Left Arm Around

Scott Boland claimed six wickets before Australia’s batters finished the job in quick time to clinch the series 3-1 against India at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Boland’s figures of 6/45 took his match haul to an incredible 10/76, his first ten wicket bag in a revelatory Test career so far.

The 35 year-old has 56 wickets from 13 Tests at an average of 17.66, an astonishing stat given his late entrance to the international arena.

India took three quick wickets early in the chase, but Travis Head and debutant Beau Webster eased them to their target of 162 inside 27 overs.

Australia’s victory means they regain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time since 2015 and join South Africa in June’s World Test championship final at Lord’s.

They will hope to retain the trophy they won against India at the Kia Oval in June 2023.

The story of the day

India began day five on 141-6 and a lead of just 145, with much of their hopes pinned on Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar- their last two recognised batters.

But after captain Pat Cummins nicked off Jadeja and castled Sundar, India’s ambitions of a series draw started to wilt away.

It was then up to Victorian Boland to finish off proceedings with the final two wickets to fall, removing Mohammad Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah in quick succession.

This capped off a remarkable return for Boland, who probably wouldn’t have received an opportunity if Josh Hazlewood remained fit for the whole summer.

Chasing a small total of 162 to win, Australia were heavy favourites and came out on the offensive.

Although the debutant Prasidh Krishna dismissed Sam Konstas, Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith- who dramatically fell one run short of 10,000- any fears of late drama were cleared by two key partnerships.

Usman Khawaja struck 41 for his second highest score of the summer in a 46-run stand with Travis Head, before Head continued his good work alongside Beau Webster.

It was then fitting that Webster would hit the winning runs in a Test match debut to remember.

The Tasmania all-rounder top scored with 57 in the first innings, took two crucial catches, dismissed Shubman Gill and steered them home to spark jubilant celebrations in the dressing room.

After a remarkable few years for both the Aussie Test and white-ball teams, it seemed the only thing missing was a series win against India- a team they have lost four consecutive series against.

For India, it’s probably a case of ‘what could have been’ given their crushing triumph at Perth in the first Test.

But for rain at Brisbane, however, they likely would have lost the series more convincingly 4-1.

There were positives in the shape of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Nitish Kumar Reddy and particularly Jasprit Bumrah, however they leave Australian shores with plenty of questions to answer after failing to qualify for a third consecutive World Test championship final.

The retirement of Ravi Ashwin leaves a ‘500 wicket’ shaped-hole in their spin threat, while the ever diminishing returns of both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma leaves many pondering if new blood is needed to revitalise the middle order.

Will they opt to freshen it up or continue to trust experience?

India’s ever-growing conveyor belt of cricketing talent would suggest they’re best placed to try the next generation.

With six losses in their last eight Tests, including a home whitewash to New Zealand, the Indian public expects a return to winning ways. And fast…