Fourth Test player rankings: 1-22

1. Ricky Ponting

While his hundred in Sydney silenced the critics, his double century this Test was Ponting at his very best. He was completely at ease and registered the sixth double ton of his career. He only lost his wicket when he attempted to up the pace. His unbeaten 60 unbeaten in the second innings could have easily been another hundred if the Aussies had a little more time.

2. Michael Clarke

This year's Allan Border Medal is safely in Clarke's keeping regardless of what happens in the one-day series. No captain in the history of the game has scored a triple century and a double century in the same series, which speaks volumes to Clarke's achievements. The captaincy seems to have turned him into a run machine.

3. Virat Kohli

When the more experienced Indian bats ahead of him crumbled, Kohli was the one that was able to apply himself. He got just reward for his effort, bring up his maiden Test century and ensuring he has a place in the side for a long time to come.

4. Ravichandran Ashwin

Bowled with the new ball in both innings with great success, dismissing two of Australia's top three batsmen both times. He bowled a marathon 73 overs in the match and never looked exhausted.

5. Peter Siddle

On a pitch offering no assistance to the bowlers, Siddle bent his back and put in the hard yards to claim his first five-wicket haul of the summer. His catch to dismiss Sehwag off his own bowling on day two was certainly the best of his career. Deserved his man of the match honours to cap a great series.

6. Ryan Harris

Kept things tight in India's first innings and made the critical breakthrough when Kohli and Saha had put on a century stand. Got more reward for his effort in the second innings with three wickets.

7. Nathan Lyon

Not as dangerous as fellow spinner Ashwin, but improved as the pitch started to take more turn. Two of his wickets came from rank full tosses but he was instrumental on day four and took four in the second innings.

8. Virender Sehwag

The only success he had as captain was using Ashwin early to trouble Australia's top order. Other than that, he went to one slip way too early, missing a vital opportunity to dismiss Clarke in the first innings. He at least got back to his aggressive best with the bat in the second innings, chasing an unlikely win before getting a leading edge off a Lyon full toss.

9. Brad Haddin

The perfect pitch to play his way back into form. Haddin capitalised on the flat track to score a quick 42 not out in the first innings. His return to form with the bat seemed to build confidence in his keeping, which was faultless.

10. Ben Hilfenhaus

Continued the consistency he has shown all series, picking up three wickets in the first innings.

11. Zaheer Khan

Toiled manfully in Australia's marathon first dig when batting was easiest and made the ball move late on day three.

12. VVS Laxman

May have played his last Test match after another relatively poor performance with the bat. He showed more fight in the second innings, scoring 35, but it might not be enough to save his spot.

13. Michael Hussey

Didn't get much of an opportunity to capitalise on the conditions, having to come out and score quick runs in both innings, rather than trying to compile serious runs.

14. Wriddhiman Saha

Spent 157 overs behind the stumps in Australia's first innings in searing heat and didn't make one mistake the whole time. Formed a good partnership with Kohli but lost concentration just before the tea break on day two, leaving a ball that hit the top of off stump. Looks a natural successor to Dhoni when the skipper hangs up his Test 'keeping gloves.

15. Sachin Tendulkar

If he couldn't make his 100th century on this Adelaide deck, he may just not make it anywhere. While the focus has been on his century, his batting has fallen away as the series has progressed.

16. Umesh Yadav

Had a horrendous first day, when he was going for seven runs an over. To his credit, he found his form on day two, tightening up and bowling some brutal deliveries that troubled Australia's established batsmen. He continued that improvement in the second innings as well.

17. Gautam Gambhir

Provided some resistance when it was sorely lacking in his captain and opening partner in the first innings, but went cheaply in the second.

18. David Warner

He can't hit a blistering century every Test, but he did make his 28 runs quickly in the second dig, which is exactly what was required at the time.

19. Ed Cowan

Did all the hard work seeing off the new ball in the first innings, but failed to go on with it. Looked unprepared and out of sorts in his second time at bat.

20. Rahul Dravid

Dravid's dismissal in the first dig (where he was bowled after the ball hit his forearm) showed the signs of a man hopelessly out of form. It came as small consolation that he avoided being bowled in the second dig.

21. Ishant Sharma

The biggest disappointment of this series. Four years ago he was the talk of the town as India's next big thing, but Adelaide was just another display of ineffectual bowling that troubled batsmen at times, but not on a consistent enough basis.

22. Shaun Marsh

The only way Marsh is going to the Caribbean is if he stumps up the cash and pays for a ticket to sit in the crowd. He played all around an Ashwin delivery in the first innings, which looked horrible. He was on the end of a bad decision in the second dig, but the way he was shuffling around the crease it was no surprise the umpire gave him out.

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of BigPond Sport.