It all went down to the wire as Australia managed to outplay India by six wickets in the fifth Test to regain, for the first time in ten years, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The scenario unfolded at Sydney Cricket Ground wherein the hosts eventually chased down 162 runs into lunch on day three, thanks to which ecstatic celebrations were part of the Aussies’ dressing room.
Travis Head, who finished on 34 not out, and debutant Beau Webster’s brilliant unbeaten 39 as Australia swept to a win that took them into June’s World Test Championship final against South Africa at Lord’s.
Unreal, it’s been an amazing series,” Australia captain Pat Cummins said afterwards. He said he’s proud of the performance; the series really was very close. “To finish it 3-1, to hold the trophy, is an amazing feeling,” he further said, reflecting on the camaraderie developed over the matches.
Indian captain Jasprit Bumrah did struggle through the game, as he was unable to bowl during Australia’s second innings due to a back problem. However, his fellow fast bowlers in Prasidh Krishna and Mohammed Siraj were consistently able to apply pressure and took four crucial top-order Australian wickets, keeping the game tight.
The first two days of the Test were full of drama as 15 wickets fell on Saturday alone. Australia managed to bowl India out for 157 in their second innings in a furnace-like first hour on Sunday. The wicket was still lively – Krishna an inspired presence in Bumrah’s absence – and he removed Sam Konstas, Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith before lunch. Smith walked off on 9,999 career runs, which then saw Usman Khawaja caught behind for 41, leaving Australia at 104-4.
The match, full of pendulum swings, perhaps ended on a near-anticlimactic tone as Head and Webster sealed their partnership with an unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 58 runs, culminating in Webster hitting the winning runs with a straight four.
“It was a little frustrating but sometimes you have to respect your body,” Bumrah said, following being named Player of the Series for his 32 wickets in the five matches. He praised the competitiveness of the series and noted valuable lessons learned for future contests.
This Australian squad, which has largely been the same over the years, finally had its long-awaited victory against India. Only Smith, Nathan Lyon, and Mitchell Starc were part of the last series win a decade ago. Cummins celebrated his 20th win as captain, highlighting the importance of staying strong and together.
The series also witnessed three debuts – Nathan McSweeney, Sam Konstas and Beau Webster – but Cummins said their performances did not go unnoticed. “Always nice to have a squad,” he added, suggesting that key players needed to lift against quality teams like India.
