Category: Cricket

Australia reclaimed the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, a prize that had eluded them for a decade, and secured their place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final against South Africa by defeating India within three days at the SCG.

India’s hopes of remaining in contention for the WTC final hinged on Jasprit Bumrah, but his absence dashed those aspirations. Having been a pivotal figure throughout the series with the most wickets by an Indian bowler on an Australian tour, it was unfortunate that Bumrah couldn’t contribute in the final showdown. Nevertheless, his exceptional performances earned him the well-deserved title of Player of the Series.

Bumrah’s Absence Leaves a Gaping Void for India

After leaving the SCG on the second day for scans on his back, Jasprit Bumrah returned to bat at No. 11 on the third day but was unfit to bowl. Early signs foreshadowed his absence—he skipped warm-ups with the other bowlers and only attempted some shadow-bowling. After being dismissed for a duck as India’s last batter, Bumrah did not take the field during their defense of 161. With his history of back issues, India had no choice but to handle him with extreme caution.

Despite the target being a challenging one for Australia on a spicy SCG pitch, it seemed far less daunting when Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna struggled with their lines early on, conceding eight runs through wild leg-side wides in the first two overs. While Prasidh tightened up later to claim three wickets, including the prized scalp of Steven Smith, Bumrah’s absence loomed large—like Coleridge’s albatross—hindering India’s chances of mounting a robust defense.

Scott Boland Shines as India’s Batting Collapses

India’s batters offered little resistance to support their depleted bowling attack, collapsing for 157 after losing 4 for 16 in just 7.5 overs on the third morning. Scott Boland, who might not have featured in this series if Josh Hazlewood had been fit, delivered a career-best performance. He claimed his first ten-wicket haul in professional cricket, hastening India’s downfall. Following his four-wicket haul on the opening day at the SCG, Boland added six more, securing his second Test five-for since his memorable 6 for 7 on debut.

Boland set the tone for the day with a maiden over and consistently hit a threatening length. He removed Mohammed Siraj with a catch at first slip and bowled Jasprit Bumrah in the 40th over to conclude India’s innings. The SCG crowd erupted in applause as Boland fittingly led Australia off the field, proudly holding the ball aloft.

Earlier in the day, captain Pat Cummins made crucial breakthroughs by dismissing Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar. Jadeja, who had been dropped by Steven Smith on day two for 6, added just seven more runs before edging a fuller delivery from Cummins. Washington Sundar then fell to a delivery that nipped through his gate, leaving India’s tail exposed to Boland’s brilliance.

Australia Dominate Early as Prasidh Krishna Provides Key Breakthroughs

Australia exploited wayward new-ball bowling from Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna, racing to 39 for no loss within the first four overs. Prasidh eventually gave India their opening wicket when Sam Konstas mistimed a slog to mid-off, departing for 22 off 17 balls.

After adjusting his strategy on the second day following advice from the team’s analyst, Prasidh transitioned from his usual back-of-a-length deliveries to a fuller length. On Sunday, with the harder, newer ball, he extracted more bounce and seam movement using his natural length. This adjustment paid dividends as he struck Marnus Labuschagne on the elbow before inducing a catch to gully.

Prasidh then denied Steven Smith a historic moment, dismissing him just one run short of reaching 10,000 Test runs. A prancing delivery accounted for Smith, much to the dismay of the more than 40,000 fans gathered at the SCG, who were ready to celebrate the milestone. Smith will now look to achieve the feat during the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle later this month, where he aims to become the 15th member of the exclusive 10,000-run club.

India had to wait until after lunch to dismiss Usman Khawaja. The opener misjudged Siraj’s length, bottom-edging a pull to Pant and departing for 41 off 45 balls. The breakthrough injected energy into the Indian camp, with Siraj letting out a roar and stand-in captain Virat Kohli sprinting from the slips, animatedly pumping his fist in celebration.

Travis Head and Beau Webster Turn the Tide for Australia

Travis Head and debutant Beau Webster swiftly shifted the momentum of the game. When Nitish Kumar Reddy bowled a wide half-volley in his first over, Head stayed leg-side of the ball and unleashed a powerful drive through the covers. Meanwhile, Webster was more restrained but still maintained a brisk scoring rate, using his long reach to disrupt the bowlers’ lengths effectively.

Webster, who debuted in first-class cricket back in 2014, may have doubted whether his chance at the highest level would ever come. When it did, the 31-year-old made it count. He top-scored for Australia in the first innings with 57—second only to Pant in runs scored during the match—and contributed with the ball by dismissing Shubman Gill, in addition to some excellent slip catches.

On Sunday, Webster sealed the deal with an unbeaten 39 off 34 balls, capping it off with a decisive boundary, stepping out to Washington Sundar and driving him past mid-off.

Prasidh Krishna and Mohammed Siraj bore the brunt of the workload in the final innings, bowling 24 of the first 25 overs, with only a brief respite during the lunch break. Australia was within striking distance of victory by the time Washington bowled his solitary over, while Ravindra Jadeja did not bowl at all. The depth in Australia’s attack stood in stark contrast to India’s depleted lineup, further hindered by the absence of their ace, Jasprit Bumrah.

Australia vs India 5th Test Summary

Australia 181 (Webster 57; Prasidh 3-42, Siraj 3-51) and 162 for 4 (Khawaja 41, Webster 39*, Head 34*; Prasidh 3-65) beat India 185 (Pant 40; Boland 4-31, Starc 3-49) and 157 (Pant 61; Boland 6-45, Cummins 3-44) by six wickets

Australia’s Victory Highlights Their Strengths and Weaknesses as India Faces a Reality Check

Australia’s Reflections

Despite their 3-1 series win, Australia has areas to address. Usman Khawaja no longer poses the consistent threat he once was, while Marnus Labuschagne’s patchy form raises questions. Steve Smith and Travis Head’s runs saved the series, but Alex Carey struggled to make an impact.

However, debutants Sam Konstas and Beau Webster showed promise for the future. The bowling unit, bolstered by Scott Boland, proved effective at home, but Boland’s age (35) adds a layer of uncertainty to their long-term plans.

India’s Harsh Lessons

For India, this was a grueling tour that laid bare several weaknesses. New Zealand exposed their struggles against spin, and Australia compounded the problem by highlighting frailties in both batting and bowling depth. Promising performances from young talents like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Washington Sundar were rare bright spots. However, concerns linger about the form and relevance of senior players. Rohit Sharma’s selfless decision to step aside for the final Test raises questions about his future in a transitioning Test team. Virat Kohli, despite a century in Perth, has seen a dip in form, while KL Rahul’s initial promise faded as the series progressed. Shubman Gill remains a disappointing underperformer in the format.

From Hope to Defeat

India’s performance in Perth, which initially seemed a turning point, now looks like an anomaly. They started the series strong but faltered consistently thereafter. Adelaide ended in crushing defeat, as the pink ball accentuated Australia’s dominance. Rain saved India at Gabba, but the celebrations after avoiding the follow-on underscored their struggle.

At the MCG, Reddy’s century was overshadowed by Smith’s more impactful knock, with India collapsing dramatically on the final day. By the time they reached Sydney, hopes of leveling the series were slim. A spicy pitch and Jasprit Bumrah’s injury left India on the back foot. Despite Rishabh Pant’s heroic knock in the second innings, Australia’s chase was made manageable in Bumrah’s absence.

The Bumrah Factor

Cricket may be a team sport, but Bumrah’s absence was a glaring void for India. Without their talismanic pacer, they lacked the incisive edge to compete. Mohammed Siraj’s off-color performances and Prasidh Krishna’s inexperience compounded the issues. Australia capitalized on India’s depleted attack, with Khawaja finding some form and Head rediscovering his rhythm to secure the win.

Looking Ahead

This tour will force India to introspect. A long break before their next Test assignment offers a window to make tough decisions. Transitions are inevitable, and with them come challenging calls on the future of players and strategies. India will need to rebuild, address their glaring vulnerabilities, and come back stronger for the challenges ahead.

Read More: Rohit Sharma Clarifies 5th Test Absence: “It is Not a Retirement Decision”

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