the devastation at first light. The swollen Brisbane River was choked with debris after bursting its banks and engulfing large districts of the city the previous day. Power was cut to many areas in and around the city because of worry the waters could cause electrocutions. Boats and river pontoons torn adrift by the deluge lay piled on river banks as roiled brown water raced past. "It's crazy," said Brooke Fenton, surveying the filth and floods in the forecourt and basement of her apartment complex. "We're about to go and take a look," she said nervously, clutching two bags of possessions, adding she did not think the water could have reached her second-floor unit. Inside one of the apartments, armchairs, a kettle and pillows were floating in the water. The doors and windows were open with the water two thirds of the way up the wall after dropping several feet, leaving brown stains on the curtains. Emma Yabsley, an economics and arts student at the University of Queensland, was not as lucky, losing most of her possessions when her second-storey apartment flooded. "It (the apartment) was full," said Yabsley, adding her sofa was floating in the murky water with flood levels near the roof.

"We only got out our bags and documents," she said after being taken by boat to survey the damage.

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The Top Spin Ashes awards

And so, in the end, all it took to wipe away 20 years of miserable tours Down Under was seven weeks of high-octane, highly disciplined cricket from the most ruthless England side in living memory. It was a pleasure to be there and it is a privilege to hand out the following Ashes gongs, all of which are currently in the post…

All three of the players damned in advance by Australia – Alastair Cook, Ian Bell and Jimmy Anderson – performed as if their parts in the 5-0 drubbing four years earlier had been taken by lookalikes. But it was Bell who wrought the most complete transformation, moving from Sherminator to Braveheart during the course of a series in which he twinkled like the star he has always promised to be. More than anyone, Bell personifies the extra layer of toughness added by Andy Flower since 51 all out and all that.

You had to feel for Michael Clarke. Handed a flush that was not so much busted as non-existent, he was duly obliged to face the press and explain away the ills of Australian cricket, sport, society and culture. He did his bit gamely (although, if there's any justice, 2010-11 will go down as Ricky Ponting's third Ashes defeat). But he was not helped by a staggering show of complacency from Andrew Hilditch, the Australian chairman of selectors. Hilditch was, he said, very happy with his work – which may leave Aussie fans wondering what would have happened if he'd not been on top of his game.

Australia won at Perth because of a wind-assisted spell of bowling from Mitchell Johnson (and if you don't believe that, ask yourself why he didn't swing the ball one iota in the three Tests he played at the enclosed stadiums of Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney). When they got on top of England, they started sledging, with Ponting losing his dignity completely by screaming at Matt Prior after he was dismissed. Yet we were told the victory was connected to the aggression. As analysis went, it wasn't merely childish – it was utterly desperate.

The Barmy Army were a phenomenon in their own right, especially when their chants were rebounding around the Gabba, the MCG and the SCG. Some of it was spine-tingling. But their baiting of Johnson went too far as the players stood around for the Sydney presentation ceremony. It was like Ponting and Prior in Perth. 

The game was over, guys. No need to kick a man when he's down, however pleased you were to find a rude word that rhymed with 'right'.

At Brisbane, Jimmy Anderson dropped a skyer over his shoulder. At Perth, Graeme Swann put down a half-chance at short extra cover. At Sydney, Bell spilled a tougher one in the same position. Prior may have grassed a couple of reflex grabs. But apart from that, it's hard to recall a serious blemish in the field all series. This may well have been the most complete fielding performance by an England side in the history of the game. And for that, the fielding coach Richard Halsall deserves a massive baseball mitt on the back.

I know, I know – journalists are always going to grumble when they're fed crumbs rather than three-course feasts. But there was something Jardine-like in Andrew Strauss's refusal to comment on the Australians at any stage of the series, save for a brief jibe at Phil Hughes. 

The plan made complete sense: starve the local press of headlines and you'll avoid the age-old ready-made pep talk for the opposition's dressing-room noticeboard.

But this impressively tedious tactic only worked because England were winning. When they tried it four years ago, they just looked stupid.

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Ricky Ponting out of Sydney Test

Ricky Ponting may never play another Test after being withdrawn from next week's Ashes contest in Sydney due to his broken left finger. Ponting's absence creates a raft of issues, including the appointment of Michael Clarke as Australia's 43rd Test captain later this afternoon, and whether he will add to his 152 appearances in a baggy green.

Australia delayed naming their squad for Sydney - Usman Khawaja will be included - after learning Ponting's fracture had deteriorated during the fourth Test at the MCG. That result ensured England retained the Ashes and meant Ponting has failed to win them for a record third time.

"I'm devastated to tell you the truth, it was the news I was dreading," Ponting said after landing in Sydney. "During the game I didn't think I'd done too much more to it."

When asked if he was considering retirement he said: "I'm not thinking about it at all." Ponting, who scored only 113 runs in the first four games, could face surgery on his finger, but is expected to be fit to guide Australia in their push to win a fourth consecutive World Cup. He had an x-ray on the final day of the Melbourne defeat and it showed the fracture had moved during the match.

"He needs to commence treatment immediately to achieve a satisfactory outcome," Alex Kountouris, the team's physiotherapist, said. "The treatment options include surgery or aggressive splinting and immobilisation of the injured finger."

He will see a specialist again over the next day to decide on the best option. "His return to cricket will be based on how quickly the fracture heals and he will hopefully commence training in the later part of the Australian summer," Kountouris said. "He is expected to be fully fit for the World Cup."

Ponting's Test future is less clear as Australia's next five-day engagement is currently scheduled for Sri Lanka in August, although there is a talk of a series against Bangladesh after the World Cup. He is already 36 and Australia have realised during their poor Ashes performance that they have to start rebuilding through young players.

The deputy Clarke will replace Ponting, who took over the captaincy in 2004. However, Clarke has had a poor campaign with the bat as well and there are lingering questions over his suitability to control the team at such a crucial period.

Khawaja was on standby for Ponting in Melbourne and was also called late into the squad for the opening game in Brisbane when Clarke had a bad back. He started the season well for New South Wales, scoring a double-century, and leads the Sheffield Shield run list with 598 at 74.75.

Despite his strong overall record, he hasn't posted a first-class hundred since his 214, although he has produced some useful half-centuries. The past four Tests have shown that Australia need big scores from their top six to survive against England and it is a tough ask for a debutant to provide such leadership to an ailing outfit.

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Whitewash lessons to England

For nigh on two decades, ever since Australia broke away from the pack to become the undisputed masters of world cricket, the Australian way has been the only way forward for teams in search of success. After a defeat of staggering magnitude in the fourth Test at Melbourne, that may not be the case for much longer, but nevertheless, the seeds of England's triumph can still be traced back to the lessons they themselves were handed out on this same campaign four years ago.

The whitewash series of 2006-07 is not a topic that England have been keen to address publicly on this trip, and with some justification, given the range of humiliations they suffered in each of their five Test defeats. Privately, however, the memories of those matches and the methods that the Aussies used to stifle England's ambitions have been taken on board and turned back on their tormentors, with a considerable degree of success. That is because England's planning for this campaign has been exemplary. David Saker, their Victorian bowling coach, not only knew the five Test venues with the intimacy that only a Sheffield Shield veteran could bring to the equation, he also instilled in his pace-bowling charges a discipline and determination to be ready for action at all times, and a trust in their own abilities that no bowling coach in England's history - not even the feted Troy Cooley - would have been able to match.

"The way David Saker has worked with them and made sure they are ready from ball one is exceptional," said Strauss. "Often when bowlers are not playing they lose rhythm, and the fact they are suddenly thrust into a Test match can affect them pretty badly, so credit to him and way they have worked as well. But there's no rocket science involved. We always look for secret formulas, but generally there is isn't one. It involves graft."

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