History re-written by Australia at Nagpur

Always looking to innovate, the Aussies have reached heights of near perfection after their victory in Nagpur, writes Ian Healy.

Always looking to innovate, the Australians have backed up their latest one with a performance to behold in the Nagpur Test.

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Players took advantage of a six-day break in totally different ways. Never before have holidays in different countries been taken in the middle of tours. Possibly in the United Kingdom, so why not in Asia? Get away from cricket was a clear motivation and it worked sensationally in Nagpur.

Australia, under pressure to lift in several areas, sent the strongest teachings to all opponents and coaches of all levels of the dangers of over-training. They produced an inspiring, nation-stopping, dismantling of a side which were their equal just one week ago.

India suffered massively with Harbhajan's absence it must be said and someone to support the pace of Zaheer Khan would have prevented some runflow but these Aussies were so ready for India, at full strength or not.

India were terrible on the first afternoon when they let chances slip crucially towards the end of play. Clarke, who was the beneficiary of a close LBW earlier, was missed twice behind and also a half chance runout.