Australia win the World Test Championship after beating India

06/11/2023

Australia win the World Test Championship after beating India by 209 runs, as Pat Cummins’ men produce a clinical display to lay down a marker ahead of the Ashes

Australia win the World Test Championship by beating India by 209 runs
The victory is the ideal preparation for Australia as they look towards The Ashes
The men’s team have also won the T20 and 50-over World Cups this year

Australia will head to Birmingham for the Ashes in good heart after completing a crushing 209-run win over India at The Oval to win the World Test Championship.

Set 444 for an unlikely victory, India had begun the final day on 164 for three hoping for a miracle, with Virat Kohli at the crease and apparently in the mood for something special.

But Kohli could add only five to his overnight 44, before being suckered into loose drive by a widish delivery from Scott Boland. Steve Smith dived athletically to his right at second slip, and another large crowd – made up mainly of Indians once more – fell silent.

And they were quieter still when Ravindra Jadeja nibbled at his second delivery from Boland, and was caught behind by Alex Carey for a duck. From 179 for five, there was no way back for India.

The rest was a procession. Ajinkya Rahane undid more than 35 overs of classy concentration when he flashed at Mitchell Starc and was caught behind for 46. One run later, Shardul Thakur was leg-before to off-spinner Nathan Lyon for a duck as he played forward to a ball that spun into him from round the wicket.

Australia beat India by 209 runs to clinch the World Test Championship final at The Oval

Scott Boland was the pick of the bowlers, taking five wickets in the match

Virat Kohli could add only five to his overnight score of 44 before nicking off

Nathan Lyon also claimed five wickets for the match, with three scalps on Day 5

The only question now was whether India could extend the game beyond lunch. But Umesh Yadav gloved Starc down the leg side to depart for a single, and wicketkeeper Srikar Bharat skyed a simple return catch to Lyon for 23.

With that wicket – the ninth – falling four minutes before the scheduled lunch break, the session was automatically extended by half an hour.

The Australians needed only six minutes: Mohammed Siraj reverse-swept Lyon to point, and India were all out for 234, having lost their last seven for 54.

Lyon finished with four for 41, and Boland – who has made a strong case in this game to play at Edgbaston on Friday – three for 46. India, meanwhile, remain without a global title since winning the Champions Trophy in 2013.

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