Australia emerged victorious in the World Test Championship final, defeating India by 209 runs at the Oval on Sunday. The target of 444 runs seemed daunting for India, but they began the fifth and final morning with hope, with Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane at the crease.
However, within a short span of time, Kohli was dismissed, triggering a collapse that saw the last five Indian wickets fall in the lead-up to lunch. Scott Boland, replacing the injured Josh Hazlewood, played a pivotal role in Australia’s celebrations, taking two crucial wickets in an over, including that of Kohli. Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon also contributed with two wickets each, marking Australia’s first World Test Championship title win. The selection dilemma of Hazlewood’s return for the Ashes series is now a good problem for Australia to have.
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Australia captain Pat Cummins praised Boland’s fantastic performance, stating, “He’s now my favorite player. Everyone played their roles exceptionally well.” Cummins expressed the significance of winning the World Test Championship title, saying, “This is our favorite format. We grew up watching it, and it’s the format that brings the most satisfaction when you win.”
With the Ashes series set to begin next week in Birmingham, Australia has prepared itself well by dominating India and allowing several players, including Cummins, who hadn’t played for months, to regain form. Boland and all-rounder Cameron Green, who showcased brilliant fielding with two stunning catches, excelled in their debut test match in England. Centuries by Travis Head and Steve Smith also bode well for the upcoming Ashes series.
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Boland and spinner Nathan Lyon, who claimed 4-41 in the second innings, were the standout bowlers with five wickets each in the match. Despite some no balls, Cummins, Starc, and Green also made significant contributions to bowling out India twice after they had posted scores of 469 and 270-8 declared.
Wicketkeeper Alex Carey played a vital role with scores of 48 and an unbeaten 66, along with seven catches. Cummins emphasized the team’s focus on savoring the World Test Championship victory before turning their attention to the Ashes series.
The final day’s pivotal moment arrived in the seventh over, as Boland claimed Kohli’s wicket with an exceptional catch by Smith at second slip. Boland also dismissed Ravindra Jadeja in the same over, leading to a sense of inevitability and silence in the overwhelmingly pro-India crowd at the Oval. Rahane fell for 46 when he edged Starc behind, and India’s collapse continued with the last five wickets falling for just 22 runs.