Australia sealed a tense six-wicket victory over India at the SCG to win back the coveted Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time in nearly a decade.
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Chasing an awkward 162-run target, the hosts stumbled early with three quick wickets before Travis Head (34*) and Beau Webster (39*) steered them to a historic victory.
The 3-1 series victory wraps up a remarkable 18 months for Pat Cummins and his teammates, which included winning a maiden World Cup Test Championship triumph, retaining the Ashes in England, lifting the World Cup in India and whitewashing the Black Caps in New Zealand.
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Cummins, Boland tear through India Day 3 | 01:00
USMAN KHAWAJA – 3
184 at 20.44, HS 57
Jasprit Bumrah got the wood over Khawaja throughout the Border-Gavaskar Trophy campaign, dismissing the Australian opener six times across the series.
After a dreadful start to the summer, the Queenslander notched a patient half-century at the MCG on Boxing Day, but it remains to be seen whether he’s played his final Test on Australian soil.
‘Marnie has about 17 predicitions a day’ | 02:18
NATHAN MCSWEENEY – 3
72 runs at 14.40, HS 39
Thrown into the deep end, McSweeney was not equipped to handle Jasprit Bumrah and the swinging Kookaburra this summer, dismissed by the Indian weapon on four occasions.
The South Australian showed courage and skill to survive the evening session on day one at Adelaide Oval, but it was a lone highlight in an a forgettable maiden Test series.
The 25-year-old was dropped after three matches, but hopefully he will return to the national side in the near future as a middle-order batter.
McSweeney confident ahead of 4th Test | 01:55
SAM KONSTAS – 5
113 runs at 28.25, HS 60
Konstas announced himself to the cricket world with a dazzling knock on Boxing Day at the MCG, ramping the dangerous Jasprit Bumrah three times in an over.
He riled up the touring Indians with his on-field antics, but the teenager’s apparent cockiness and reckless batting remains a source of debate.
Konstas vs Bumrah: ‘Heated’ final over | 01:25
MARNUS LABUSCHAGNE – 4
232 runs at 25.77, HS 72
Despite a couple of valuable knocks in Adelaide and Melbourne, Labuschagne was far from his best with the willow this summer.
The Queenslander, who anchored both of Australia’s innings during the Boxing Day contest at the MCG, looked woeful in Perth and Sydney, prompting speculation about his future in the Test side.
‘Would have been the worst review ever’ | 01:22
STEVE SMITH – 7
314 runs at 34.88, HS 140
Having returned the middle order following last summer’s opening experiment, the Australian vice-captain cracked hundreds in Brisbane and Melbourne, while his Boxing Day century will be remembered as one of his best Test performances in years.
However, Smith fell agonisingly short of joining the 10,000-run club this summer, dismissed one run short of the milestone in Sydney.
Smith OUT on 9,999 Test runs | 00:56
TRAVIS HEAD – 9
448 runs at 56.00, HS 152
Two wickets at 27.00, BB 1-3
Australia’s best batter of the summer, Head clobbered swashbuckling hundreds in Adelaide and Brisbane to rattle India’s bowlers, receiving consecutive player-of-the match awards.
However, the South Australian struggled towards the end of the series, dismissed for single figures three times in Melbourne and Sydney before steering the hosts towards victory in the fourth innings at the SCG.
Head & Smith discuss epic Gabba showing | 04:36
MITCHELL MARSH – 2
73 runs at 10.42, HS 47
Three wickets at 46.33, BB 2-12
Marsh may have played his last Test match.
The West Australian made a promising start to his Border-Gavaskar Trophy campaign, taking three wickets and scoring 47 in a losing cause at Perth Stadium.
However, after failing to contribute in three consecutive matches, he was replaced by fellow all-rounder Beau Webster for the series finale, putting his Test career in jeopardy.
Classy Marsh congratulates Webster’s fam | 00:19
BEAU WEBSTER – 8
96 runs at 96.00, HS 57
One wicket at 53.00, BB 1-24
Webster, having been presented his baggy green ahead of the series finale in Sydney, got his Test career off to a dream start by notching a half-century and swallowing two catches before hitting the winning runs at the SCG.
The Tasmanian all-rounder top-scored for Australia in the first innings of the New Year’s Test, while he was unlucky not to take more wickets across the contest.
Debutant claims Kohli with second catch | 00:50
ALEX CAREY – 7
216 runs at 30.85, HS 70
20 catches, two stumpings
Carey made plenty of the starts with the bat this summer, but failed to convert most of them into substantial scores.
Apart from a couple of small errors, the South Australian was tidy with the gloves throughout the Border-Gavaskar Trophy campaign, albeit leaking a lot of byes during the series opener in Perth.
Carey opens up on Aussie Sydney focus | 11:47
PAT CUMMINS – 9
25 wickets at 21.36, BB 5-57
The Australian captain led from the front this summer, contributing in every match across the Border-Gavaskar Trophy campaign.
He produced a handful of absolute peaches across the series, most notably his dismissal of KL Rahul at the MCG, while his tactical prowess was vital on day five of the dramatic Boxing Day triumph.
Cummins also rescued the Australians with the bat in both innings in Melbourne.
Is this Pat Cummins’ ‘best’ Test win? | 11:08
MITCHELL STARC – 8
18 wickets at 28.66
Starc powered through the pain to play all five matches in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, with the left-armed quick producing a couple of dazzling opening spells throughout the campaign.
The 34-year-old snared career-best performance during the day-night Test at Adelaide Oval, but his influence dwindled as the series progressed.
Starc brilliance leads to Kohli wicket | 01:10
JOSH HAZLEWOOD – 7
Six wickets at 13.16, BB 4-29
Hazlewood was comfortably Australia’s best bowler during the series opener, taking five wickets in a commendable performance at Perth Stadium.
However, the Bendemeer Bullet missed the day-night Test at Adelaide Oval due to a side complaint before his Border-Gavaskar Trophy campaign was cut short by a calf injury.
Hazlewood to miss rest of the series | 01:08
NATHAN LYON – 5
Nine wickets at 36.88, BB 3-96
Lyon was hardly required this summer as Australia’s pace bowlers dominated the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
The veteran off-spinner rarely got an opportunity to work his magic on a day-five wicket, the lone exception being the Boxing Day Test at the MCG, where he helped Australia secure a memorable victory.
AUS v India – 4th Test, Day 5 Highlights | 14:50
SCOTT BOLAND – 9
21 wickets at 13.19, BB 6-45
Despite missing two matches this summer, Boland finished the Border-Gavaskar Trophy campaign as Australia’s second-leading wicket-taker.
The Victorian seamer was relentless in Adelaide and Melbourne before he received player-of-the-match honours for his superb performance during the New Year’s Test at the SCG, making the first time he has taken ten wickets in a professional match.
The 35-year-old’s defiant knock on day four at the MCG also deserves a mention.
“Take a bow” – Boland bowls Indian duo | 01:06
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