nosedive

Incumbent Sam Konstas' form has nosedived and he was again out cheaply in the Sheffield Shield on Thursday, bowled for 10.

But from 294-4, India's innings nosedived as they lost their last six wickets for just 36 runs, bowled out in 48.5 overs, a collapse that cost them dearly.

"As the weeks went on the results began to take a bit of a nosedive," Alexander says.

India, which avoids formal alliances and has seen ties with Pakistan - a key US partner - nosedive again, will need to recalibrate.

In the United States, rates started to take a sharper nosedive after the Great Recession, driven in part by college-educated women who delayed having children.