Australia has won Test cricket’s ultimate prize, comprehensively defeating India by 209 runs in the World Test Championship final to secure its legacy as one of cricket’s great modern teams.
After being set a record target of 444 for victory at The Oval, India was bowled out for 234 following a frantic collapse of 7-55 on Sunday afternoon, losing their second consecutive WTC Final.
Scott Boland ripped through India’s top order before Nathan Lyon cleaned up the tail to help Australia win its maiden title, redeeming themselves after missing the previous final due to a slow over-rate.
It’s just reward for an Australian team that has dominated the Test arena over the last 18 months, remaining unbeaten at home across ten matches and clinching a historic 1-0 series victory in Pakistan.
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“It’s been amazing two years,” Australian captain Pat Cummins told reporters in the post-match press conference.
“We’ve had this final in the diary for a while, it’s something that we’ve been building up for.
“It’s something we’re going to savour.
“I know we’ve got a big series (next), but we can worry about that in a couple of days time. You only get a few of these moments in your career when you can sit back and acknowledge your achievements, and this is one of those times.”
Meanwhile, India will be ruing Rohit Sharma’s decision to bowl first at the toss, the omission of world No. 1 Test bowler Ravichandran Ashwin and some questionable shot selection in the fourth innings.
“I thought we started well in putting them into bat, we bowled well in the first session then let ourselves down a little bit,” Sharma said in the post-match press conference.
“We have made two finals, you cannot take away what we have done in those years.
“It’s unfortunate we couldn’t win the finals, but we will keep our heads high and fight for the next title.”
MATCH CENTRE: Australia vs India, WTC day five scoreboard
India resumed Sunday morning at 3-164 before Boland knocked over the dangerous Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja in quick succession, shattering India’s hopes of chasing down the monster target.
Kohli, who looked impenetrable the previous evening, was lured into fishing outside off stump, edging towards second slip where Steve Smith held onto a superb diving catch to his right. It was Boland’s first wide delivery of the morning, and Kohli took the bait, departing for 49.
The Oval’s pro-Indian crowd fell silent as Kohli, the key to India’s unlikely comeback, trudged off the field.
Boland broke through again two balls later, nipping a length delivery away from the left-handed Jadeja that was feathered through to wicketkeeper Alex Carey.
The final delivery of Boland’s golden over struck Indian wicketkeeper Srikar Bharat on the gloves, narrowly evading a leaping David Warner at first slip for a streaky boundary. It was nothing magical from Boland — just consistent, probing bowling that should worry England’s batters ahead of the Ashes.
“He just keeps finding another level, he’s unbelievable,” Cummins said.
“He was our best bowler all game. Held it together, didn’t go for many runs, always looks threatening.
“I’m sure he’ll play a huge role in the Ashes.”
The following over, Bharat underwent a concussion assessment after ducking into a Cummins bouncer that thudded into his helmet.
Australia also burnt two reviews within the first 45 minutes — one was for a non-existent outside edge that only Marnus Labuschagne heard, the other being an LBW shout that slid comfortably down leg.
Ajinkya Rahane looked on track to replicate his first-innings heroics before recklessly driving at a wide delivery from Mitchell Starc, nicking behind for 46 to expose India’s tail.
Lyon joined the party the following over, trapping Shardul Thakur on the pads plumb LBW from around the wicket — the Indian all-rounder wasted a review before departing for a duck.
A rip-snorting bouncer from Starc and an impressive one-handed grab from Carey saw the end of Umesh Yadav, who gloved the well-directed short ball down the leg side, gone for 1.
Lyon then cleaned up the tail, removing Bharat and Mohammed Siraj in quick succession to seal Australia’s triumph. Head was named player of the match for his counterattacking 163 in the first innings.
Australia has a short turnaround before their next challenge, the Ashes, which gets underway in Birmingham on Friday.
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