Two years ago after Australia missed out on reaching the inaugural edition of the World Test Championship Final due to being penalised for slow over-rate, the Pat Cummins-led side won the marquee tournament with a comprehensive 209-run win over India in the 2023 finale at The Oval on Sunday.
With the resounding victory giving them their ninth ICC title, Australia have become the first team in men’s international cricket to win all major trophies. Their victory was set up on Day One of the five-day match by a 285-run partnership between Player of the Match Travis Head (163) and Steve Smith (121) after Australia were sent in to bat first by India.
India had begun the fifth day’s play at 164/3 in 40 overs, with hopes brimming of conjuring the highest-ever successful chase in the fourth innings of a Test match, with Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane looking purposeful in their fourth-wicket partnership.
Scott Boland took out Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja in a space of three balls in the 47th over and it was the knockout punch that Australia delivered and despite some resistance from Rahane and KS Bharat, India were all out for 234 in 63.3 overs, thus increasing their agonising 10-year wait for an ICC trophy.
Veteran off-spinner Nathan Lyon was the pick of the Australian bowlers with 4-41 in the second innings, followed by Boland, who took 3-46. Mitchell Starc picked up 2-77 and captain Pat Cummins claimed a scalp as Australia lifted the coveted Mace, which was the only silverware missing from their vast cupboard of trophies.
Brief scores:
Australia 469 and 270/8d beat India 296 and 234 in 63.3 overs (Virat Kohli 49, Ajinkya Rahane 46; Nathan Lyon 4-41, Scott Boland 3-41) by 209 runs
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