Hosts Australia regain Border-Gavaskar Trophy

SYDNEY (AP):

Australia regained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time in 10 years by winning the fifth and final Test by six wickets at the Sydney Cricket Ground against an Indian team deprived through injury of their captain and star bowler yesterday.

The hosts chased down the 162-run target just after lunch on the third day after they had earlier wrapped up India’s second innings in quick time for 157 to win the series 3-1.

Yesterday’s victory also means the hosts booked their spot in a second straight World Test Championship final, where they will play the already-qualified South Africa at Lord’s in June.

“This (Border-Gavaskar Trophy) was one that a few of us didn’t have,” said Australia captain Pat Cummins. “It’s been an amazing series and it’s one of those ones that’s been in the calendar for a fair while.

“You’ve always got an eye on it for the last year or two, and it’s really lived up to all the hype.”

In a devastating setback for India’s hopes of bowling out Australia to level the series and retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for a record-extending fifth consecutive time, star bowler and captain Jasprit Bumrah did not bowl during Australia’s second innings.

Bumrah’s injury occurred on Saturday and had only been described as “ back spasms” by the India team after the star seamer had returned from medical scans at a nearby clinic. Bumrah had back surgery to repair a stress fracture in April 2023.

The 31-year-old, who was named Man of the Series with his 32 wickets — the highest ever by an Indian bowler in a single series in Australia — has almost single-handedly kept India in the contest throughout the summer. But he but did not warm up with the other bowlers prior to play yesterday, and looked uncomfortable when he did come out to bat as India were quickly swept up by the hosts.

“So you know, lots of ifs and buts because the whole series was well fought; and today as well, you know, we were in the game, so it was not like it was totally one-sided,” Bumrah said.

Even without their talisman, India’s attack still sent jitters through Australia’s batting as they had the hosts at 71-3 at lunch and then removed Usman Khawaja (41) to seed more doubt.

Australia had taken 35 from the first three overs and it appeared they might wrap up the Test and series before lunch.

DESPERATELY NEEDING BREAKTHROUGH

But with India desperately needing a breakthrough, they got it when Konstas (22) played a wild swipe off Prasidh Krishna with Australia 39-1.

Krishna (3-27) then added Labuschagne (6) to his tally and then the prize wicket of Steve Smith to send some jitters through Australia’s batting line-up at 58-3.

Smith managed only four of the five runs he needed to become the 15th player — and fourth Australian after Ricky Ponting, Steve Waugh and Allan Border — to pass 10,000 career Test runs.

But Travis Head (34 not out) — a frequent thorn in India’s side in recent years — and debutant Beau Webster (39 not out) guided Australia home for a landmark series win under Cummins.

Australia now hold every bilateral Test trophy available, as well as the one-day international World Cup won in India in 2023.

“Yeah, really proud with what we’ve been able to achieve,” said Cummins, who took a team-leading 25 wickets. “We’re also hopefully having the best time of our lives, as we’re doing it together as well, so yeah, pretty satisfied at the moment.”

Earlier Sunday, Cummins (3-44) and Scott Boland took two wickets each to wrap up India’s innings for 157, with the tourists only able to add 16 runs to their overnight total to set Australia a target of 162 runs to win the Test.

Boland, named Man of the Match, returned 6-45 for his second career five-wicket haul and took 10 wickets in a match for the first time.

On Saturday, Rishabh Pant’s blistering half-century highlighted a chaotic second day where 15 wickets fell and India reached 141-6, for a 145-run lead to leave the series very much in the balance.

Australia were earlier bowled out for 181, giving India a four-run lead on the first innings, and could not take advantage of Bumrah’s absence.

Australia’s 3-1 series win came after victories in Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney. India won the first Test at Perth, and the third Test at Brisbane was a rain-affected draw.