Australia Clinches Border-Gavaskar Trophy After 10 Years with 3-1 Series Win
Australia finally clinched the Border Gavaskar Trophy after 10 years. The Australian team claimed the series 3–1, winning by 6 wickets in the Sydney Test. India has been defeating the Australian team on the last two tours but this time India had to face defeat against Australia. Jasprit Bumrah did not bowl in the second innings for India, due to which the Indian bowling side looked very weak. Prasidh Krishna and Mohammed Siraj took the full load of bowling in place of Bumrah. Prasidh Krishna impressed with a three-wicket haul but Australia chased down a target of 162 on the third day of the fifth and final Test.
Krishna (3/65) dismissed openers Sam Konstas (22), Marnus Labuschagne (6) and Steve Smith (4) in quick succession but India suffered a lot in Bumrah's absence due to back stiffness. Apart from this, opener Usman Khawaja also scored 41 runs off 45 balls in the second innings. His wicket went to Mohammed Siraj. But after this, Australia's middle order batsman Travis Head scored an unbeaten 35 runs and debutant all-rounder Beau Webster scored an unbeaten 39 runs to lead the team to victory.
Earlier, Scott Boland (6/45) and captain Pat Cummins (3/44) bowled India out for just 157 runs in 39.5 overs in the second innings. If Rishabh Pant's 61 and opener Yashasvi Jaiswal's 22 runs are removed, then the other nine players collectively contributed just 74 runs. The Indian team also lost their remaining four wickets after adding just 16 runs in the morning session. Australia will now play in the final of the World Test Championship against South Africa at Lord's from June 11 to 15 as all other teams, including India, are out of the race for the final.
The Indian bowlers took three wickets in the morning session but they bowled many loose balls while defending the small target. Mohammed Siraj bowled on the pads continuously but the hosts scored easily. Konstas took an aggressive stance and played some attractive shots but after that he was caught by Washington Sundar at mid-off off Krishna's ball. Krishna then stunned Labuschagne with his line and length, who gave an easy catch to Jaiswal in the gully. When Smith was just one run away from 10,000 Test runs, Jaiswal took a brilliant catch in the gully off Krishna's bowl.