Australia has secured its maiden World Test Championship title after thumping India by 209 runs at The Oval, ending a dominant 18 months in the Test arena.
India lost 7-55 in a dramatic collapse on Sunday morning, with Scott Boland and Nathan Lyon ripping through the team’s middle-order in the second innings.
The Australians were far from their best in the WTC Final, but the contest was ideal preparation ahead of their five-Test Ashes campaign against England.
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‘First Kohli, now Jadeja!’ Aussies erupt | 00:43
DAVID WARNER — 5
43 and 1
Despite ongoing speculation about his future in the Test arena, David Warner has done enough to secure his spot for the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston.
After surviving a probing opening spell on the morning of day one, when conditions were hardest for batting, the veteran opener looked in fine touch before gloving a pull shot down the leg side.
But Warner’s questionable footwork in the second innings was a glaring concern ahead of his fourth and final Ashes campaign in the United Kingdom.
The 36-year-old also put down a chance at first slip early on day three, albeit potentially disturbed by wicketkeeper Alex Carey.
Warner takes Umesh to the cleaners | 00:40
USMAN KHAWAJA — 3
0 and 13
England’s quicks will be licking their lips after Usman Khawaja nicked behind in both innings of the World Test Championship final against India.
Whether on the attack or in defence, the swinging Dukes ball remains Khawaja’s kryptonite, with his Test average in England slipping to 17.78.
The Queenslander looked more in control during the second innings before a rush of blood to head, recklessly swatting at a wide delivery from Umesh Yadav on Friday afternoon.
He also dropped a tough catch in the slips cordon during the opening over of day three, handing Shardul Thakar an early reprieve on zero.
India strike as Uzzie departs for a duck | 00:33
MARNUS LABUSCHAGNE — 6
26 and 41
The world’s No. 1 Test batter has continued his frustrating trend of making starts without going on with them.
Marnus Labuschagne threw his wicket away in the first innings with an extravagant drive against Mohammed Shami, bowled after the lunch break to leave Australia in a spot of bother at 3-76.
The Queenslander batted valiantly on day three, copping a barrage of body blows as the spicy pitch started playing tricks in the evening session. But Labuschagne failed to convert into a half-century on Saturday morning, falling victim to Umesh Yadav caught at first slip.
Marnus abruptly woken up by wicket! | 00:34
STEVE SMITH — 9
121 and 34
The Australian vice-captain’s love affair with The Oval continued this week, peeling off his third Test century at the Kennington venue in the World Test Championship final.
After a patient start on day one, Steve Smith accelerated in the evening session and brought up his 31st Test ton on Thursday morning with back-to-back boundaries off Mohammed Siraj.
Having revived the back-and-across trigger movement that worked wonders against England in 2019, Smith looks destined to replicate his batting heroics from four years ago in the upcoming Ashes.
The 34-year-old’s uncharacteristic dismissal in the second innings, a village slog off Indian spinner Ravindra Jadeja, was hopefully a blip in an otherwise prolific winter campaign.
Smith hits 31st ton as Aussies dominate | 02:43
TRAVIS HEAD — 9
163 and 18
The decision to drop Travis Head for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series opener becomes more dumbfounding with every match.
The South Australian brought up his first Test century outside Australia in the World Test Championship final this week, rescuing the Aussies with a counterattacking masterclass on day one at The Oval — the same venue where he was dropped four years earlier.
He just keeps making the national selectors look foolish.
Despite some vulnerability against the short ball and a cheap dismissal in the second innings, Head looms as a crucial figure for Australia ahead of the Ashes.
Head bludgeons maiden ton against India | 02:40
CAMERON GREEN — 6
6 and 25, 2-44 and 0-13
We saw the best and worst of Cameron Green this week.
After smacking his first Test delivery in England through gully for a classy boundary, the young West Australian was dismissed cheaply a few minutes later with a reckless swipe outside off.
When Cheteshwar Pujara muscled a loose Green delivery through point for four on Thursday, the 24-year-old responded with a peach that nipped back and crashed into the Indian No. 3’s off stump.
And after dropping a regulation catch at gully to gift Shardul Thakar an extra life early on day three, he redeemed himself with a pair of one-handed screamers.
Meanwhile, Green’s second-innings dismissal was baffling, to say the least. The only thing he’s lacking is consistency — with bat, ball and in the field.
Green takes absolute screamer on Day 3 | 00:32
ALEX CAREY — 8
48 and 66*, six catches
Alex Carey has never mustered more runs in a Test match, top-scoring for Australia in the second innings of the World Test Championship final to help set an imposing fourth-innings chase for India.
The South Australian shot himself in the foot on day two with an unwarranted reverse sweep, but otherwise batted impeccably throughout the match.
Carey’s glovework was tidy, as always, but he was once again reluctant to dive in front of first slip when Ajinkya Rahane edged behind early on day three, a recurring problem for the 31-year-old.
However, he redeemed himself with a spectacular one-handed grab above his head to remove Umesh Yadav during India’s collapse on day five.
Deja vu – sweep burns Carey again! | 00:57
MITCHELL STARC — 5
2-71 and 2-77
Mitchell Starc’s spot for the Edgbaston Ashes Test is in jeopardy after an underwhelming bowling performance in the World Test Championship final against India.
The left-armer was taken out of the attack after just two over in the first innings, struggling to find his length and failing to swing the fresh Dukes ball. He leaked almost six runs per over in the second innings, when he didn’t open the bowling, conceding boundaries regularly throughout Saturday’s evening session.
However, Starc’s dismissals of Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane showed why he’s such a valuable member of this Test side — he has a knack of taking wickets when the team desperately needs one.
Kohli has no answer for Starc snorter | 00:37
PAT CUMMINS — 6
3-83 and 1-55
The Australian captain will be the first to admit he showed signs of rust in the World Test Championship final after his three-month break.
Pat Cummins was plagued by front-foot no-balls throughout the match, registering ten of them across both innings, two of which proved costly — Ajinkya Rahane and Shardul Thakar were each gifted extra lives at the crease after the New South Welshman overstepped.
Regardless, Cummins showed glimpses of his destructive potential against the Indians this week, and he’s hopefully cleared out the cobwebs ahead of the Ashes.
Tiny overstep costs Cummins dearly | 00:46
NATHAN LYON — 8
1-19 and 4-41
He hardly bowled in the first innings, but Nathan Lyon still found a way to leave his mark on the World Test Championship final against India.
Thrown the ball late on day two, the veteran off-spinner snared the crucial wicket of Ravindra Jadeja in his second over with a gorgeous delivery that kissed the left-hander’s outside edge.
Lyon’s dismissal of rival captain Rohit Sharma changed the game’s momentum on Saturday evening before he returned the following morning to clean up India’s tail.
He’s one step closer to the magical 500-wicket milestone.
Boland bowling pearls through India | 00:27
SCOTT BOLAND — 9
2-59 and 3-46
It’s almost as though Scott Boland was created to bowl in English conditions.
The Victorian, playing his first professional match in the United Kingdom, immediately looked at home with the Dukes ball this week, starting with a pair of maidens and the glorious dismissal of Shubman Gill.
Boland, relentlessly accurate with the ball, was comfortably Australia’s most economical bowler in the first innings, leaking less than three runs per over in a high-scoring contest.
Promoted to open the bowling in the second innings, he claimed the early scalp of Subman Gill before outsmarting Virat Kohli on Sunday morning, sealing India’s fate.
Boland has given the national selectors a major headache ahead of the Ashes.
