Australia crush India to win World Test Championship, focus now shifts to England and the Ashes

ByAlex Livie

Updated 11/06/2023 at 13:11 GMT

Australia are confirmed as the top side in Test cricket after beating India in comprehensive fashion at the Oval in the final of the World Test Championship. Australia were dominant throughout and wrapped up victory in the first session of the fifth day. The win sets Australia up for the Ashes, which gets underway at Edgbaston in Birmingham on Friday morning.

Australia took the crown as the No. 1 side in Test cricket with a crushing win over India in the World Test Championship final.

In what will be a busy summer for Australia, with the Ashes getting underway next week, Pat Cummins’ men proved much too good for India at the Oval.

“It is amazing,” player of the match Travis Head said. “It is a lot of hard work over two years, so it is nice.

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“We have had some moments we have had to grind it out, we did that again today and got our rewards."

India won the toss, but that was one of the few victories for Rohit Sharma’s side as they were dominated in all departments.

Australia were on the front foot from the moment Steve Smith (121) and Head (163) made centuries in a first innings total of 469.

Ajinkya Rahane put up resistance with 89 in India’s first innings response of 296.

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With a big lead, Australia made 270 for 8 in their second dig before declaring on the afternoon of the fourth day - setting India an unlikely victory target of 444.

India began the final day with seven wickets in hand, and Virat Kohli and Rahane would have had thoughts of victory in mind.

Their hopes were snuffed out when Scott Boland removed Kohli - thanks to a brilliant diving catch in the slips from Smith - and Ravindra Jadeja in the space of three balls.

It was then a matter of when Australia wrapped up victory. They did it before lunch, with Nathan Lyon sealing the win when Boland caught Mohammed Siraj at backward point.

Nathan Lyon of Australia celebrates the wicket of Mohammed Siraj

Image credit: Getty Images

The 209-run margin of victory did not flatter Australia, who were superior with bat and ball.

Australia will now shift their focus to England, with the first of five Ashes Tests starting at Edgbaston on Friday.

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