Australia won by 209 runs
PLAYER OF THE MATCH : Travis Head
Batter
Bowler
For Australia, the newly crowned champions, things are rosy. Their long English summer has gotten off to a perfect start. A convincing win against a team they've struggled against in the recent past. They had lost their previous four bilateral Test series, including two Down Under. And they brought out their A game here in the finale. They've ticked a lot of boxes ahead of the Ashes which is commencing on Friday. The Aussies last won a Test series in England way back in 2001. Can Cummins and Co. break that jinx and retain the urn? Smith and Head are in form, Carey has started superbly in England and their bowling is looking in great shape once again. England ... err ... Bazball ... watch out for Boland! That guy's accuracy is incredible. On that note, it's time to bring the curtains down on #WTC23. Hope you enjoyed our coverage. It's goodbye from Abhinand Raghavendran on behalf of Sagar Chawla, Pradeep Krishnamurthy and Praveen. We'll hear a lot of Aussie Aussie Aussie, oi oi oi today. Cheers!
Another ICC event, another heartbreak for India. They can't end their 10-year drought of an ICC title. Plenty of questions will be raised. They conceded too many runs in the first innings after opting to bowl and there were lapses in the batting department as well. All their batsmen got starts in both the innings but none of them made it count. And if not for those couple of no-balls from Cummins and three dropped catches on day three, the margin of defeat could have been heavier.
Stats round-up by Roshan Gede
Australia’s ICC Tournament wins (Men’s cricket)
ODI CWC: 1987, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2015
ICC CT: 2006, 2009
T20 WC: 2021
WTC: 2021-2023
Australia bowlers with most caught and bowled dismissals in Tests
21 - Shane Warne
18 - Nathan Lyon
17 - Richie Benaud
15 - Hugh Trumble
Visiting spinners with 50 or more Test wickets in England
129 - Shane Warne (AUS)
67 - Clarrie Grimmett (AUS)
67 - Hugh Trumble (AUS)
62 - Lance Gibbs (WI)
50 - Bill O'Reilly (AUS)
50 - Nathan Lyon (AUS)
Australia wicketkeepers with 100 runs and 6 dismissals in a Test
Rod Marsh
Ian Healy
Adam Gilchrist (thrice)
Brad Haddin (twice)
Alex Carey
India’s record in Tests they have opted to bowl first
Matches: 58
Won: 9
Lost: 21
Drawn: 28
Scott Boland in Tests
Matches: 8
Inns: 15
Wickets: 33
Avg: 14.57
SR: 37.85
*No bowler has a better bowling average in Tests (min. 30 wickets) since the 20th century.
Rahul Dravid: It was obviously difficult (the target). There's always a hope no matter how far we're behind. Many Tests over the last 2 years where we've fought hard from difficult situation. Needed a big partnership, we had the big players for it, but they had the upper hand. This can happen. It wasn't a 469 pitch. Gave away too many in the last session (on Day 1). We knew what lines and lengths to bowl. Our lengths weren't bad but we probably bowled too wide. Gave room to Head. Some of the shots we played, maybe we could've been more careful. There was a lot of grass on the wicket, and conditions were cloudy (decision to bowl?). We've seen in England batting gets easier. There wasn't much help on Day 4 or 5 if you saw. We got them on 70/3, but then let it slip away. Even the last time we played at Edgbaston, pitch got easier to bat. 300-plus was chased. Our top five are all very experienced (batting not performing?). By their own high standards. These same players have won in Australia, in England. This is not upto their high standards. Some of the wickets have been quite challenging. This was a good pitch I'll admit. But some of the other places it's been tough. Even in India pitches have been tough. Taking this into account, averages have dropped across the board, not just for us. Nobody wants wickets to turn from the first ball. But when you are playing for points, in situations like that, you have to take risks. And we aren't the only ones taking risks. Look at Australia, the pitches there. Sometimes the pressure is on you to get those points in every game. It is a risk we have to take. We are getting close (trophy drought?). We're getting to semis, to final. Just that we haven't played the best cricket on the day. No one wants it more than the players. Can't fault their efforts. Just haven't played our best cricket on the occasion. Never going to be happy with the prep as a coach (enough preparation time?) . But that's the reality we are faced with. Coming here three weeks earlier, having a practice game would be ideal. But we have to make do with what we can. Don't think we should make excuses.
Pat Cummins receives the WTC mace and joins his team-mates as they yell in ecstasy. The fireworks go off as well. All smiles in the Australian camp.
Pat Cummins: We made the most of it (losing the toss). We were certainly going to bowl. The way Travis and Smithy put on that partnership, gave us the comfort after a nervy morning. He (Head) has been brilliant right throughout this campaign, started with the Ashes a couple of years ago. He just puts the pressure right back on the bowlers and suddenly you are thinking about how to contain runs rather than taking wickets. We left day one feeling like we were on top of the game. When it counted, we played really well. We could have really driven the game, didn't have our best day and let India closer back in. For the most parts, we were in control. Boland - he's my favourite player. He just continues to be my favourite. Everyone did their role really well. Coming off a break, everyone switched on when it mattered. Everyone played really well and we'll savour this for a few years before we turn our attention (to the Ashes). This is our favourite format, we grew up watching Test cricket. It challenges you. When you win, it's the format you get most satisfaction with. We love playing.
Rohit Sharma: I thought we started well with winning the toss, putting them to bat in those conditions. We bowled well in the first session and then we let ourselves down with how we bowled. Got to give credit to the Australian batters. Head came in and played really well along with Steven Smith. That just took us off guard a little bit. We knew it was always hard to comeback, but we put up a good show. We fought till the end. We've worked hard for all those four years. Playing two finals is honestly a good achievement for us. But we'd like to go a mile ahead as well. You can't take the credit away from what we've done in those last two years to come here. Great effort from the entire unit. Unfortunate that we couldn't go on and win the final but we'll keep our heads high and fight. (Crowd support) It's been brilliant. They've gotten behind the time. I'd like to thank each one of them. They were cheering for every run and every wicket.
Firstly, the match officials receive their medals. Travis Head receives his memento. And now time for the Indians to get their runners-up medals.
Time for the presentations...
Scott Boland: It was good fun. Nice to come over here for our bowling group and take 20 wickets. Probably just hit similar areas all the time (bowling plans?). There was some bounce outside the off stump, tried to exploit that. Felt good to get Kohli out. Smudge took another amazing catch today and Green took some blinders throughout the game as well. Nice to have the confidence that if you're going to find the nicks, they're going to get taken. Been playing state cricket for Victoria for 12 years. Have done some hard work. Nice to play international cricket and get some wickets. Really looking forward to it (Ashes).
Steven Smith: It's a great achievement for this group, we played some good cricket in the last 2 years to get over here, so did India. We got into a nice position on the first day, Trav (Head) played really well, allowed me to anchor the innings, it helped us control the innings well. We know how good Virat is, he's an exceptional player and when chasing totals, he becomes dangerous. Boland was excellent in the morning spell, hit the right areas consistently, we knew he would produce that outside edge and it did come (talking about his catch).
Mitchell Starc: We were patient enough against a quality line-up, and managed to get the breakthroughs needed. Rub off the green went our way, a smart catch from Smith and to get Kohli early on was a big boost. He played well in the first innings (about Rahane), was a nice partnership as well, we knew if we stick to our task we will get chances and they did come. This group has played for a long time, some new guys have come in, the last series against India didn't go our way, but we have played together as a group and have stuck together. Both sides were familiar to each other (having played a Test series recently), a lot of the guys have played with each other in the IPL, so we know a lot about watching others games, Lyon did a good job as well and we enjoyed ourselves.
Travis Head, Player of the Match: Lot of hard work over the two years. It's been nice. That's been the approach for two years (positive approach with the bat). Said through the week that I want to be able to be proactive. I was tested throughout the innings. It was nice to be out there for a period of time with Smudge. Amazing week. Amazing Test from him and what we've come to expect (from him) here in England. Hope it's a big couple of months from him. And I've always said that it feels like all the plans go to him, all the attention he draws, and I can just go about my work. Nice to spend some time out with him. I've always had the confidence. It's about going out there and expressing that. It took me some time and everyone goes through that. I've always been open to change, open to learning. I've bedded down somewhat of a blueprint. It's not always going to work. It's nice to work that out in such a big game and hopefully continues in the next couple of months. Lot of what-ifs going to bed last night. We've come across such moments through the two years where we've had to grind it out. Were able to do that again today.
Day 5:
-- The equation is 280 runs vs 7 wickets
-- India face no trouble in the first half an hour
-- Kohli nicks, Smith takes a blinder; Jadeja follows him as Boland picks 2 in an over
-- Starc nips out Rahane and Lyon wraps up India's tail
-- Australia win by 209 runs to become second WTC champions
Day 4:
-- India start well with the ball but Carey & Starc score freely
-- Cummins declares and India are set a target of 444
-- Rohit and Gill score briskly; Green takes a screamer (controversial) to remove Gill
-- Rohit, Pujara throw away their starts with both of them falling within a span of 6 balls
-- Kohli and Rahane bat fluently, forge a fifty partnership and take it to the final day
Day 3:
-- Bharat gone second ball of the day but Australia don't hold onto their chances
-- India avoid the follow-on, thanks to the Rahane-Thakur century partnership
-- Rahane misses his ton, Thakur notches up his fifty and Australia take a 173-run lead
-- India bowl with a lot of discipline, pick 4 wickets to stay in the Test
Day 2:
-- Smith brings up his ton, Head goes past 150
-- India bowl much better but Australia post a big total
-- India lose their top four - all under 20 - to the four Aussie pacers
-- Rahane and Jadeja stitch a partnership but the latter falls to Lyon
Day 1:
-- India opt to bowl, pick four seamers and drop Ashwin
-- Shami and Siraj start well, Khawaja departs for a duck
-- Warner and Labuschagne get starts but they fall either side of lunch
-- Head counterattacks his way to ton, Smith hangs around and duo stitch a massive partnership
12:37 Local Time, 11:37 GMT, 17:07 IST: Australia add the only missing silverware to their overflowing trophy cabinet. A comprehensive win here at the Oval. Australia were the favourites to win this but India still had an outside chance to win at the start of the final day. There weren't too many demons in the pitch and India looked untroubled in the first half an hour. Kohli chased a wide delivery outside off and nicked off as Smith took a blinder at second slip. That turned out to be the killer blow. Boland provided it, removed Jadeja in the very same over and it was one-way traffic after that. Starc was expensive but he managed to nip out India's top run-scorer of the Test. The tail couldn't hang around for a long time as Lyon - Australia's greatest offspinner - finished with a 4-fer. Australia were asked to bat first and once they saw off the initial threat, they were always in the driver's seat. India were playing catch-up throughout the Test and none of their batters managed to convert their starts. If we have to pick one defining moment from this final, it has to be Head's knock in the first innings and he is rightly the Player of the Match.
Lyon to Siraj, out Caught by Boland!! Australia win the World Test Championship! Siraj brings out the reverse-sweep to a length ball and hits it straight to backward point. Boland takes the catch to wrap up the proceedings. Siraj c Boland b Lyon 1(6)