Australia in a series of victories over India and a place in the final of the World Test Championship | Cricket news
Australia beat India by six wickets on day three in Sydney to claim their first series win over their opponents since 2015 and book their place in this summer’s World Test Cup final.
The Baggy Greens secured a 3-1 victory after reaching their target of 162 in the fifth and final Test, recovering from 58-3 as Travis Head (34no) and Beau Webster (39no) guided the hosts home to see them return Border- Gavaskar Trophy.
Earlier, India managed to add just 16 runs to their overnight second innings 141-6 with Australian seamer Scott Boland taking 6-45 for his maiden 10-wicket haul in Tests, after taking 4-31 in the first innings.
India quick Jasprit Bumrah did not bowl on Sunday due to a back injury, but the tourists still gave Australia a scare at the SCG as the home side slumped from 39-0 to 58-3.
Prasidh Krishna removed Sam Konstas for a spirited 22 off 17 balls before dismissing Marnus Labuschagne (6) and Steve Smith (4) cheaply, leaving Smith one run short of 10,000 in Tests.
However, Usman Khawaja (41) put on 46 with Head before the latter and Webster added an unbroken 58 with Webster scoring the winning runs ahead of Washington Sundar.
Australia – who return to Sri Lanka for Tests in January – will face South Africa at Lord’s from June 11, live on Sky Sportsas they look to defend the Test World Cup title they won by beating India in 2023.
India’s hopes of reaching a third successive final are over and their next Test will be against England at Headingley from June 20, the first game of the five-match series.
Cummins hails the return of the Australian series
Australia captain Pat Cummins, whose side lost the first Test in Perth by 295 runs before wins in Adelaide and Melbourne scrapped the tie in rain-hit Brisbane, said: “It seemed to wobble throughout the series so it ended 3-1, holding the trophy, it’s an incredible feeling.
“I think the extra layer is securing a place in the World Test Championship final, which has always been a big goal for us this cycle and we’ve managed to do that. We’re really pleased.
“One of the things I love most about Test cricket is the challenge in so many different ways.
“You need more than 11 players, you need an amazing squad, you need an amazing support staff to be able to win anywhere in the world.
“So I think the consistency over a number of years to do that with a very similar lineup has been huge.”
