Advertisement

Fourth Test: India celebrates series triumph

Wet weather helped Australia to escape with a draw at a sodden SCG, but India still made history by completing a 2-1 series victory.

Play was eventually abandoned, without a ball being bowled, at 2.30pm on day five of the fourth Test.

The final inspection proved a low-key end to India’s maiden Test series win in Australia, arguably the greatest achievement of Virat Kohli’s captaincy.

It was the third consecutive day in Sydney that was affected by either bad light or rain but that didn’t stop a loud group of India’s fans cheering, dancing, waving flags and singing in the rain for much of the morning session.

Kohli and teammates celebrated by thanking supporters who had stuck around despite the showers.

India batsman Cheteshwar Pujara was  named man of the match and man of the series after tormenting Australia throughout this summer.

Pujara played a key role in India’s 2-1 series win, scoring centuries in Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney.

“The first hundred was special. Scoring a hundred at Adelaide Oval and going 1-0 up in a four-Test series is something we were all aiming for,” Pujara said.

Australia had been asked to follow on in Sydney after conceding a first-innings lead of 322 runs on day four, and finished at 0-6 in its second innings.

India, having failed to win a Test series in Australia in 11 previous attempts, ended a slump that dates back to when it was crushed by Don Bradman’s side in 1948.

The tourists, led by magnificent series from batting rock Pujara and superb slinger Jasprit Bumrah, achieved it in clinical fashion to expose the immense void left by Steve Smith and David Warner’s suspensions and raise questions about the potency of Australia’s attack.

Kohli’s team banked wins in Adelaide and Melbourne to take an unassailable 2-1 series lead and retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, while it took control of the final Test by amassing 7(dec)-622 after winning the toss.

“We’ve been outplayed in some areas,” Tim Paine conceded to Fox Cricket before the start of play on Monday.

“It’s been a hard-fought series and they deserve to take home the trophy.

“We’ve got to try and look at the positives.”

Australia’s misfiring top six hit an unprecedented low, with Marcus Harris’ 79 in Sydney the highest score that any of them have managed in this series.

Until Monday, Australia hadn’t completed a four-Test series at home without at least one player reaching three figures.

-AAP

Advertisement
Stay informed, daily
A FREE subscription to The New Daily arrives every morning and evening.
The New Daily is a trusted source of national news and information and is provided free for all Australians. Read our editorial charter.
Copyright © 2024 The New Daily.
All rights reserved.