australia 181 (Webster 57, Prasidh 3-42, Siraj 3-51) and 162 (Khawaja 41, Webster 39*, Head 34*, Prasidh 3-65) beats for 4. India 185 (Pant 40, Boland 4-31, Starc 3-49) and 157 (Pant 61, Boland 6-45, Cummins 3-44) (for 6 wickets).
Australia beat India in three days at the SCG to regain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy that had been missing for 10 years and booked a place in the final of the World Test Championship (WTC) along with South Africa.
Australia’s target was significant, especially on this spicy SCG surface, but when Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna sprayed the new ball, it looked much smaller. The pair conceded 12 runs through wides and leg-sides in the first two overs. Prasidh held his nerve and took three wickets, including that of Steven Smith, but Bumrah’s absence hung around India’s neck like Coleridge’s albatross.
Boland started the day with a maiden and continued to stalk both edges by hitting the perfect length. He ended the Indian innings by castling Bumrah in the 40th over after Siraj committed his first error. Boland then duly held the ball high and led Australia off the field, with the SCG crowd giving him a rapturous welcome.
His captain Cummins had previously taken charge of Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar. Jadeja was dropped to slip by Smith for six on the second day, but it cost Australia just seven runs and Cummins went all out to kiss Jadeja’s outside edge. He then exposed India’s tail to Borland through the gates of Washington.
Australia took advantage of the fitful new-ball bowling of Siraj and Krishna to remain unbeaten for 39 in four overs. Prasidh provided the breakthrough for India when he forced Sam Konstas to miss on 22 off 17 balls at mid-off.
After the second day of play, Prasidh spoke with an analyst about how he transitioned from his stock plan to a much more complete plan. But on Sunday, he used a new, harder ball, collecting more bounce and seam movement with his natural length. After hitting Marnus Labuschagne’s elbow, Prasidh had him steer the catch into the ditch.
India had to wait until the end of lunch to get rid of Usman Khawaja. The opener misjudged Siraj’s length and pulled the bottom edge to Pant for 41 off 45 balls. India felt something was afoot after that. Siraj roared as Virat Kohli, standing as captain, lunged at the bowler in the slips and pumped his fists energetically.
On Sunday, Webster scored an unbeaten 39 off 34 balls; coup grace When he went out to Washington and pumped him straight in the middle of a four-run outing. Australia chased 162 runs in 27 overs.
Prasidh and Siraj bowled 24 of the first 25 overs in the chase. Apart from lunch, their only break came when Australia were three runs away from victory. Jadeja did not bowl at all in the final innings and Washington bowled only one over. Australia had tremendous depth in their attack, but India lacked it and Bumrah’s absence made Australia’s tour more difficult.
Deivarayan Muthu is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo.
