Australia 181 (Webster 57, Prasidh 3-42, Siraj 3-51) and 162 for 4 (Khaja 41, Webster 39*, Head 34*, Prasidh 3-65) India 185 (Pant 40, Boland 4-31, Starc 3-49) and 157 (Pant 61, Boland 6-45, Cummins 3-44) by six wickets
Australia reclaimed the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the silverware that had eluded them for a decade, and sealed their place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final alongside South Africa by beating India over three days at the SCG.
The target was there for Australia, especially on this spicy SCG surface, but it fell short when Mohammad Siraj and Prasidh Krishna sprayed the new ball around. The pair scored 12 runs in the first two overs through wides on the leg side and buy downs. Although Prasidh held tight and took three wickets along with Steven Smith, Bumrah’s absence hung like Coleridge’s albatross around India’s throat.
Boland started the day with a maiden and continued the stock at both ends by hitting a perfect length. He ended India’s innings with a catch to Siraj at first slip and a catch to Bumrah in the 40th over. Bowland then, fittingly, held the ball high and led Australia off the field, to a rousing ovation from the SCG crowd.
His captain Cummins had earlier accounted for Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar. Jadeja was dropped for 6 on day two at slip by Smith, but it cost Australia just seven runs, with Cummins too full to kiss Jadeja’s outside edge. He then punched a hole through Washington’s gate to expose India’s tail to Boland.
Australia capitalized on the new ball bowling of Siraj and Krishna to post 39 for no loss in the fourth over. Prasidh gave India the breakthrough when he slogged Sam Constance at mid-off for 22 off 17 balls.
After the second day’s play, Prasidh talked about how his length had shifted from a stock plan to a fuller plan after a chat with the analyst. However, on Sunday, with the harder, new ball, he gathered more bounce and seam movement with his usual length. After Marnus Labuschagne hit his elbow, Prasid forced him to steer a catch.
India had to wait until after lunch to release Usman Khawaja. The opener misjudged Siraj’s length, pulling it to Pant for 41 off 45 balls. India felt they were going to do something after that. Siraj roared and pumped his fist animatedly as Virat Kohli, standing as captain, charged at his bowler from slip.
On Sunday, Webster scored an unbeaten 39 off 34 balls and delivered Coup de grace That’s when he stepped into Washington and pumped him for four straight from mid-off. Australia chased down 162 runs in 27 overs.
Prasid and Siraj bowled 24 in the first 25 overs. Their only respite – apart from the lunch break – was when Australia were three hits away from victory. Jadeja did not bowl at all in the final innings and Washington bowled just one over, bringing India’s selection into sharp focus once again. While Australia had plenty of depth in their attack, India lacked it and Bumrah’s injury complicated their tour of Australia.
Devarayan Muthu is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo
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