Australia yesterday held their collective nerve to clinch a blockbuster five-Test series against India 3-1 to take custody of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time in a decade.
In keeping with a pulsating series where momentum swung back and forth by the session, the fifth test remained on a knife edge until the final hour when Australia eased to a six-wicket triumph.
Perhaps helped by Jasprit Bumrah’s inability to bowl because of a back injury, Travis Head and debutant Beau Webster guided Australia to their victory target of 162 runs with an unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 58.
Photo: AP
The win in front of a packed house at a Sydney Cricket Ground bathed in pink for Glenn McGrath’s cancer charity also ensured Australia would defend their World Test Championship title against South Africa at Lord’s in June.
“It felt like it was kind of seesawing throughout the whole series so to finish it 3-1, to hold the trophy, is an amazing feeling,” Australia skipper Pat Cummins said. “I’m immensely proud, I absolutely love playing with these guys and it’s been a lot of fun along the way as well.”
The match had been played on fast forward over the first two days with 15 wickets falling on Saturday, and Australia removed four more in the first hour yesterday to dismiss India for 157.
“It was a little frustrating, but sometimes you have to respect your body,” said Bumrah, who took 32 wickets over the five matches before the back spasms struck on Saturday. “It was a great series. The whole series was well fought and we were still in the match today. Our young players will take a lot of learnings for the future.”
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